For its entire history, Venmo has been a US-only app — great for splitting rent with a roommate, useless for paying a cousin in Manila. That just changed. As of March 2026, Venmo can send money across borders to PayPal users in more than 90 countries, using nothing but a phone number. And through August 24, 2026, Venmo is waiving its international transaction fee, so there’s a real reason to act sooner rather than later.
Here’s exactly how the feature works, what it costs, and what to check before your first international send.
What Actually Launched
Venmo and PayPal are both owned by PayPal Holdings, and this feature connects the two networks directly. A Venmo user in the United States can now send money to anyone who holds a PayPal account in one of 90+ supported markets — hundreds of millions of potential recipients. PayPal describes it as the largest expansion of Venmo’s addressable market since the app first launched.
The important nuance: you are sending to a PayPal account, not a Venmo account. Venmo itself still isn’t available outside the US. So the person on the other end receives the money in their PayPal balance, in their local currency, not in a Venmo app.
- Who can send: Venmo users in the US.
- Who can receive: PayPal account holders in 90+ countries.
- How recipients are found: by the full phone number linked to their PayPal account.
- Currencies: you can choose from about 25 currencies when you send.
How to Send Money Internationally on Venmo
The flow is deliberately close to a normal domestic Venmo payment. No routing numbers, no IBANs, no bank forms.
- Make sure your profile is complete. Venmo requires an address on file before it will let you send an international payment. Add it under your account settings if you haven’t already.
- Search by phone number. Enter the recipient’s full phone number (with country code) in the Venmo search bar. If they have a PayPal account tied to that number and their privacy settings allow it, the app surfaces their account.
- Enter the amount in US dollars. Venmo automatically converts and shows the amount your recipient will receive in their currency.
- Review the rate and fees. Before you confirm, Venmo displays the currency conversion rate and any applicable fees, so you see the real cost up front.
- Add a note and send. Just like a domestic Venmo payment, you can attach a message. The recipient sees your name, the amount in their currency, and your note in their PayPal account.
Fees: Why August 24 Matters
There are two potential costs on an international transfer: an international transaction fee and a currency conversion fee (a spread built into the exchange rate).
Through August 24, 2026, Venmo is waiving the international transaction fee. After that date, expect that fee to return. The currency conversion component generally still applies even during the promotion, because converting dollars to another currency always carries a rate spread — but during the waiver window, sending abroad is meaningfully cheaper.
| Cost component | Before Aug 24, 2026 | After Aug 24, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| International transaction fee | $0 (waived) | Standard fee applies |
| Currency conversion (rate spread) | Applies | Applies |
| Domestic Venmo-to-Venmo sends | Free (bank/balance) | Free (bank/balance) |
Always confirm the exact fee shown on your own confirmation screen — Venmo displays the current, personalized number before you tap send, and that on-screen figure is the one that governs your transfer.
A Worked Example
Say you want to send the equivalent of a $200 gift to a family member in Mexico, before the deadline:
- You enter $200 USD.
- The international transaction fee is $0 (waived through August 24).
- Venmo applies its currency conversion rate and shows you the peso amount your recipient will receive — for example, roughly the mid-market rate minus a conversion spread.
- You review that peso figure, add a note (“Happy birthday!”), and send.
The same $200 sent on August 25 would likely carry an added international transaction fee on top of the conversion spread — which is precisely why the waiver window is worth using if you have a transfer you were planning anyway.
What to Check Before You Send
- The recipient needs a PayPal account in a supported country, linked to the phone number you’re searching.
- Their privacy settings must allow discovery by phone number, or they won’t appear in your search.
- You need an address on your Venmo profile — a hard requirement for international sends.
- Double-check the country code. A wrong or missing code is the most common reason a recipient doesn’t show up.
- Confirm the received amount, not just the sent amount. Because conversion happens on send, the number that matters to your recipient is the local-currency figure Venmo displays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the person overseas have a Venmo account instead of PayPal?
No. Venmo is still US-only. The international recipient must hold a PayPal account in one of the 90+ supported countries. You send from Venmo; they receive in PayPal.
Is the international transfer really free right now?
The international transaction fee is waived through August 24, 2026, so that specific charge is $0. A currency conversion cost (built into the exchange rate) generally still applies whenever dollars are converted to another currency. Venmo shows you the full, exact cost on the confirmation screen before you send.
How does the recipient get the money?
The funds land in the recipient’s PayPal balance in their preferred local currency. They’ll see your name, the amount received, and any note you attached — no new app or account setup required on their end, as long as they already have PayPal.
What happens after August 24, 2026?
The feature continues to work, but the waived international transaction fee is expected to end, meaning international sends will likely cost more. If you have a transfer you were going to make anyway, sending it before the deadline saves you that fee.
The Bottom Line
Venmo’s link-up with PayPal turns a domestic-only app into a genuine cross-border tool: pick a contact by phone number, send in dollars, and let the app handle the conversion into one of about 25 currencies. It’s simple, transparent about fees before you commit, and — until August 24, 2026 — free of Venmo’s international transaction fee. If you regularly send money to family or friends abroad who use PayPal, this window is a good time to try it and pocket the savings.
WalletWisp is an independent, informational resource and does not provide financial advice. Fees, limits, and eligibility can change — always confirm the current details in the Venmo app before sending.
