How to apply for Bank of China credit card: Types, fees and features.

Foreigners in China can find it easier to make daily purchases, shop online, and book hotels and flights if they have a credit card issued by a Chinese bank. The Bank of China is the longest continually operating bank and the most globalized bank in China¹. It stands to reason, therefore, that, a Bank of China credit card is one of the best choices for expats. In this article, we will go over the types of Bank of China credit cards, along with the instructions on how to apply for a Bank of China credit card as a foreigner.

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Does the Bank of China have credit cards that foreigners can apply for?

Yes. At a local branch in the Chinese city you live in, foreign nationals holding a valid passport and a residence permit in China may apply for Bank of China City Card², Bank of China JCB Credit Card, Bank of China Globe-in-One Credit Card, Bank of China Great Wall RMB Credit Card, and also some other types of Bank of China credit card.

How many types of credit cards are there in the Bank of China?

Bank of China credit card products can be categorized as follows³:

• By brand, they can be categorized into Bank of China Great Wall series credit cards and BOC series credit cards.
• By credit card class, they can be categorized into: American Express Private Banking Credit Card, Unlimited Credit Card, Platinum Credit Card, Titanium Credit Card, Gold Credit Card and Ordinary Credit Card.
• By the cooperative card organization, they can be divided into: BOC UnionPay Credit Card, BOC MasterCard Credit Card, BOC Visa Credit Card, BOC American Express Credit Card, BOC JCB Credit Card.
• By currency, they can be divided into: RMB single currency credit card, RMB/USD credit card, RMB/JPY credit card, RMB/AUD credit card, RMB/EUR credit card, RMB/GBP credit card, RMB/HKD credit card.

Here below are three types of Bank of China credit cards that are available for foreigners to apply for. Please call the local Bank of China hotline for information on card fees, overdraft fees, cash out fees, and interest rates.

Bank of China City Card⁴

Best for:
* Chinese nationals with consistent, legal income who are at least 18 years old and fully capable of acting civilly
* Foreigners with valid passport or Residence Permit in China
* Taiwanese, Macau, and Hong Kong citizens

Key features and benefits:

1. It is an RMB credit card under international standards.
2. Cash advance, installment, worldwide merchant discounts, reward points, and minimum and maximum payment amounts, in addition to other revolving credit functions.

Great Wall Globe-in-One Credit Card⁵

Best for:
* Chinese nationals with consistent, legal income who are at least 18 years old and fully capable of acting with civility.
* Foreigners with valid passport or Residence Permit in China
* Taiwanese, Macau, and Hong Kong citizens

Key features and benefits:

1. RMB settlement for international transactions
2. Deposit with interest and grace period for overdraft
3. “Katong“ payment
4. Automatic redemption of airline miles
5. Supplementary card management
6. Insurance for global travel
7. Customers do not have to pay handling fees for deposits, withdrawals, and transfers made over the counter, or for cash withdrawals from Bank ATMs, if they designate any province or municipality in China as "my place".

Great Wall RMB Credit Card: (With the exception of Shanghai, Hubei, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Shenzhen, and Jiangsu)⁶

Best for:
* Chinese nationals with consistent, legal income who are at least 18 years old and fully capable of acting civilly
* Foreigners with valid passport or Residence Permit in China
* Taiwanese, Macau, and Hong Kong citizens

Key features and benefits:

1. Wealth accumulation based on your financial preferences
2. Protect by "quintuple guarantees"
3. Withdraw cash from ATM cash
4. Customers that use "my place" are exempt from handling fees for cash withdrawals from bank ATMs as well as over-the-counter deposits, withdrawals, and transfers.
5. Agency bill payment
6. Manage children’s finance with a supplementary card

Requirements for a opening a Bank of China credit card as foreigners in China¹

1. Valid passport;
2. Copy of the foreign national's Residence Permit in China, or copy of the Residence Permit attached to the passport's visa page, or copy of Chinese Permanent Residence Permit for foreign nationals;
3. Supporting documents for permanent residence, such as:

• Utility bills
• House lease agreement
• Certificate of residence issued by the community office
• Certificate of self-owned property

1. Financial status documents, such as:

• Proof of income for the last three months
• Copy of agent's payroll payment passbook/statement issued by agent's bank
• Copy of personal income tax payment certificate for the last three months
• Copy of proof of social security withholding

How to apply for a Bank of China credit card? (Step guide)¹

1. It is recommended that you check with your local branch to confirm the documents you need to prepare to apply for a BOC credit card.
2. Download the application form from the Bank of China's website.
3. Submit the application form with required documents in person at any Bank of China location or by mail to P.O. Box 808, Beijing 100037.

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*This service is provided in partnership with a licensed third-party payment provider in China.