The basic steps to request payment

To request money on Venmo, open the app and tap the dollar sign icon at the bottom of the screen. Select "Request" instead of "Pay". Type in the amount you want, then search for the person's name or phone number and tap their profile. Add a note describing what the money is for — this helps the other person remember why they owe you — then tap "Request" to send it.

The person you requested from will see the request in their Venmo feed. They can pay you back by tapping the request and confirming the payment. The money moves to your Venmo balance once they pay, and you can leave it there or transfer it to your bank account.

Requests stay open until the other person pays or declines them. You can cancel a request at any time by opening it and tapping "Cancel Request". If someone declines, you'll see that in your transaction history, but they won't be charged anything.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the dollar sign icon, select "Request", enter the amount, and search for the person by name or phone number to send a payment request.
  • The person you request from sees it in their feed and can pay, decline, or ignore the request — nothing happens automatically.
  • You can add a note to explain what the money is for, which makes it easier for the other person to remember the context.
  • Money from a paid request goes into your Venmo balance first; you then transfer it to your bank account if you want it in your checking or savings account.
  • You can cancel a request at any time, and declining a request costs the other person nothing.

When to use a request instead of sending payment

Use a request when you've already paid for something and the other person owes you money back. For example, if you bought groceries for a friend and they said they'd pay you half, send a request instead of asking them to send you money first.

Requests are also useful when you're splitting a bill with multiple people. You can send separate requests to each person for their share, and they'll each see their own request in their feed. This is clearer than trying to explain the split in a regular payment message.

If you're not sure whether someone will pay you back, a request creates a record that you asked. It's not a legal document, but it shows in both of your transaction histories that money was owed.

What happens when someone ignores or declines your request

If someone doesn't respond to your request, it stays open in both your feeds. You can send them a text message or call to remind them, or you can cancel the request and ask them to pay you in a different way.

When someone declines a request, you'll see "Declined" next to the transaction in your history. Declining costs them nothing — it just means they're saying no to paying you back. You can still ask them about it in person or through another message, but Venmo won't send them a reminder or charge them a fee.

There's no time limit on how long a request can stay open. Some people leave requests active for weeks or months, though that can make your transaction history confusing. If you need the money back urgently, it's better to have a conversation outside of Venmo.

Requesting money from people not yet on your Venmo friends list

You can request money from someone even if they're not in your Venmo contacts yet. Search for them by their full name, username, or phone number. If they have a Venmo account, their profile will show up in the search results.

If the person doesn't have a Venmo account, you won't be able to send them a request through the app. In that case, you'd need to ask them to set up an account first, or use a different payment method like a bank transfer or cash.

When you request from someone new, they'll receive the request notification just like anyone else. They can accept it, decline it, or ignore it — the process is the same whether they're an old contact or someone you've never used Venmo with before.

How requests appear to the other person

When you send a request, the other person sees it in their Venmo feed with your name, the amount, and the note you added. They can tap on it to see more details, including the exact time you sent it.

The request shows up as a separate item in their feed, distinct from regular payments. They can pay it when ready, or they can scroll past it and deal with it later. Venmo doesn't send repeated reminders or notifications if they ignore it.

Once they pay the request, it moves to your completed transactions. Both of you will see it in your history as a payment from them to you, with the note you originally included.

Moving money from Venmo to your bank account after someone pays

When someone pays your request, the money lands in your Venmo balance, not directly in your bank account. To move it to your checking or savings account, open the app and tap the three horizontal lines menu, then select "Transfer Money". Choose "Transfer to Bank" and enter the amount you want to move.

Select which bank account you want the money to go to — you'll need to have linked at least one account to Venmo first. Standard transfers usually take one to three business days. Venmo also offers when ready transfers to a debit card for a small fee, though this costs money and the standard transfer is free.

You don't have to transfer the money right away. Some people keep money in their Venmo balance and use it to pay other people through the app. Just remember that Venmo balances are not the same as a bank account — they're held by Venmo, and you need to actively transfer the money out if you want it in your actual bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I request money from someone who doesn't have Venmo?

No — you can only send requests to people who have a Venmo account. If someone doesn't use Venmo, you'll need to ask them to set up an account first, or use a different payment method like a bank transfer, PayPal, or cash.

What if someone pays part of my request?

Venmo doesn't have a built-in way to partially pay a request. If someone wants to pay you part of what you requested, they would need to send you a regular payment for that amount, and you'd need to manually cancel or adjust the original request. It's clearer to message them first and agree on the amount before they pay.

Does the other person get charged a fee when they pay my request?

No — paying a request through your Venmo balance is free. If they use a credit card to fund the payment instead of their Venmo balance, Venmo charges them a small fee, but that's their choice. Most people pay from their balance to avoid the fee.

Can I request money from multiple people at once?

You have to send requests one person at a time through the app. If you're splitting a bill among several people, send each person their own request with their share of the amount. You can add the same note to each request to explain what it's for.

What if I request money and then change my mind?

You can cancel any request that hasn't been paid yet. Open the request in your transaction history, tap the three dots menu, and select "Cancel Request". The other person will see that the request is gone from their feed, and nothing will be charged to either of you.