To sign up for PayPal, choose a personal or business account, enter your details, add a payment method, then confirm your email and phone.
Quick Overview Of How to Sign Up for PayPal
PayPal works like a digital wallet that stores your cards and bank accounts in one place so you can pay online without sharing those details with each store. Creating an account is free, and in most countries you can start receiving money as soon as the account is open.
At a high level, the process for how to sign up for PayPal has three stages. First, you pick the right account type. Next, you fill in your personal or business details and create secure login credentials. Then you confirm your contact details and link at least one payment method so you can send and spend money.
| Item | Personal PayPal Account | Business PayPal Account |
|---|---|---|
| Who It Suits | Shopping, sending money to friends and family, side gigs | Freelancers, online stores, service providers, charities |
| Name Details | Legal first and last name | Business name plus contact person |
| Address | Home address where you live | Registered business address or trading address |
| Contact Details | Email and mobile number you can access | Business email plus a reachable phone number |
| Payment Method At Sign Up | Card or bank account can be added during or after sign up | Card or bank account linked to the business |
| Extra Checks | Identity checks based on local rules | Business documents and identity checks |
| Main Use After Sign Up | Paying online, receiving occasional payments, sending money | Collecting payments from customers online or in person |
Account Setup Steps For Signing Up For PayPal
You can create your account from a browser or the PayPal app. The flow is almost the same on both. To keep things simple, this section uses the desktop layout, but you can follow along on your phone as well.
Check that PayPal operates in your country and that you meet the minimum age requirement before you start.
Before you start, make sure you have a working email inbox, a phone that can receive texts or calls, and at least one payment method such as a debit card, credit card, or bank account. These are the basics PayPal lists in its guide on what is required to open a personal account.PayPal account requirements
Step 1: Open The Official PayPal Sign Up Page
Open your browser and go to the official PayPal sign-up page. From there, choose whether you want a personal account for everyday spending or a business account for getting paid under a trade name.
Step 2: Enter Your Email And Create A Password
Once you pick an account type, PayPal asks for an email address. This email becomes your primary login name and the address where PayPal sends alerts and payment receipts. Pick an inbox that you check often, not a throwaway address.
Step 3: Add Your Personal Or Business Details
After the login details, PayPal requests more information to set up your profile. For a personal account, you usually enter your legal name, date of birth, home address, and phone number. The help article on what information is required to open a personal account confirms this list and explains that you will also choose security questions.
For a business account, you add your registered business name, type of business, business address, contact number, and sometimes a website or online marketplace profile.
Step 4: Agree To The User Agreement
Before the account opens, PayPal shows its user agreement and privacy statement. Take a minute to scan the parts that affect you most, such as how fees apply to certain transactions and how buyer or seller protection works. When you tick the box and click next, you confirm you accept those terms.
Step 5: Link A Card Or Bank Account
Once the bare account is created, PayPal prompts you to link at least one payment method. You can skip this for the moment, but adding a card or bank account right away means you can send payments immediately instead of only receiving them.
Step 6: Confirm Your Email And Phone Number
At this stage, the account exists, but PayPal still needs to confirm that you control the email and phone you gave. In your inbox, open the message from PayPal and click the verify link inside. On your phone, enter the code sent by text or call on the verification screen.
When both checks pass, your PayPal account is ready for basic use. You can log in with your email and password, see your balance, and receive payments sent to that email address. Once you know how to sign up for PayPal from start to finish, repeating the process for a second account, if allowed in your region, feels far easier.
Extra Checks After You Sign Up
Depending on where you live and how you use your account, PayPal may ask for more proof of identity or business details. This is part of its Customer Identification Program, which exists to meet anti money laundering and know your customer rules set by regulators.
These checks may feel strict, but they help PayPal keep its service aligned with local financial rules and reduce fraud. Clearing them early in the life of your account often means smoother transfers and fewer holds when you start receiving larger payments.
When PayPal Requests Identity Documents
If PayPal needs more proof, you will usually see a notice in your account dashboard and receive an email. The message lists the exact documents it accepts. Common requests include a copy of a government issued photo ID and a proof of address dated within the last twelve months.
In some cases, such as higher payment volumes or business accounts, PayPal can also request business registration documents or information about the owners of the company.
How To Upload Documents Without Delays
When you upload files, make sure your name, date of birth, address, and document expiry dates are readable and not cut off at the edges. Avoid sending photos of screens or low resolution images, as these can slow down review.
| Document Type | What It Proves | Common Source |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Full name, date of birth, nationality, photo | National passport office |
| National ID Card | Full name, date of birth, photo, address in some countries | Local government agency |
| Driver License | Full name, photo, date of birth, address | Motor vehicle department |
| Utility Bill | Proof of current address | Electricity, gas, or water supplier |
| Bank Statement | Proof of address and active bank account | Bank or credit union |
| Business Registration | Legal business name and registration number | Company registry |
| Tax Document | Tax ID and registered address | Tax authority |
Common Problems During How to Sign Up for PayPal
Most new PayPal accounts open in a few minutes, but some users run into small hurdles that delay the process. Knowing the usual pain points helps you avoid them during your own sign up.
Email Link Not Arriving
If the verification email does not show up, start by checking your spam or junk folder. Many mail providers filter automated messages there on the first contact. You can also trigger a new link from the account summary page.
Phone Number Not Accepted
PayPal often needs a mobile number that can receive SMS in the same country as your address. If your number does not work, try removing any extra zeros, spaces, or local dialing codes that are not part of the actual number.
Account Limited Right After Sign Up
Occasionally, a new account may show as limited shortly after you start using it. This often means PayPal wants extra information about you or your business before lifting sending or withdrawal caps.
Safe Ways To Use Your New PayPal Account
Once you complete how to sign up for PayPal and pass any extra checks, you can start using the account with a few simple safety habits in place. These habits protect both your money and your personal details.
A good habit is to sign out on shared computers and avoid saving your PayPal password in public browsers. Limit account access to devices you control, and set a screen lock on your phone so your wallet stays safe if the device goes missing.
Protect Your Login
Enable two step verification in your PayPal security settings so that each new login on a device needs a code delivered by text, call, or authenticator app. This makes it harder for someone to break in even if they guess your password.
Check Payments Before You Confirm
When you pay at a checkout page, read the amount and currency before you approve the payment. If anything looks off, back out and review the order on the merchant site. For any strange transactions that reach your account, use the Resolution Center to report the issue promptly.
Keep Your Details Up To Date
Over time, your email, phone number, or address may change. Updating those details inside your PayPal profile keeps your account easy to recover if you lose access, and helps identity checks go smoothly.
Bringing It All Together
How to Sign Up for PayPal comes down to a clear sequence. Choose the right account type, enter accurate details that match your ID, link a trusted payment method, then confirm your email and phone. If PayPal later asks for extra documents, respond with clear scans that show the details it lists.
If you follow the steps in this guide at a calm pace, you should reach a working PayPal account that you can use for shopping, getting paid, and sending money with confidence day after day.