M-Pesa Charges 2025
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M-Pesa Global Transfer Calculator

Take the guesswork out of international money transfers. This tool shows you the real cost of sending money with M-Pesa Global, including all fees and currency conversion markups. Whether you know the KES you want to send or the exact amount your recipient needs, you'll see a full cost breakdown so there are no surprises.

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Smart Online Payment Calculator

An illustration of the M-Pesa GlobalPay Virtual VISA Card.

Ready to pay for your online subscription or purchase? Use this tool to see the final cost on your M-Pesa. Simply select whether the price is in Kenyan Shillings or another currency, and we'll calculate the total for you, including any standard M-Pesa fees or forex markups

Many global services now bill directly in Kenyan Shillings. When you pay, there are no currency conversion fees.

M-Pesa for Global Services

How to Register for M-PESA Global and Activate It in 2025

In Kenya, M-PESA is not a new name, but still many Kenyans do not know all of its features that it has to offer. If you are looking to send and receive money internationally, you need to know all about M-PESA Global and M-PESA GlobalPay, which makes these transactions necessary.

M-PESA GlobalPay is available in more than 170 countries globally, where you can use it for international money transfers. However, before you even think of using it and you are not sure how it works, in summary you must have registered and activated the GlobalPay card (M-PESA Visa card) for you to be able to use it. Below is everything that you need to know about the M-PESA Global Card.

What Exactly Is M-PESA Global or GlobalPay?

Many users mistakenly assume M-PESA Global and GlobalPay are the same thing, but they serve different purposes under the same international umbrella.

M-PESA Global is Safaricom's cross-border money transfer service that enables users to send and receive funds internationally. It supports transfers to over 170 countries through partnerships with platforms like Western Union, PayPal, and MoneyGram. This feature allows Kenyans to receive remittances from relatives abroad, make payments for school fees overseas, or even pay suppliers in other countries.

GlobalPay, on the other hand, is a virtual Visa card issued through M-PESA. It allows users to shop online at any global merchant that accepts Visa, including Amazon, Netflix, Alibaba, and more. Unlike M-PESA Global (which deals with person-to-person or service transfers), GlobalPay is about online retail and subscriptions.

In 2025, GlobalPay features include:

  • CVV auto-refresh every 30 minutes
  • Card validity for 3 years
  • Spending caps from KSh 1 to KSh 250,000
  • 3.5% forex markup fee
How To Register for M-PESA Global in 2025?

Follow the process below to activate your card:

1. Via USSD Code (*840#)
  1. Dial *840# on your phone
  2. Follow the prompts to opt-in to M-PESA Global
  3. Accept the terms and conditions
  4. Once done, you'll receive a confirmation SMS
2. Using MySafaricom App
  1. Open the MySafaricom App
  2. Tap on the "Grow" section
  3. Navigate to "M-PESA Global"
  4. Select "Join M-PESA Global"
  5. Confirm your registration and agree to terms

If the above methods don't work out for you, you can visit any Safaricom shop nationwide with your ID card, and you will get assistance from the Safaricom Customer Care agents for the onboarding process. Once registered, you can start sending money internationally, withdraw from partner agents abroad, or link accounts like PayPal for smoother online commerce.

How Do You Activate M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Card?

Just like registration, the process of activating GlobalPay is an easy process that you can actually do by yourself. Here is how:

Option 1: Using the MySafaricom App
  1. Open the app and go to the "M-PESA" tab
  2. Select "GlobalPay" under the "Grow" section
  3. Tap on "Create Card"
  4. Set your preferred card name (e.g., "Main Shopping")
  5. Accept terms and conditions

Once completed, you'll receive a virtual Visa card with a 16-digit number, expiry date, and a CVV that refreshes every 30 minutes—a major security upgrade.

Option 2: USSD Shortcut (*334#)
  1. Dial *334#
  2. Choose "Lipa na M-PESA"
  3. Select "GlobalPay"
  4. Follow prompts to generate a card

This USSD method is perfect if you don't have smartphone access.

NOTE: While your card is activated, you need to be aware that the card is valid only for 3 years. Additionally, the minimum you can send internationally is KSh 1 and the maximum is KSh 250,000 per transaction. There is also a forex markup of 3.5% on all foreign currency spends. Finally, you can manage or delete your GlobalPay card anytime through the app. If your card remains inactive for 3 months, it's considered dormant, and you must wait 12 months to reapply.

M-PESA GlobalPay Fees & Limits

The limits and fees applied to your card are as follows:

Amount Range (KSh) Tariff (KSh)
101 - 5,000 100
5,001 - 15,000 250
15,001 - 35,000 350
35,001 - 70,000 500
Common GlobalPay Issues & Quick Fixes

There are most common issues that you may face while using the card, and one of them is the issue of the card not working. Here you need to understand that the M-PESA Global card uses a CVV that changes dynamically every 30 minutes. Ensure you check on that.

If the transaction has been declined, ensure you have sufficient funds in your M-PESA wallet and verify that the amount you are transacting is within your M-PESA account limits.

Where M-Pesa Global is Supported

You can send money from Kenya to bank accounts and mobile wallets in numerous countries. Through partners like Western Union, cash pickup is available in over 200 countries.

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M-Pesa GlobalPay Limits & Fees (2025)

This table shows the fixed tariff for sending money abroad. Remember, a 3.5% forex markup is charged on your send amount before conversion.

Transaction Range (KES) Fixed Tariff Fee (KES)
101 - 5,000 100
5,001 - 15,000 250
15,001 - 35,000 350
35,001 - 150,000 500

Key Limits: Maximum send amount per transaction is KES 150,000. The daily spending limit for all M-Pesa transactions is KES 500,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

M-Pesa GlobalPay provides you with a Virtual VISA Card linked to your M-Pesa wallet. You can use this card's details (16-digit number, expiry date, and CVV) to pay for goods and services on international websites and apps, just like a standard debit card. The payment is deducted directly from your M-Pesa balance.

You can activate it easily through the M-Pesa App. Go to the "Grow" tab, select "GlobalPay", and follow the prompts to create your virtual card. Alternatively, you can dial the USSD code *334#, select "Lipa na M-Pesa", and then choose "GlobalPay".

For security, the 3-digit CVV code is dynamic and changes every 30 minutes. To get the current CVV, open your M-Pesa App, navigate to the "GlobalPay" section, and tap to reveal the CVV for your card just before you make a payment.

Yes. The M-Pesa Global service allows you to send money to many countries, and the M-Pesa GlobalPay Virtual VISA Card is specifically designed for making payments on international websites like Amazon, Netflix, Spotify, and more.

There are two main costs: 1) For sending money internationally, there is a fixed tariff based on the amount you send (e.g., KES 100 for sending up to KES 5,000). 2) For online payments with the virtual card in a foreign currency, a 3.5% forex markup is applied to the exchange rate. Use our calculators on this page for precise estimates.

You can avoid the 3.5% forex markup fee if the international website or service allows you to pay directly in Kenyan Shillings (KES). Many services like Netflix and Google now bill in KES. In this case, you only pay the standard M-Pesa transaction fee, not the currency conversion markup.

First, activate your M-Pesa GlobalPay card. Then, go to the Netflix payment page and select "Credit or Debit Card" as your payment method. Enter the virtual card number, expiry date, and the dynamic CVV from your M-Pesa app to complete the subscription.

Yes. The M-Pesa GlobalPay card is a VISA card, so it is accepted by millions of online merchants worldwide, including major platforms like Alibaba, Amazon, eBay, and many others that accept VISA as a payment method.

The sender needs to use an M-Pesa international money transfer partner like WorldRemit, Western Union, Remitly, or many others. They will initiate the transfer from their end, and the funds will be deposited directly into your M-Pesa wallet in Kenyan Shillings.

If you see an unauthorized or incorrect charge, you should first try to resolve it with the merchant (the website you paid). If that fails, contact Safaricom customer care by calling 100 (PrePay) or 200 (PostPay) and provide them with the transaction details to initiate a formal dispute process.

You can manage your card through the M-Pesa App. Navigate to the "GlobalPay" section where you will find options to temporarily freeze your card or permanently delete it. Note that if the card is inactive for 6 months, it will automatically become dormant.

No. As of 2025, the maximum amount an individual M-Pesa account can hold is KES 500,000. The daily transaction limit is also KES 500,000, and the limit per single transaction is KES 250,000.

The "best" card depends on your needs. The M-Pesa GlobalPay Virtual Card is excellent for those who want to pay directly from their M-Pesa balance without needing a bank account. For larger or more frequent transactions, a standard debit or credit card from a local bank that is enabled for international use is also a great option.

Most VISA or Mastercard branded debit/credit cards issued by Kenyan banks can be used for international transactions. However, you may need to contact your bank's customer service to confirm that the feature is enabled for your specific card and to understand their foreign transaction fees, which may differ from M-Pesa's.

The main disadvantages can be fees and security. Cards may have foreign transaction fees, currency conversion markups, or dynamic currency conversion (DCC) fees at the point of sale. There is also a risk of card skimming or fraud, which is why using a virtual card like M-Pesa GlobalPay with a dynamic CVV for online payments can be more secure.