Cheapest way to send money to Nigeria from the UK: Provider comparison
Find out the cheapest way to send money to Nigeria from the UK, with our comparison of money transfer services like Wise, Remitly, MoneyGram and more.
How to change country in PayPal: What you need to know
Millions of people use PayPal every day to shop online, run their business, or send cash to friends and family. If you plan to move abroad, then you might wonder how to change the country on your Paypal account to keep using PayPal. Unfortunately, you can’t change the country on your account because different laws apply to different countries.
In this article, we will show you what you can do if you want to keep using PayPal in a new country. We’ll also touch on an alternative to PayPal, the money services provider, Wise. With the Wise card, you can pay online and in stores in 40+ currencies and 160+ countries.
Learn more about the Wise debit card 💳
Can I change my country on PayPal?
Unfortunately, you can’t change the country or nationality of your PayPal account. Although PayPal is available in 200 countries, the laws governing how PayPal operates are different in each country, making it impossible to change your country on PayPal¹. However, you can easily change other identifying information like your name, street address, and email address from your account settings.
What can I do if I want to change my country on PayPal?
If you’re moving abroad and want to change your country on PayPal, what you can do is close your account and open a new account in your new country. You can have two PayPal accounts as long as only one of them is a business account.
How can I close my PayPal account, and what happens to my transaction history if I do?
Before closing your PayPal account, you’ll first need to remove all your money from the account. You can choose to buy items, gift friends and family, request a check, donate to charity or withdraw to your regular bank account.
Note that when you close your account, you will lose your transaction history, discount codes, and unpaid money requests will also be cancelled.
So you can keep a copy of your transaction history by going to your history and clicking the download icon.
Now that all of these are taken care of, you can close your account. Here’s how to close your account on PayPal:
On the PayPal app
- Click the profile icon
- Tap "Close your account"
On Web
- Go to “Settings”
- Navigate to “Account options” and click “Close your account”
- Click “Close account”
Paypal vs Wise: Which is best for consumers?
How do I transfer my PayPal balance to Wise?
Here’s a step-by-step on how to transfer your PayPal balance to Wise:
Step 1: Get your Wise account details
- Sign in to your Wise account on the Web or the Mobile app
- Go to home and choose “Open”
- Select “Balance” and choose a currency that is the same as your PayPal account
- Once the balance opens, tap on “Get account details”
Step 2: Link your PayPal account to Wise
- Log in to PayPal on the web and go to the home section (or “Wallet” on the mobile app)
- Choose “Add card or bank account”
- Enter your Wise account details, that’s in the same currency you’re trying to transfer
PayPal will send two small transactions to your Wise account to verify the account. Enter the numbers in the verification section of your PayPal account to complete the verification.
Step 3: Transfer your PayPal balance to Wise
On the Web
- From the PayPal home page, head to “Transfer money” and select “Transfer to your bank account”
- Enter the amount and confirm
- Next, choose between an instant or standard transaction and follow the instructions
On the app
- Go on “Wallet”
- Tap on your balance
- Proceed to withdraw to the bank and choose your linked Wise account
Still need help? Watch this video to see exactly how to transfer your PayPal balance to Wise:
Wise – a low-cost alternative for transferring large amounts
Looking for a secure, convenient and low-cost way to send large sums of money internationally? Take a look at the Wise account from the money services provider Wise. It's not a bank account but offers some similar features and your money is safeguarded.
With Wise, you can send large amount transfers worldwide to 140+ countries in 40+ currencies for low, transparent fees* and mid-market exchange rates with no markup.
Sources used:
Sources last checked on: 25 October 2025
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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