# Import saved PayPal payment methods

Learn how to import saved payment methods from PayPal.

You can import PayPal billing agreements created outside Stripe and re-use them through the Stripe integration.

## Before you begin

Follow the instructions in [Set up future PayPal payments](https://docs.stripe.com/payments/paypal/set-up-future-payments.md#enable-recurring-payments) to enable recurring payments.

## Import PayPal billing agreements to Stripe [Server-side]

You can use the [billing_agreement_id](https://docs.stripe.com/api/setup_intents/create.md#create_setup_intent-payment_method_options-paypal-billing_agreement_id) parameter of a [Setup Intent](https://docs.stripe.com/api/setup_intents.md) to import an active PayPal billing agreement to Stripe. The resulting [PaymentMethod](https://docs.stripe.com/payments/payment-methods.md#payment-method-object) allows you to charge your existing customer’s PayPal account without the customer needing to re-authorise the billing agreement. This guide shows the steps you need to follow.

PayPal will only send cancellation webhooks for billing agreements created through Stripe.

## Create a Customer [Server-side]

Create a Customer object when your customer creates an account on your business. Associating the ID of the Customer object with your own internal representation of a customer lets you retrieve and use the stored payment method details later. If your customer hasn’t created an account, you can still create a Customer object now and associate it with your internal representation of the customer’s account later.

```curl
curl -X POST https://api.stripe.com/v1/customers \
  -u "<<YOUR_SECRET_KEY>>:"
```

## Attach a payment method [Server-side]

After you create a customer, attach a payment method by creating a Setup Intent.

```curl
curl https://api.stripe.com/v1/setup_intents \
  -u "<<YOUR_SECRET_KEY>>:" \
  -d "payment_method_types[]=paypal" \
  -d "payment_method_data[type]=paypal" \
  -d "payment_method_options[paypal][billing_agreement_id]=B-1234556789" \
  --data-urlencode "return_url=https://example.com" \
  -d confirm=true \
  -d usage=off_session \
  -d "mandate_data[customer_acceptance][type]=offline" \
  -d customer=cus_XXX
```

## Use your saved payment method [Server-side]

Follow the instructions in [Set up future PayPal payments](https://docs.stripe.com/payments/paypal/set-up-future-payments.md?web-or-mobile=web&payment-ui=stripe-hosted#charge-later) to use this payment method to charge your customers.