PayPal vs PayU (2026): Which Is Better for Receiving International Payments in India?
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Short answer
PayU publishes enough pricing to estimate the cost of a USD 5,000 receipt, so there is no cost verdict. The better choice depends on how your client pays: PayPal is best for clients paying by card or PayPal balance, and PayU is best for card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement.34
| Use case | Better option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer of USD 5,000 | Cannot compare | PayPal costs about 7.27 to 8.23%; PayU does not publish full pricing.12 |
| Bank transfer of USD 2,000 | Cannot compare | PayPal costs about 7.28 to 8.24%; PayU does not publish full pricing.12 |
| Client paying USD 2,000 by card or link | Cannot compare | PayPal costs about 7.28 to 8.24%; PayU does not publish full pricing.12 |
| PayPal is best for | PayPal | Clients paying by card or PayPal balance.3 |
| PayU is best for | PayU | Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement.4 |
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.
How do PayPal and PayU compare at a glance?
PayPal and PayU compare on the twelve points below, using each provider's published information as checked on 28 October 2026. Where a provider does not publish something, the table says so.15
| PayPal | PayU | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Clients paying by card or PayPal balance3 | Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement4 |
| Fees | 4.40% plus a fixed fee per international commercial transaction. Fixed fee by currency received, for example 0.30 USD, 0.35 EUR, 0.20 GBP, 0.30 AUD, 0.30 CAD. Approved micropayment accounts pay 6.00% plus a micropayments fixed fee (for example 0.05 USD) instead.1 | 3% for international transactions under the Standard Plan, GST extra. No separate bank transfer receiving fee is published because PayU does not publish a bank transfer collection route.5 |
| FX markup | Base exchange rate plus a fee. PayPal lists 3.0% above the base exchange rate for 'converting balance and payments received into another currency' and 4.00% for 'conversions in all other cases' (INR listed at 4.00%). The fee page does not say which of the two applies when the balance is converted to INR for transfer to an Indian bank.13 | Converted to INR at the rate on the transaction date; PayU says it applies exchange rate or margins on the card issuing currency for dynamic currency conversion. The margin is not published.46 |
| Settlement | PayPal asks users to allow up to 5 business days for funds to show in the bank account, depending on the bank's clearing process.7 | Typically T+2 business days for international payments.46 |
| FIRA | Free weekly digital FIRA (Foreign Inward Remittance Advise) from February 2026, downloadable under Reports, then Tax, in a business account for the last 12 months; earlier transactions are covered by monthly FIRAs. Custom FIRA: 100 INR plus 18% GST per transaction for up to 20 transactions, or 2,000 INR plus 18% GST for a bulk request above 20 transactions; PayPal says custom FIRAs are issued by Citibank.2 | PayU says it provides a FIRC on request through the merchant's Key Account Manager. The cost is not published.6 |
| Currencies | PayPal says Indian users can receive payments from international customers in more than 25 currencies. The list below is the currencies other than INR that appear in the fixed-fee table on PayPal's India fee page.81 | PayU says it accepts payments in 135+ currencies and can show local prices in 27 currencies.46 |
| KYC: who can sign up | Indian residents with a personal or business account; PayPal's KYC page covers individual business accounts, sole proprietors, partnership firms (including LLPs) and private limited companies. Receiving international payments needs a verified PAN, a linked Indian bank account, a purpose code, a description of the business and full KYC (Lite KYC allows one payment under $200).3910 | PayU's account activation checklist covers individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLPs, private and public limited companies and other entity types. International payments must be enabled separately through a PayU Key Account Manager; PayU does not publish which entity types are eligible for them.1112 |
| RBI PA-CB status | PayPal's India user agreement says it provides export payment services as an online payment gateway service provider under RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 16 (RBI/2015-16/185) and that PayPal is not a bank in India. RBI's status list as on 16 October 2026 shows PayPal Payments Private Limited under 'Existing PAs-CB which can operate as Payment Aggregator- Cross Border' with 'In-Principle Authorisation Granted'. PayPal is not on RBI's list of Certificates of Authorisation dated 16 October 2026.31314 | The RBI lists PayU Payments Private Limited as a Payment Aggregator (online and physical) and as PA-CB I & O, a cross-border payment aggregator facilitating inward and outward transactions, in its list dated 16 October 2026.15 |
| Support | Not published as a list of channels for Indian users on the pages checked; PayPal India's help centre articles are the published support route. | Existing merchants raise a ticket at help.payu.in or email care@payu.in; new merchants are directed to their account manager or care@payu.in for international rates.4 |
| Limits | PayPal's India user agreement lists using Export Payment Services for a product or service worth more than USD 10,000 per transaction as a restricted activity. Lite KYC allows receiving one payment under $200.310 | PayU does not publish a limit for export receipts. RBI rules set a limit of ₹25 lakh per export transaction for PA-CBs.416 |
| How clients pay | The buyer pays through PayPal from a PayPal balance, card, bank account or other payment method; alternative payment methods listed in PayPal's APM agreement can be enabled and are charged at commercial transaction rates. Payments from Indian customers are not supported.318 | International credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and PayPal at a PayU checkout. PayU does not publish local bank account details or virtual accounts for foreign clients to pay by bank transfer.412 |
| Card payments | Buyers can pay by credit or debit card through PayPal. The India fee page publishes one rate for receiving international commercial transactions (4.40% plus fixed fee) and does not list a separate card rate.31 | Yes. International card transactions fall under PayU's 3% Standard Plan slab, GST extra.5 |
How much INR do you receive on $2,000, $5,000 and $10,000 with PayPal vs PayU?
The INR you receive with PayPal and PayU is the invoice at the reference rate, less each provider's fee, conversion markup, GST on fees and FIRA charge. The table works this out from published pricing 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.
What is PayPal and who is it for?
PayPal is a payment services company whose India entity, PayPal Payments Private Limited, lets Indian residents receive payments from buyers outside India and transfers the balance to a linked Indian bank account.31
- Regulated by: PayPal's India user agreement says it provides export payment services as an online payment gateway service provider under RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 16 (RBI/2015-16/185) and that PayPal is not a bank in India. RBI's status list as on 16 October 2026 shows PayPal Payments Private Limited under 'Existing PAs-CB which can operate as Payment Aggregator- Cross Border' with 'In-Principle Authorisation Granted'. PayPal is not on RBI's list of Certificates of Authorisation dated 16 October 2026.31314
- Used by: Indian residents with a personal or business account; PayPal's KYC page covers individual business accounts, sole proprietors, partnership firms (including LLPs) and private limited companies. Receiving international payments needs a verified PAN, a linked Indian bank account, a purpose code, a description of the business and full KYC (Lite KYC allows one payment under $200).3910
- Best for: Clients paying by card or PayPal balance.3
What is PayU and who is it for?
PayU is an Indian payment gateway that the RBI lists as a cross-border payment aggregator for inward and outward transactions; its international payments product lets Indian merchants accept foreign cards and PayPal and settles in INR.154
- Regulated by: The RBI lists PayU Payments Private Limited as a Payment Aggregator (online and physical) and as PA-CB I & O, a cross-border payment aggregator facilitating inward and outward transactions, in its list dated 16 October 2026.15
- Used by: PayU's account activation checklist covers individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLPs, private and public limited companies and other entity types. International payments must be enabled separately through a PayU Key Account Manager; PayU does not publish which entity types are eligible for them.1112
- Best for: Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement.4
How do PayPal and PayU fees and FX markup compare?
PayPal and PayU charge in different ways, so compare the fee and the conversion markup together, not the headline fee alone.
What does PayPal charge?
| Transaction type | Fee | FX markup | GST on fees | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International commercial transaction received into a PayPal account (PayPal checkout or invoice) | 4.4% + plus a fixed fee by currency12 | 3 to 4% | Not stated | Clients paying through a payment link |
What does PayU charge?
| Transaction type | Fee | FX markup | GST on fees | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International card or PayPal transaction at PayU checkout (Standard plan) | 3%56 | Not published | Not stated | Clients paying by card |
How do PayPal and PayU compare on settlement speed?
PayPal and PayU publish these settlement times for money reaching an Indian bank account.
| Platform | Settlement time | Payout to India | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal | PayPal asks users to allow up to 5 business days for funds to show in the bank account, depending on the bank's clearing process.7 | PayPal transfers the balance automatically every day to the linked Indian bank account. Standard withdrawal to a bank account: no fee when no currency conversion is involved. A failed withdrawal because of incorrect bank details carries a bank return fee of 250.00 (currency not stated on the page).71 | Clients paying by card or PayPal balance3 |
| PayU | Typically T+2 business days for international payments.46 | Settled automatically to the merchant's bank account in INR; PayU's documentation also mentions non-INR settlement. No separate payout fee is published for standard settlement; priority or same-day settlement may carry a nominal fee that is not published.4125 | Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement4 |
Do PayPal and PayU provide FIRA and e-BRC, and are they RBI PA-CB authorised?
PayPal and PayU publish the FIRA position and RBI status below, checked on 28 October 2026. An e-BRC is generated by the exporter on the DGFT portal from bank remittance data, so it does not depend on the provider issuing one.36
| Platform | FIRA | RBI PA-CB status | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal | Free weekly digital FIRA (Foreign Inward Remittance Advise) from February 2026, downloadable under Reports, then Tax, in a business account for the last 12 months; earlier transactions are covered by monthly FIRAs. Custom FIRA: 100 INR plus 18% GST per transaction for up to 20 transactions, or 2,000 INR plus 18% GST for a bulk request above 20 transactions; PayPal says custom FIRAs are issued by Citibank.2 | PayPal's India user agreement says it provides export payment services as an online payment gateway service provider under RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 16 (RBI/2015-16/185) and that PayPal is not a bank in India. RBI's status list as on 16 October 2026 shows PayPal Payments Private Limited under 'Existing PAs-CB which can operate as Payment Aggregator- Cross Border' with 'In-Principle Authorisation Granted'. PayPal is not on RBI's list of Certificates of Authorisation dated 16 October 2026.31314 | Clients paying by card or PayPal balance3 |
| PayU | PayU says it provides a FIRC on request through the merchant's Key Account Manager. The cost is not published.6 | The RBI lists PayU Payments Private Limited as a Payment Aggregator (online and physical) and as PA-CB I & O, a cross-border payment aggregator facilitating inward and outward transactions, in its list dated 16 October 2026.15 | Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement4 |
Which currencies, countries and payment methods do PayPal and PayU support?
PayPal and PayU accept the currencies and payment methods below, as each publishes them.
| Platform | Currencies | How clients pay | Card payments | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal | PayPal says Indian users can receive payments from international customers in more than 25 currencies. The list below is the currencies other than INR that appear in the fixed-fee table on PayPal's India fee page.81 | The buyer pays through PayPal from a PayPal balance, card, bank account or other payment method; alternative payment methods listed in PayPal's APM agreement can be enabled and are charged at commercial transaction rates. Payments from Indian customers are not supported.318 | Buyers can pay by credit or debit card through PayPal. The India fee page publishes one rate for receiving international commercial transactions (4.40% plus fixed fee) and does not list a separate card rate.31 | Clients paying by card or PayPal balance3 |
| PayU | PayU says it accepts payments in 135+ currencies and can show local prices in 27 currencies.46 | International credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and PayPal at a PayU checkout. PayU does not publish local bank account details or virtual accounts for foreign clients to pay by bank transfer.412 | Yes. International card transactions fall under PayU's 3% Standard Plan slab, GST extra.5 | Card or PayPal checkout with INR settlement4 |
What are the strengths and limitations of PayPal and PayU?
PayPal and PayU each suit some exporters better than others. These points come from each provider's own pages.
What are the strengths and limitations of PayPal?
Strengths:
- Your foreign client wants to pay by card or from a PayPal balance rather than by bank transfer.3
- Individual invoices are at or below USD 10,000, the per-transaction ceiling in PayPal's India user agreement.3
- You want an export document without a per-payment fee: PayPal provides a free weekly digital FIRA.2
Limitations:
- The receiving fee is 4.40% plus a fixed fee per international commercial payment, before any currency conversion fee.1
- The fee page lists both 3.0% and 4.00% conversion fees and does not state which one applies to conversion to INR on withdrawal.1
- Payments from Indian customers are not supported; only international payments can be received.8
- Export Payment Services cannot be used for a product or service worth more than USD 10,000 per transaction.3
- Dispute and chargeback fees apply, for example 8.00 USD at the standard rate and 16.00 USD at the high-volume rate, and receiving fees are not returned on refunds.1
- As of 16 October 2026 RBI lists PayPal Payments Private Limited with in-principle (not final) authorisation as a cross-border payment aggregator.1314
What are the strengths and limitations of PayU?
Strengths:
- Your foreign clients prefer to pay by international card or PayPal on a checkout page and you want INR settlement.4
- You want a provider listed by the RBI as a cross-border payment aggregator for inward transactions.15
- You already use PayU for domestic payments and want international payments enabled on the same integration.12
Limitations:
- No bank transfer collection route (local account details for foreign clients) is published; the international product is card and wallet based.412
- The exchange margin on conversion to INR is not published.6
- International payments must be enabled through a Key Account Manager, and the FIRC is also requested through the account manager.126
- PA-CB export transactions are limited to ₹25 lakh each under RBI rules.16
- Priority settlement fees and the conditions behind the Standard Plan's terms and conditions note are not published.5
Should you choose PayPal or PayU?
Choose between PayPal and PayU by how your clients pay and your usual invoice size.
Choose PayPal if:
- Your foreign client wants to pay by card or from a PayPal balance rather than by bank transfer.3
- Individual invoices are at or below USD 10,000, the per-transaction ceiling in PayPal's India user agreement.3
- You want an export document without a per-payment fee: PayPal provides a free weekly digital FIRA.2
Choose PayU if:
- Your foreign clients prefer to pay by international card or PayPal on a checkout page and you want INR settlement.4
- You want a provider listed by the RBI as a cross-border payment aggregator for inward transactions.15
- You already use PayU for domestic payments and want international payments enabled on the same integration.12
For example, say a designer invoices a US client USD 2,000. Because PayU does not publish full pricing for that case, ask for a quote in writing and compare it with the FIRA rate after the first payment.1346
Which other platforms should you consider besides PayPal and PayU?
Other platforms to consider besides PayPal and PayU are the ones with the lowest estimated cost on a USD 5,000 receipt, listed in that order.1819202122232526282931333435
| Platform | Best for | Estimated cost on USD 5,000 | FIRA | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skydo | Local bank transfers from major markets17 | 0.68%181920212223 | Skydo says it issues a free FIRA on every payment received, and that its FIRA and FIRC are accepted for GST filing and by banks.2224 | Skydo review |
| Karbon Business | US bank transfers and marketplace payouts25 | 1.00 to 1.18%2526 | Karbon says it provides a FIRA for every transaction, issued by its licensed banking partner, which it does not name. Cost not published.25 | Karbon Business review |
| Razorpay | Local transfers from the US, UK and eurozone27 | 1.00 to 1.18%2829 | Razorpay provides a Foreign Inward Remittance Statement (FIRS), sent to the contact email within 24 hours after settlement for bank transfers, and downloadable from the dashboard, which shows bank-provided certificates and Razorpay-generated statements. The pricing page lists FIRC or eFIRC as included and auto-generated for international cards. No separate charge is published.273029 | Razorpay review |
| Winvesta | Local transfers with a published per-payment fee3132 | 1.24%31333435 | Free e-FIRA, emailed within 24 hours of funds reaching the Indian bank account and downloadable from the dashboard; it shows the purpose code and exchange rate.3433 | Winvesta review |
Compare every provider on your own invoice in the platform cost comparison.
How did we verify this?
We checked this page against the sources below on 28 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 2026-10-28)
- [2]PayPal India, Foreign Inward Remittance Advise (FIRA) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [3]PayPal India, User Agreement for PayPal Services (last updated 13 January 2025) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [4]PayU India, International Payment Gateway (checked 2026-10-28)
- [5]PayU India, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
- [6]PayU Docs, FAQs: International Payments and Dynamic Currency Conversion (checked 2026-10-28)
- [7]PayPal India Help, How do I transfer funds to my bank account? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [8]PayPal India Help, Can I use PayPal to receive payments from Indian customers? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [9]PayPal India, Four steps to complete your KYC (checked 2026-10-28)
- [10]PayPal India Help, How do I receive payments through PayPal? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [11]PayU Docs, Documents Checklist for Account Activation (checked 2026-10-28)
- [12]PayU Docs, PayU India International Payments (checked 2026-10-28)
- [13]RBI, Status of Applications received under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16.10.2026, Table D (checked 2026-10-28)
- [14]RBI, Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
- [15]RBI: Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, Payment Aggregators (PA-O, PA-P and PA-CB), list dated 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
- [16]RBI: Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregators, 15 September 2025
- [17]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [18]Skydo FAQ, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [19]Skydo, Home page (checked 2026-10-28)
- [20]Skydo FAQ, Who will bear the SWIFT charges? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [21]Skydo FAQ, Limitations and restrictions on receiving your foreign remittance via Skydo (checked 2026-10-28)
- [22]Skydo, Receive international payments in India as a freelancer (checked 2026-10-28)
- [23]Skydo, Terms of use (checked 2026-10-28)
- [24]Skydo FAQs, What is accepted for GST filings and banks between FIRA and FIRC? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [25]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
- [26]Karbon, PayPal alternative (checked 2026-10-28)
- [27]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [28]Razorpay, MoneySaver Export Account (international bank transfers) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [29]Razorpay, Pricing (checked 2026-10-28)
- [30]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
- [31]Winvesta FAQs, What are the charges for the global collections account? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [32]Winvesta FAQs, What currencies are available with local accounts? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [33]Winvesta, Multi-currency account (checked 2026-10-28)
- [34]Winvesta FAQ, When will I receive my e-FIRA certificate? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [35]Winvesta FAQ, Can I get priority processing for my withdrawal? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [36]DGFT: eBRC services (self-generation of e-BRC from bank inward remittance data)
- [37]GST Portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper for Indian exporters, PayPal or PayU?+
There is no cost verdict for a USD 5,000 bank transfer: payPal costs about 7.27 to 8.23%; PayU does not publish full pricing.12 The answer can change with the currency, payment method and invoice size, so check your own numbers in the platform cost comparison.
Do PayPal and PayU give a FIRA to Indian exporters?+
PayPal: Free weekly digital FIRA (Foreign Inward Remittance Advise) from February 2026, downloadable under Reports, then Tax, in a business account for the last 12 months; earlier transactions are covered by monthly FIRAs. Custom FIRA: 100 INR plus 18% GST per transaction for up to 20 transactions, or 2,000 INR plus 18% GST for a bulk request above 20 transactions; PayPal says custom FIRAs are issued by Citibank.2 PayU: PayU says it provides a FIRC on request through the merchant's Key Account Manager. The cost is not published.6
Can individual freelancers use PayPal and PayU?+
PayPal: Indian residents with a personal or business account; PayPal's KYC page covers individual business accounts, sole proprietors, partnership firms (including LLPs) and private limited companies. Receiving international payments needs a verified PAN, a linked Indian bank account, a purpose code, a description of the business and full KYC (Lite KYC allows one payment under $200).3910 PayU: PayU's account activation checklist covers individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLPs, private and public limited companies and other entity types. International payments must be enabled separately through a PayU Key Account Manager; PayU does not publish which entity types are eligible for them.1112
Are PayPal and PayU authorised by the RBI?+
PayPal: PayPal's India user agreement says it provides export payment services as an online payment gateway service provider under RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 16 (RBI/2015-16/185) and that PayPal is not a bank in India. RBI's status list as on 16 October 2026 shows PayPal Payments Private Limited under 'Existing PAs-CB which can operate as Payment Aggregator- Cross Border' with 'In-Principle Authorisation Granted'. PayPal is not on RBI's list of Certificates of Authorisation dated 16 October 2026.31314 PayU: The RBI lists PayU Payments Private Limited as a Payment Aggregator (online and physical) and as PA-CB I & O, a cross-border payment aggregator facilitating inward and outward transactions, in its list dated 16 October 2026.15
How fast do PayPal and PayU pay out to an Indian bank?+
PayPal: PayPal asks users to allow up to 5 business days for funds to show in the bank account, depending on the bank's clearing process.7 PayU: Typically T+2 business days for international payments.46
Do I still need an LUT if I am paid through PayPal or PayU?+
Yes, if you are registered under GST and want to invoice the export without IGST. The Letter of Undertaking is a GST filing for the financial year, and it does not depend on how the money reaches you, whether through PayPal, PayU or a bank wire.37
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
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