Does Paypal Work in Belarus?

PayPal is one of the largest international electronic payment systems. It allows users to send and receive funds, as well as to pay for goods and services on the Internet. Since its foundation in 1998, PayPal has expanded its activities to more than 200 countries, providing services in 25 major currencies.

PayPal officially started operating in Belarus in June 2014. However, the functionality of the service for Belarusian users is limited: only the ability to send payments is available (Send only mode). This means that residents of Belarus can use PayPal to pay for purchases in foreign online stores, but cannot accept payments or withdraw funds to local bank accounts.

To create a PayPal account, Belarusian users need a bank card of international payment systems, such as Visa or MasterCard, with a balance of at least 4 USD. The sign-up process includes creating an account on the official PayPal website and linking the bank card.

It is important to note that the PayPal interface for Belarusian users is available only in English, and it is impossible to change it to Russian in the settings. In addition, when making payments through PayPal, there is an automatic currency conversion with a commission of about 4%. 

Thus, despite the limited functionality, PayPal remains a popular tool for Belarusians, allowing them to pay for goods and services on international online platforms safely and conveniently. Let’s consider the peculiarities of PayPal in Belarus.

Overview of the PayPal payment system 

PayPal is one of the world’s largest electronic payment systems, founded in 1998. The system allows users to make instant transfers, pay for goods and services on the Internet, as well as receive payments.  

The main features of PayPal:  

• Fast and convenient payment for online purchases.  
• Ability to link bank cards and accounts.  
• High level of security due to buyer protection and data encryption.  
• Support for multiple currencies and availability in more than 200 countries.  

What services does PayPal provide? 

PayPal offers a wide range of financial transactions including:  

• Transfers between users – you can send money to both email and linked accounts.  
• Payment for online shopping – supported by millions of marketplaces including eBay, AliExpress and others.  
• Receiving payments – important for freelancers, online businesses and merchants.  
• Withdrawing funds to a bank account – available in most countries.  

Availability of PayPal in different countries  

Despite its international distribution, PayPal’s working conditions vary by region.  

• In the US, EU, UK and many other countries, users can fully send and receive money, as well as withdraw funds to bank accounts.  
• In Russia and Belarus, due to sanctions restrictions, PayPal functionality is severely curtailed (for example, “Send only” mode in Belarus).  
• In some countries (Cuba, Iran, North Korea) PayPal is completely inaccessible due to restrictions of international financial organizations.  

How safe is PayPal? 

PayPal system uses advanced methods of data and transaction protection:  

• Encryption of information during data transfer.  
• A buyer protection system that allows you to get your money back in case of fraud.  
• Two-factor authentication for account login.  

Despite this, users should be wary of phishing scams and fraudulent schemes related to PayPal.  

PayPal is a convenient tool for international payments, but its functionality depends on the country of residence of the user. In Belarus, the possibilities of working with the system are very limited, which makes it less attractive for local users.

Creating a PayPal account for Belarusian residents

Despite the limited functionality of PayPal in Belarus, users can create an account and use it to pay for purchases in foreign online stores. Let’s look into the registration process, necessary data and bank card requirements.  

What data is required to create an account?  

To create a PayPal account, Belarusian users will need:  

• Full name (in Latin characters, as in a passport or bank card).  
• E-mail, which will be used to log in and receive notifications.  
• Cell phone number (country code +375).  
• Home address (in Latin characters, as in the bank statement).  
• Bank card (Visa/MasterCard) for linking and payment.  

Please note that PayPal does not support the Belarusian ruble (BYN), so all transactions will be performed in foreign currencies (USD, EUR, etc.).  

Bank card requirements

To successfully use PayPal, your card must meet the following requirements:  

• Visa or MasterCard – only debit and credit cards from international payment systems are supported.  
• Card currency – preferably USD or EUR to avoid double conversion.  
• 3D-Secure support (payment verification by SMS code) – a mandatory requirement for most transactions.  
• Minimum balance – the card must have at least 4 USD, as PayPal will debit a small amount (up to 2 USD) for verification and then return it.  

Some Belarusian banks may block the linking of cards to PayPal due to sanctions restrictions. It is advisable to check with the bank whether your card supports working with international services.  

Account creation and card linking procedure 

The creation of a PayPal account for Belarusian users is quite simple, but due to the restrictions of the service only the mode of sending payments (Send Only) is available. To use it successfully, you need to enter the data correctly, link an international card and take into account possible commission for currency conversion. Here is the step-by-step registration procedure:

Step 1: Create an account: 

1. Go to the PayPal official website paypal and click “Sign Up”.  

2. Choose the type of account: Personal or Business. For most users, Personal is suitable.  

3. Specify your country – Belarus.  

4. Enter your e-mail address and a password.  

5. Fill in the form: full name, address, phone number. It is important to enter the data in Latin characters.  

6. Accept PayPal terms of use and complete account creation.  

Step 2. Confirm email and phone number:  

Go to your inbox and click on the link from the PayPal email.  

Enter the confirmation code received via SMS.  

Step 3. Linking your bank card:  

1. In your PayPal personal account, go to the “Wallet” section and select “Add Card”.  

2. Enter card details:  

• 16-digit card number 
• Validity period  
• CVV code (three digits on the back of the card)  

3. PayPal will charge a small amount (about 2 USD) to verify the card. A code will appear on your account statement, which you need to enter in the system to complete the binding.  

4. After the code is successfully entered, the card will be verified and ready for use. 

Commissions and restrictions when using PayPal in Belarus  

Using PayPal in Belarus is associated with a number of commissions and restrictions that affect the cost of payments and convenience of working with the service. The main costs are related to currency conversion, additional fees when paying for purchases and the inability to work with the Belarusian ruble.  

1. Commission for currency conversion

Since PayPal does not support the Belarusian ruble (BYN), all transactions are automatically converted to the currency of payment (for example, USD or EUR). At the same time, a conversion fee is charged, which is approximately 4% of the transfer amount.  

Example:  

If a product in an online store costs 100 USD and the user has a card in BYN, PayPal will first convert Belarusian rubles into USD at its internal exchange rate, which is usually 3-5% worse than the bank rate. As a result, the buyer will pay 104-105 USD in the equivalent of Belarusian rubles.  

Tip:  

To reduce conversion losses, it is recommended to use a bank card in the currency of payment (for example, if purchases are made in dollars, it is better to link a dollar card).  

In the PayPal settings, you can choose to have the bank do the conversion instead of PayPal. This may be better, as bank rates are usually closer to market rates.  

2. Possible additional fees when paying for purchases  

Depending on the type of payment and the seller’s country, additional fees may be charged:  

• Commission for international payments – PayPal may charge up to 5% of the amount when transferring money to another country.  
• Commission for payment in different currencies – if the store only accepts euros, and the card is linked in dollars, double conversion is possible (BYN → USD → EUR).  
• Additional commissions from banks – some Belarusian banks may charge a fee for PayPal transactions, especially if the payment is made as a “quasi-cash” (e.g., as when replenishing e-wallets).  

Before paying, it’s worth checking what currency you’ll be charged in to avoid unnecessary conversions.  

3. Limitations associated with the lack of support of the Belarusian ruble (BYN)  

PayPal does not support BYN, which leads to the following inconveniences:  

• You can’t store money in Belarusian rubles – BYN is automatically converted to another currency when you deposit or pay for purchases.  
• Difficulty in predicting costs – due to the unstable conversion rate, the charged amount may differ from the expected one.  
• Limited deposit methods – since PayPal does not work directly with Belarusian banks, it’s impossible to link a BYN account or use it for withdrawal.  

Using PayPal in Belarus is accompanied by additional costs due to currency conversion fees, international payments and possible bank charges. To minimize costs, it is recommended to use a card in the currency of payment, monitor conversion rates and avoid double conversion.

PayPal interface and support in Belarus  

Using PayPal in Belarus is not only connected with restrictions on payments, but also with a number of inconveniences that relate to the interface and the work of the support service. Among the main problems are the lack of Russian-language interface and difficulty in communicating with technical support.  

Language limitations (lack of Russian language interface) 

Despite the fact that PayPal operates in the CIS countries, including Belarus, there is no Russian interface in the Belarusian version of the service.  

When you sign up, the system automatically sets the English language, it is impossible to change it.  

All sections of the personal cabinet, including account settings, transaction history and payment tools, are displayed in English.  

Notifications and letters from PayPal also only come in English.  

How to solve the problem?  

If the user has a poor command of English, you can use the built-in translation functions in your browser (e.g. Google Chrome).  

An alternative option is to create an account by selecting Russia or Kazakhstan as the country (Russian is available there), but this will lead to additional restrictions and may cause problems with account verification.  

Features of the support service for Belarusian users 

You can contact PayPal Help Center in several ways:  

• Through the “Help” section on the site.  
• By e-mail or via chat in your personal cabinet.  
• By calling the hotline (not available in Russian).  

What difficulties may arise?  

Lack of Russian-speaking operators – support is only provided in English, which can be a problem for users who do not speak it.  

Long waiting time for a response – PayPal responds to e-mail requests within 1-3 business days, and in chat you can wait up to 30 minutes or longer for an operator.  

Not all issues can be resolved quickly – for example, when one’s account has been blocked, additional documents are often required, and the verification process can take from several days to several weeks.  

How to make the interaction with PayPay Help Center easier?  

Use online translators (Google Translate, Deepl) to communicate with operators.  

Look for answers to common questions in the PayPal Community.  

Prepare all necessary data (transaction number, problem description) in advance before contacting.  

Belarusian PayPal users face language barriers and difficulties when interacting with Customer Support. The lack of Russian interface and support in Russian language makes using the service less convenient, but these difficulties can be partially compensated with the help of translators and prior study of information.

Conclusion

PayPal is one of the largest international payment systems, but its functionality for Belarusian users remains limited. Despite the possibility to create an account and make purchases in foreign online stores, the service works in the “Send Only” mode, which excludes the possibility of accepting payments and withdrawing funds to bank accounts.  

The main inconveniences are related to currency conversion and commissions. Since PayPal does not support the Belarusian ruble (BYN), all transactions take place in foreign currencies, and the conversion fee is about 4%. That makes paying for purchases through PayPal less cost-effective. There may also be additional fees for international transactions and double conversion.  

Separate difficulties arise when using the interface and communicating with the Help Center. Lack of Russian interface and availability only of English speaking support operators may make it difficult for those who do not speak English to work with the service. In addition, the processing time for tech support requests can be up to several days. 

Despite these limitations, PayPal remains a useful tool for Belarusian users who often shop at international online stores and are looking for a secure payment method. However, for a more convenient way of doing business or accepting payments from foreign clients, Belarusians should consider alternative options, such as international cards Revolut, Wise, WebMoney, or cryptocurrency services.  

At the moment, the prospects for expanding the functionality of PayPal in Belarus remain uncertain. In order for the system to fully work in the country, either changes in PayPal policy or agreements with Belarusian financial institutions are required. In the meantime, users have to adapt to the existing restrictions and look for workarounds to reduce the cost of commissions.