How to Use M-Pesa as a Tourist or Foreigner in Kenya

Updated 23 October 2026

Almost everything in Kenya, from matatus and market stalls to safari lodges and restaurants, takes M-Pesa. Many small businesses prefer it to cards or cash. Visitors and foreign residents can register too, which makes getting around much easier. This guide explains how foreigners register, how to pay and withdraw, what it costs and the limits.

Registering as a Foreigner

1. Buy a Safaricom line and register it in your name. The name on the SIM registration must match your passport exactly, and you must be 18 or older.
2. Go to a Safaricom shop or customer care desk with your original foreign passport. Ordinary agents can only register Kenyan ID and Kenyan passport holders for M-Pesa.
3. Staff register your line and activate M-Pesa.
4. Set your PIN when prompted.

Depositing and Withdrawing

Once registered, you can deposit and withdraw at any M-Pesa agent using your foreign passport. Deposits are free. Withdrawal fees start at KSh 11 and depend on the amount.

Paying for Things

Getting Money From Home

Friends and family abroad can send money straight to your M-Pesa through international money transfer services that pay into M-Pesa. Check that the service lists Kenya and M-Pesa as a payout option, and give them your number in international format, starting with 254. The sender pays the transfer fee and exchange rate set by the service.

Limits

Safaricom lists KSh 250,000 per transaction, KSh 500,000 a day and a maximum account balance of KSh 500,000. At about KSh 129 to the US dollar, that is roughly USD 1,900 per transaction and USD 3,900 a day, which covers most travel budgets.

Tips for Visitors

• Check the business name on the confirmation screen before entering your PIN.
• Keep confirmation messages as receipts.
• Withdraw remaining money before leaving Kenya, as you cannot easily use M-Pesa abroad.

Budgeting for Fees

For most visitors, the cheapest pattern is to load a larger amount once, pay shops with Buy Goods and only withdraw cash when you have to. Each agent withdrawal carries a fee, starting at KSh 11 for KSh 50 to KSh 100, so many small withdrawals add up. Matatu crews, boda boda riders and market traders usually accept Send Money to their phone number, and sending up to KSh 100 is free.

Getting Money Onto M-Pesa

• Cash at an agent: change foreign currency at a bank or licensed bureau, then deposit the shillings at any agent. Depositing is free.
• From a bank account: many Kenyan and some international banks can send to M-Pesa. If you open a local account, look for the bank’s M-Pesa transfer option.
• From abroad: international transfer services that pay out to M-Pesa, as above.

Paying Hotels, Parks and Bigger Bills

Hotels, tour operators and many attractions take paybill payments. Always confirm the paybill number and account reference from the business itself, ideally on its official receipt or website, because fraudsters sometimes share fake numbers with travellers. The confirmation screen shows the registered business name before you enter your PIN.

Before You Leave Kenya

Withdraw or spend your remaining balance, since M-Pesa wallets are meant for use in Kenya. If you will be back, keep the line active by using it at least occasionally; lines that stay unused for a long time can be deactivated. Write down your PIN somewhere safe and away from your phone. If you are coming to Kenya to work, our KRA PIN guide explains the tax registration you will also need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can tourists use M-Pesa?

Yes, after registering a Safaricom line with a foreign passport at a Safaricom shop.

Can an agent register me?

No. Foreign passport holders register at Safaricom shops.

Is paying shops free?

Yes, Buy Goods payments are free for customers in normal use.

Where can I compare fees?

See our guide to M-Pesa withdrawal charges.

Can I register M-Pesa at the airport?

You can register at any Safaricom shop or customer care desk with your original passport. Check for a Safaricom shop near your arrival point or in town.

What are the M-Pesa limits for foreigners?

The same as for Kenyans: KSh 250,000 per transaction, KSh 500,000 a day and a maximum balance of KSh 500,000.