Why can’t international students verify PayPal in the US?

Most international students struggle to verify PayPal in the US because PayPal must confirm someone’s legal identity in the country where the account is registered. If the student does not have US‑accepted documents, or the documents do not match perfectly, PayPal stops the verification.

Why this happens

PayPal in the US follows banking rules. To activate full features, it must check:

• Legal identity in the US: PayPal usually asks for a government ID (passport, US visa, or state ID) and sometimes proof of US address. If the document photo is unclear, expired, or the address differs, the system rejects it.
• Valid US address: PayPal needs a real residential address, not a campus mailbox. If the address format is unusual or recently activated, it may fail.
• Bank or card that matches the name: PayPal checks that the bank account or card belongs to the same person. Many students link debit cards from their home country, but these often fail verification in the US version of PayPal.
• Phone number requirement: A US PayPal account must have a US phone number that can receive SMS. Some international or virtual numbers do not work.

If any of these items do not match exactly, the system automatically blocks or limits verification. It is not about immigration status; it is about matching records.

If the student already meets all requirements but still cannot verify

• Document scan issues: Even perfect documents can fail if the lighting is poor or the glare hides details. Resubmitting clearer images often solves it.
• Name formatting problems: Many international names break systems. If the bank uses one spelling and PayPal uses another, PayPal cannot confirm identity. Updating the name on the PayPal profile to match the bank exactly usually fixes this.
• Address mismatch: PayPal may reject campus housing or dorm addresses. Using the exact format shown on a bank statement or utility letter helps.
• Old foreign PayPal accounts: If someone previously created a PayPal in their home country, using the same email or phone can trigger a block. Removing those connections or closing the old account may be required.
• System flags: Using VPNs, logging in from two countries in one day, or linking too many cards can cause temporary limits. Waiting 24 hours and logging in without VPN often clears the flag.

When everything seems correct but verification still fails, the most effective step is contacting PayPal through the “Message Center” and sending the required documents again. Once an agent manually reviews them, accounts are usually verified without further problems.