What are PayPal fees in India for receiving international payments in 2026?
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Short answer
PayPal India charges 4.40% plus a fixed fee on each international commercial payment received.1 Its currency conversion fee is 3.0% or 4.00% above the base exchange rate.1 Standard withdrawal to an Indian bank has no fee when no conversion is involved.1 The weekly digital FIRA is free.3 PayPal does not state which conversion fee applies to rupees.1
| Fee type | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving fee | 4.40% plus a fixed fee (for example 0.30 USD, 0.35 EUR, 0.20 GBP)1 | Each international commercial payment received1 |
| Currency conversion | 3.0% or 4.00% above the base exchange rate1 | When PayPal converts a balance or payment; which applies to INR withdrawal is not stated1 |
| Withdrawal to Indian bank | No fee when no conversion is involved1 | Standard withdrawal, made automatically every day14 |
| Weekly digital FIRA | Free3 | Available from February 20263 |
| Dispute fee, standard | 8.00 USD or 580.00 INR, by currency1 | When a buyer raises a dispute1 |
1,000 USD = ₹94,243 at the reference rate for 13 November 2026 (European Central Bank data).
Estimated rupees received, on published fees
Sorted by estimated rupees received, highest first. Only providers that publish both their fee and their conversion markup for this currency and method can be estimated.
| # | Provider and route | Best for | Fee (+GST) | Markup | You receive | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karbon BusinessLowest estimated costBank transfer to a Karbon virtual USD account | US bank transfers and marketplace payouts | ₹942plus GST, rate not stated | 0% | ₹93,131 to ₹93,301 | 1.00 to 1.18% |
| 2 | RazorpayMoneySaver Export Account: bank transfer to virtual account details (Standard plan) | Local transfers from the US, UK and eurozone | ₹1,000plus GST, rate not stated | 0% | ₹93,063 to ₹93,243 | 1.06 to 1.25% |
| 3 | WinvestaGlobal Collections Account, standard plan (up to 2,000 a month per currency) | Local transfers with a published per-payment fee | ₹1,435 | 0% | ₹92,809 | 1.52% |
| 4 | SkydoPayment link (InstaLinks) paid by ACH debit | Local bank transfers from major markets | ₹1,885plus GST, rate not stated | 0% | ₹92,019 to ₹92,358 | 2.00 to 2.36% |
| 5 | PayoneerLocal bank transfer to Payoneer receiving account details | Marketplace payouts such as Amazon or Upwork | ₹0no GST stated | 1 to 4% | ₹90,473 to ₹93,301 | 1.00 to 4.00% |
| 6 | PayPalThis pageInternational commercial transaction received into a PayPal account (PayPal checkout or invoice) | Clients paying by card or PayPal balance | ₹4,175no GST stated | 3 to 4% | ₹86,465 to ₹87,366 | 7.30 to 8.25% |
Not estimated because pricing is not fully published: Cashfree Payments, Dodo Payments, PingPong, Stripe, Tazapay, TransFi, Wise.
Where a provider says GST applies to its fee but not at what rate, the range runs from no GST to 18%, the rate Skydo, Stripe and Winvesta state on their pages. Estimates use each provider's published fee, conversion markup, GST on fees and FIRA charge, checked 2026-10-28, against the reference rate. They exclude charges taken by intermediary banks and your own bank, and the rate a provider actually applies at the time of conversion. Check the provider's pricing page before you choose. The order is calculated only from these published numbers; no provider can pay to change its position, and there are no affiliate links.
PayPal's fees for Indian users are set out on its India merchant fee page, which says it was last updated on 28 March 2024.1 This page lays out every fee an Indian service exporter, such as a freelance writer, a design studio or a consultant, can meet when a foreign client pays through PayPal, as published on PayPal's own pages and checked on 28 October 2026.1
For how PayPal works overall, including its RBI status and the export rules, see the PayPal review for Indian exporters.
What are PayPal fees at a glance?
PayPal India charges a percentage plus a fixed fee on each international commercial payment, a fee above its base exchange rate when it converts currency, and event fees such as dispute fees.1 The table below lists each published fee.1234
| Fee | What PayPal publishes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving an international commercial payment | 4.40% plus fixed fee | Fee page1 |
| Fixed fee, by currency received | 0.30 USD; 0.35 EUR; 0.20 GBP; 0.30 AUD; 0.30 CAD; 0.50 SGD; 0.55 CHF; 40.00 JPY | Fee page1 |
| Conversion: balance and payments received into another currency | 3.0% above the base exchange rate | Fee page1 |
| Conversion: all other cases | 4.00% above the base exchange rate (INR, USD, EUR, GBP and others) | Fee page1 |
| Withdrawal to Indian bank account (standard) | No fee when no currency conversion is involved | Fee page1 |
| Weekly digital FIRA | Free | FIRA page3 |
| Monthly or account fee | None listed | Fee page1 |
Event fees, such as dispute and failed withdrawal fees, are listed further down.1
How does PayPal charge Indian users?
PayPal charges Indian users a receiving fee on each payment and a conversion fee when it converts currency; standard withdrawal itself has no fee when no conversion is involved.1
- Transaction fee: 4.40% plus a fixed fee by currency on each international commercial payment.1
- FX markup: 3.0% or 4.00% above the base exchange rate.1
- Withdrawal fee: None for standard withdrawal when no currency conversion is involved.1
- Fixed fee: For example 0.30 USD, 0.35 EUR or 0.20 GBP per payment; no monthly or account fee listed.1
PayPal transfers the balance to your linked Indian bank account automatically every day.4
What does PayPal charge by payment method?
PayPal applies its commercial transaction rate of 4.40% plus a fixed fee to payments received, and does not publish a separate card rate.12
| Payment type | What PayPal publishes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| International commercial payment from a PayPal balance | 4.40% plus fixed fee | Clients who already hold a PayPal balance |
| Card-funded payment through PayPal | No separate card rate published; buyers can pay by card through PayPal | Clients who want to pay by card |
| Alternative payment methods | Commercial transaction rates apply | Clients using other methods PayPal supports |
| Micropayment rate (on application and approval, applies to all payments) | 6.00% plus micropayments fixed fee (for example 0.05 USD, 0.05 EUR, 0.05 GBP) | Sellers with many very small payments |
The table follows PayPal's India fee page and user agreement.12
For example, on a $1,000 international commercial payment, PayPal's published receiving fee is $44.30: 4.40% of $1,000 ($44.00) plus the 0.30 USD fixed fee, leaving $955.70, or about 4.43% of the payment.1
What is the PayPal currency conversion fee and FX markup?
PayPal converts at a transaction exchange rate made of a base exchange rate plus a currency conversion fee that PayPal keeps.2 PayPal's India user agreement says the base exchange rate is based on wholesale currency market rates on the conversion day or the prior business day, or a government reference rate where required.2
The India fee page lists two conversion fees:1
- Converting balance and payments received into another currency: 3.0% above the base exchange rate.1
- Conversions in all other cases: 4.00% above the base exchange rate, with Indian Rupee (INR) listed at 4.00%.1
The withdrawal section of the same page says only that "a currency conversion (and currency conversion fees) may also apply".1 PayPal's help article on bank transfers does not mention currency conversion.4 So PayPal's own pages do not state which of the two fees applies when a dollar, euro or pound balance is converted to rupees for your Indian bank. Check the exchange rate and fee shown in the transaction details in your account.
For example, on the $955.70 left from a $1,000 payment, a 3.0% conversion fee costs about $28.67 and a 4.00% fee about $38.23, so the conversion adds roughly 2.9% to 3.8% of the original payment.1
What are PayPal withdrawal and settlement fees?
PayPal's standard withdrawal to an Indian bank account has no fee when no currency conversion is involved, and PayPal makes it automatically every day.14
- Standard withdrawal: No fee when no currency conversion is involved.1
- Timing: Automatic every day; PayPal asks you to allow up to 5 business days for the money to show.4
- Failed withdrawal: 250.00 for wrong bank details, currency not stated.1
- Weekly digital FIRA: Free, available from February 2026.3
- Custom FIRA: 100 INR plus 18% GST per transaction for up to 20 transactions; 2,000 INR plus 18% GST in bulk above 20 transactions.3
See FIRC vs FIRA vs e-BRC for what each document is.
Is GST charged on PayPal fees?
PayPal's India fee page does not mention GST on the receiving or conversion fees.1 PayPal's FIRA page states 18% GST on custom FIRA fees.3
How much INR do you receive on $2,000, $5,000 and $10,000 with PayPal?
The INR you receive with PayPal depends on the 4.40% plus fixed receiving fee and on whether the 3.0% or 4.00% conversion fee applies, so the result is a range.1 The table below shows that range on published fees, at today's rate.
| Platform | Best for | INR on USD 2,000 | INR on USD 5,000 | INR on USD 10,000 | Cost on USD 5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PayPalMost INRInternational commercial transaction received into a PayPal account (PayPal checkout or invoice) | Clients paying by card or PayPal balance | ₹1,72,958 to ₹1,74,760 | ₹4,32,436 to ₹4,36,940 | ₹8,64,899 to ₹8,73,908 | 7.27 to 8.23% |
Ranked by INR received on USD 5,000. Reference rate: European Central Bank data for 13 November 2026. Fees, conversion markup, GST on fees and FIRA charges as published by each provider, checked 28 October 2026. Ranges appear where a provider publishes a range or does not state its GST rate. Intermediary bank charges are excluded. See the methodology.
To compare PayPal with other routes for your own amount, use the international payment fee calculator.
What hidden or one-off charges does PayPal apply?
PayPal's event fees cover disputes, failed withdrawals and refunds, and PayPal applies dispute fees in the currency of the original transaction.1
| Charge | What PayPal publishes | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Dispute fee, standard | 8.00 USD; 7.00 EUR; 6.00 GBP; 12.00 AUD; 10.00 CAD; 580.00 INR | A buyer raises a dispute |
| Dispute fee, high volume | 16.00 USD; 14.00 EUR; 12.00 GBP; 24.00 AUD; 20.00 CAD; 1,160.00 INR | A high-volume seller receives a dispute |
| Refund | No fee to refund, but the original receiving fee is not returned | You refund a client |
| Failed withdrawal (wrong bank details) | 250.00 (currency not stated) | Your bank details are wrong |
| Custom FIRA | 100 INR plus 18% GST per transaction, or 2,000 INR plus 18% GST above 20 transactions | You need a FIRA outside the weekly digital one |
The table follows PayPal's fee page and FIRA page.13
PayPal's India pages checked on 28 October 2026 do not publish which conversion fee applies to the automatic conversion to INR, the base exchange rate itself, whether GST is charged on receiving or conversion fees, the currency of the 250.00 bank return fee, a separate fee for card-funded payments or PayPal invoices, or a minimum withdrawal amount.1234 The fee page states "Last Updated: 28, March 2024" and points to PayPal's Policy Updates page for upcoming changes, so check it before invoicing, since fees can change on notice.1
How can you reduce PayPal fees?
PayPal fees depend on the receiving fee and conversion fee, so the main levers are the payment route and checking the rate applied.1
- Check the conversion fee: Check whether 3.0% or 4.00% was applied in your transaction details.1
- Use the free FIRA: The weekly digital FIRA is free, while a custom FIRA costs 100 INR plus 18% GST per transaction.3
- Check bank details: A failed withdrawal for wrong bank details costs 250.00.1
- Compare routes for large invoices: The 4.40% receiving fee is charged on every payment, so compare a bank-transfer route for large invoices using the table below.1
How do PayPal fees compare with other platforms?
On published fees, PayPal's estimated cost on a USD 5,000 receipt is 7.27 to 8.23%, after the bank-transfer providers below.1 The table is ordered by estimated cost on a USD 5,000 receipt, cheapest first, using each provider's published fees, FX markup and GST where published.
| Platform | Best for | Estimated cost on USD 5,000 | Fees guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skydo | Local bank transfers from major markets5 | 0.68%678 | Skydo fees |
| Razorpay | Local transfers from the US, UK and eurozone9 | 1.00 to 1.18%1011 | Razorpay fees |
| Karbon Business | US bank transfers and marketplace payouts12 | 1.00 to 1.18%1213 | Karbon Business fees |
| Winvesta | Local transfers with a published per-payment fee1415 | 1.24%14 | Winvesta fees |
| PayPal | Clients paying by card or PayPal balance2 | 7.27 to 8.23%1 | This page |
See also Wise vs PayPal, PayPal vs Payoneer, PayPal alternatives and FX markup on export payments.
How did we verify this?
We checked this page against the sources below on 30 October 2026. Provider fees, conversion markups and RBI payment aggregator (PA-CB) status were checked on 28 October 2026. Rupee amounts use European Central Bank reference rates for 13 November 2026. Read our methodology or report an error.
- [1]PayPal India, PayPal Merchant Fees (page last updated 28 March 2024) (checked 28 October 2026)
- [2]PayPal India, User Agreement for PayPal Services (last updated 13 January 2025) (checked 28 October 2026)
- [3]PayPal India, Foreign Inward Remittance Advise (FIRA) (checked 28 October 2026)
- [4]PayPal India Help, How do I transfer funds to my bank account? (checked 28 October 2026)
- [5]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [6]Skydo FAQ, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [7]Skydo, Home page (checked 2026-10-28)
- [8]Skydo, Terms of use (checked 2026-10-28)
- [9]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [10]Razorpay, MoneySaver Export Account (international bank transfers) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [11]Razorpay, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
- [12]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
- [13]Karbon, PayPal alternative (checked 2026-10-28)
- [14]Winvesta FAQs, What are the charges for the global collections account? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [15]Winvesta FAQs, What currencies are available with local accounts? (checked 2026-10-28)
Frequently asked questions
Does PayPal charge 3% or 4% to convert USD to INR?+
PayPal's India fee page lists 3.0% above the base rate for converting balance and payments received into another currency, and 4.00% (including for INR) for all other conversions. PayPal does not say which applies to the automatic transfer to an Indian bank, so check the rate shown in your PayPal transaction details.1
Is the PayPal FIRA free?+
Yes. PayPal says its weekly digital FIRA, available from February 2026, can be downloaded without payment. A custom PayPal FIRA costs 100 INR plus 18% GST per transaction for up to 20 transactions, or 2,000 INR plus 18% GST in bulk for more than 20 transactions.3
Is there a monthly fee for a PayPal business account in India?+
PayPal's India fee page does not list any monthly or account fee for a PayPal business account. The costs an Indian exporter meets are per-payment receiving fees, currency conversion fees and event fees such as dispute fees, listed on the same PayPal merchant fee page.1
How long does PayPal take to send money to an Indian bank?+
PayPal transfers the balance to your linked Indian bank account automatically every day, and asks you to allow up to 5 business days for the money to show in your account. PayPal's India help article on bank transfers does not mention currency conversion.4
How does PayPal set its base exchange rate?+
PayPal's India user agreement says the base exchange rate is based on wholesale currency market rates on the conversion day or the prior business day, or a government reference rate where required. PayPal adds its currency conversion fee to that base rate and keeps the fee.2
When was PayPal's India fee page last updated?+
PayPal's India merchant fee page states it was last updated on 28 March 2024, and it points to PayPal's Policy Updates page for upcoming changes. The PayPal FIRA page is newer and describes the free weekly digital FIRA available from February 2026, so check both pages before invoicing.13
This page is general information for Indian service exporters, not tax or legal advice. Rules change and outcomes depend on your facts, so confirm with a chartered accountant before acting.
Keep reading
PayPal for Indian service exporters: how it works, costs and limits
How PayPal works for Indian freelancers and businesses billing clients abroad: RBI status, fees, currency conversion, FIRA, purpose code, limits and the 2026 rules.
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