How to Withdraw Money from PayPal to a Bank Card in 2025

Despite the fact that PayPal has imposed certain restrictions on many users' accounts, it remains a relevant tool for money transfers and online payments. In this article, we will look at current methods for withdrawing funds from PayPal to a bank card, and explain the important legal and practical aspects to consider when performing these operations.

In this article:

Does PayPal work in Russia in 2025?
1.1 Using PayPal in Russia
How users withdraw money from PayPal to a card
Choosing a good exchange service on AntiSwap
Conclusion

Does PayPal work in Russia in 2025?

Back in March 2022, PayPal representatives announced that the system would no longer serve Russian users' accounts. The company left the Russian market and suspended the opening of new personal and corporate accounts. In reality, many people are unable to not only register a new profile in the system but even log into their old accounts to top up their balance or withdraw funds from them.

Furthermore, in October 2024, the company introduced commission charges. Now, if a user does not log into their account and does not perform transactions for a year, PayPal charges an account maintenance fee. The deduction only occurs if there is a positive balance in the wallet; if there are no funds, no fee is charged. If the account is inactive and the balance exceeds 3,500 rubles, PayPal withholds this amount once a year or its equivalent in another currency.

Using PayPal in Russia

First, it is important to understand that PayPal continues to operate for international transactions—if you have an account registered in a foreign jurisdiction, you can use the service for purchases, transfers, and withdrawals. Many people open foreign bank accounts for this purpose, most often in Kazakhstan, Armenia, Georgia, or Turkey. They then link them to PayPal accounts registered with foreign credentials. However, registering a new account requires a foreign phone number and passport.

There are various methods discussed online for restoring access to PayPal. We will analyze these methods and the associated risks—without providing recommendations on how to bypass restrictions.

Changing the connection region. May temporarily restore access to service features that depend on the region.
⚠️ Account blocking, suspicion from the payment system, and questions regarding the legality of actions are possible.
Browser and session data settings. Reduces the likelihood of automated checks.
⚠️ Risk of losing account access if anomalies are detected.
Device time settings. Sometimes the service checks the system time against the region where the card was issued.
⚠️ May trigger additional checks if data discrepancies occur.

How users withdraw money from PayPal to a card

Since, again, PayPal does not allow some users to create new accounts or fully utilize old ones, it is currently impossible to withdraw money directly from the service. And not everyone can find a foreign card. What is left then?

Many turn to exchange platforms that help convert the balance into an accessible format—to a card, electronic wallet, or another payment system. In practice, this works as an intermediary service: the user initiates a transfer, and the platform sends the amount to the specified details.

Advantages:

Simplicity. No need to open a foreign account or collect documents.
Speed. Most exchangers process transfers within a few hours.
Accessibility. This is the only option for those who do not have a foreign account.

Risks:

Commissions. Exchangers charge fees, which are sometimes quite high.
Limitations. Some services may not work with large amounts or may require additional verification. Furthermore, situations often occur where users have their operations blocked and funds held in their accounts.
Fraud. The exchange market is full of unscrupulous platforms. If you choose an unverified option, you could lose your money entirely.

To avoid problems and choose a reliable and verified exchange site, people use exchange monitors, such as AntiSwap. The AntiSwap team regularly checks reviews for serious complaints, evaluates platforms for potential risks, and compiles its rating based on the results.
Honest — assigned to platforms that have no serious complaints in their reviews.
Neutral — indicates cases of temporary fund holds, which are returned with a slight delay or after deducting a certain commission.
SCAM — the exchanger delays the return of funds, setting new conditions for the return.

Choosing a good exchange service on AntiSwap

On the official website antiswap.info users specify the desired exchange direction.

Then they set the transaction parameters.

After that, a list of current platforms appears. When choosing, many focus on two key criteria:

Reliability level. The safest options are those exchange points that fall into the "honest" category. No harsh complaints regarding fund withholding or fraud have been filed against them.
Exchange rate. To get a decent amount for the exchange, it is important to compare the terms of all available services.

After selecting a suitable platform, you are redirected to its website, an application is submitted, and funds are credited within the timeframes established by the service.

Conclusion

In fact, PayPal remains a relevant tool for those who work or trade with foreign buyers and clients. But using it requires flexibility, readiness for additional expenses, and an understanding of all the risks. Nowadays, the ability to adapt and find legal solutions is key to using any financial service.