Updated 28 October 2026
Quick answer: M-Pesa GlobalPay is a free Visa virtual card linked to your M-Pesa wallet. You create it in the M-Pesa App (or Safaricom’s My OneApp) under GlobalPay, or by dialling *334#, then use the card number, expiry date and CVV to pay international online shops. Safaricom charges a 3.5% forex markup on each payment and no other M-Pesa transaction fee. Payments can be up to KSh250,000 per transaction. It’s built for foreign sites, so for Kenyan shops that bill in shillings you should keep paying with ordinary M-Pesa.
With Black Friday and Christmas sales coming, this guide explains how the card works, what a purchase really costs and how to avoid losing money. The details come from Safaricom’s M-Pesa GlobalPay FAQs, the M-Pesa Visa Virtual Card terms and conditions and Safaricom’s launch announcement, checked on 24 October 2026.
In this guide
M-Pesa GlobalPay at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Card type | Visa virtual card (16-digit number, CVV and expiry date), no plastic card |
| Linked to | Your M-Pesa wallet; payments come straight from your M-Pesa balance |
| Where it works | International online merchants that accept Visa, billed outside Kenya |
| Cost to get the card | No fee listed by Safaricom |
| Charge per payment | 3.5% forex markup on the transaction value; no extra M-Pesa transaction cost |
| Limits | KSh1 to KSh250,000 per transaction, KSh500,000 maximum; minimum about $1 |
| Validity | Three years, with SMS reminders before expiry |
| Fuliza | Can be enabled for GlobalPay in the mini app |
Source: Safaricom M-Pesa GlobalPay FAQs and M-Pesa Visa Virtual Card terms and conditions.
Who Can Get the Card
Any customer with a registered, active M-Pesa account can opt in. You don’t need a bank account or a credit history. Safaricom allows one card at a time. Its FAQs say you can only create one card in a 12-month period, while the card terms allow up to four new card credentials in the first year, so if you delete your card, don’t assume you can make a new one straight away.
How to Get the M-Pesa GlobalPay Card
In the M-Pesa App or My OneApp
- Open the M-Pesa App (or My OneApp) and log in.
- Find GlobalPay. Safaricom lists it under Global Payments or International Transfers, depending on the app version.
- Open the GlobalPay Virtual Card tab and choose to activate it.
- Pick a card colour.
- Enter your M-Pesa PIN.
- Wait for the SMS confirming the card has been created.
By USSD
Safaricom’s launch announcement says you can also dial *334#, choose Lipa na M-Pesa, then M-Pesa GlobalPay, and confirm with your PIN.
Viewing Your Card Details
Go back to the GlobalPay Virtual Card tab, choose to show card details and enter your PIN. You’ll see the 16-digit card number, the CVV and the expiry date. Only open them when you’re about to pay, and never send a screenshot of them to anyone.
How to Pay an International Shop
- Load enough money into M-Pesa to cover the price plus the 3.5% markup. Shipping and any import charges are separate.
- At checkout, choose to pay by card (Visa).
- Enter the GlobalPay card number, expiry date and CVV. Use your own name and a real address, as the shop requests.
- Confirm the payment. You’ll get an SMS showing the exchange rate applied.
- Check your M-Pesa statement to make sure the amount matches.
Some merchants decline cards for their own reasons. Safaricom says you’ll get an SMS when a merchant declines your card, so try another payment method rather than repeating the attempt many times.
What a Purchase Actually Costs
Here’s an example using the mid-market rate of about KSh129.85 to $1 (open.er-api.com, 24 October 2026). Visa’s rate on the day you pay will differ slightly.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price on a US site | $50.00 |
| Converted at about KSh129.85 to $1 | KSh6,492 |
| 3.5% GlobalPay markup | KSh227 |
| Approximate total from M-Pesa | KSh6,720 |
The 3.5% markup is not refunded if the payment is reversed. If a $50 order is cancelled, you would get back the converted price but not the KSh227 markup, according to Safaricom’s FAQs. That makes the card a poor choice for orders you’re likely to cancel.
Where to Use GlobalPay and Where Not To
When it launched the card, Safaricom said it is meant only for international online payments, partly to protect customers from paying forex costs on local purchases billed in shillings.
| Shop | Billed in | Best way to pay |
|---|---|---|
| Jumia, Kilimall, local supermarket sites | KSh, in Kenya | M-Pesa paybill or till at checkout, not GlobalPay |
| International stores, apps and subscriptions billed abroad | USD, GBP, EUR and others | GlobalPay card or a bank Visa or Mastercard |
| Sites that only take PayPal | Various | PayPal funded from M-Pesa or a card |
For PayPal-only sellers, see how to top up PayPal from M-Pesa.
Using Fuliza on GlobalPay
Safaricom lets GlobalPay users pay with Fuliza if their balance is short. You opt in to Fuliza through *334#, then enable Fuliza inside the GlobalPay mini app. It works for one-off and recurring payments, and the amount used is deducted when money next comes into M-Pesa. Fuliza has its own daily fees, which add up on recurring subscriptions, so read our guide to Fuliza charges first, and learn how to opt out of Fuliza if you don’t want it.
Safety Tips for Holiday Shopping
- Treat the card details like your M-Pesa PIN. Safaricom will never ask for your PIN or card details by phone or SMS.
- Only pay on websites you typed in yourself, not links sent in SMS, WhatsApp or social media adverts.
- Keep only what you need in M-Pesa before paying for subscriptions, so a compromised card can’t drain a large balance.
- Check recurring payments in the app and cancel ones you no longer use.
- If you see a payment you didn’t make, contact Safaricom immediately and say it was a GlobalPay card payment, not an ordinary M-Pesa transfer. Our guide to reversing an M-Pesa transaction covers ordinary transfers.
Online fraud keeps rising. The latest Communications Authority cyber threat report shows how often Kenyans are targeted. Looking for remote work that pays in dollars? Browse online jobs on JobinKenya.
Related: import duty on online shopping from abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the M-Pesa GlobalPay card cost?
Safaricom doesn’t list a fee to create the card. Each payment carries a 3.5% forex markup and no other M-Pesa transaction charge.
Can I use M-Pesa GlobalPay on Jumia or Kilimall?
Safaricom built the card for international payments billed outside Kenya. For shops billing in shillings, pay with M-Pesa paybill or till at checkout.
What is the GlobalPay limit?
KSh1 to KSh250,000 per transaction, with a KSh500,000 maximum, under Safaricom’s current FAQs. The minimum is about $1.
Do I get the 3.5% back if my order is refunded?
No. Safaricom says reversals don’t include the 3.5% forex markup.
How long is the card valid?
Three years. Safaricom sends reminders a month, seven days, three days and one day before it expires.
Can I use Fuliza with GlobalPay?
Yes, if you’ve opted in to Fuliza and enabled it in the GlobalPay mini app. Normal Fuliza fees apply.
Checked 24 October 2026 against Safaricom’s M-Pesa GlobalPay FAQs, card terms and conditions and launch press release. Exchange rate from open.er-api.com.
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