Transferring money out of China via Western Union: Fees, limits

As more and more foreigners are studying, residing, and working in China, money transfer services have become a major concern for many expatriates in the country. For those looking for a secure and user-friendly international money transfer solution in China, Western Union, renowned for its worldwide instant money transfer services, is an excellent choice. This article will guide you on how to make a Western Union money transfer in China. It also covers the fees and limits of sending money from China via Western Union.

A better alternative for expats in China is to use Wise, which supports UnionPay, Alipay, and WeChat Pay. Why not open a Wise multi-currency account? It helps you easily convert your money between more than 40 currencies. Wise is a convenient way to make your international money transfers and other financial services cheaper, easier and fairer.

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Is Western Union available in China?

The answer is yes. Western Union provides a truly global platform for financial transactions, with its services accessible in more than 200 countries and regions worldwide, including China¹.

Many expats prefer using Western Union for money transfers in China because it coordinates with various banks in China, as well as ChinaPay, a subsidiary of UnionPay. Transferring money via Western Union is quick and convenient, allowing you to transfer money to a qualifying Chinese commercial bank account within minutes.

Can I transfer money to Alipay using Western Union?

Yes. You can use Western Union to send money to Alipay, either at Western Union website or from the Western Union money transfer app². This makes it more convenient for you to send money to your friends in China.

To make a Western Union money transfer to Alipay, follow the steps below²:

1. Visit Western website or download Western Union money transfer app. Register your profile and log in.
2. Select China as the country of your recipient. and how much money you wish to send.
3. Select the payment method.
4. Provide the necessary details of your receiver, including full name and Alipay ID.
5. Select the reason and purpose of your money transfer.
6. Confirm to complete the payment.

But before you send money, check the price down below and compare the cost between Wise and WesternUnion:

Western Union in China: Websites and agent locations

The services of Western Union Money Transfer in China since the early 1990s. After about 30 years of effort, Western Union providers in China now offer an extensive network of more than 28,000 service locations, covering 31 municipalities, autonomous regions, and provinces¹.

Below, we list 8 Western Union agent locations in Beijing and Shanghai separately. You can visit the Western Union in China official website, to find a service location near you, make or track a Western Union money transfer online, or search for other useful information.

Find Western Union Agent locations in Shanghai³

Find Western Union agent locations in Beijing³

Note: Please note that there are no Western Union branches in China, instead, there are agents -- the Chinese banks in each city. There are about 150 agents in Beijing/Shanghai, so here we’re only listing 8 agents (service locations) in each city.

Transferring money out of China with Western Union: Fees

Sending money from China with Western Union is simple. All you need to do is find an agent in your city for a cash pick-up and follow the four steps below⁴.

1. Fill out the “Send Form” at any agent location of Western Union in China.
2. Submit your completed filled-out form, the desired amount of money you wish to send, your identification document, and the transfer fee.
3. Obtain your Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) and receipt.
4. Let the recipient know your name, the sum sent, the MTCN, and the country from where the funds were sent.

The money you send from China will be ready for pickup by your chosen recipients at any Western Union agent location in the destination country in just a few minutes.

It is important to note that Western Union money transfer fees vary based on the destination country, the amount of the money you are sending, the payment method for the transfer, and how your receiver would like to receive the money. Note that this does not include the agent location fees.

When sending money from China to the US(take sending $1,000 to US as an example below), here are the fees we identified using Western Union’s price estimator tool on September 12, 2023⁵:

1. Collection method as Cash at Western Union

1. Collection method as Bank Account

Transferring money out of China with Western Union: Limits

Generally, the limits on your Western Union money transfer from China will vary based on the agent location you choose and the destination country.

If you have questions regarding a specific amount you're sending or a particular destination country, you can reach out to Western Union China customer service hotline at 400-819-9377 or 021-6866 4610 (for overseas calls, please add 86). Alternatively, you can contact a specific agent location in China⁴.

Learn more about transfering money to and from China: what are the limits and regulations?

Provider	Send	Exchange rate	Fees(Pay in debit card)	Receive
Werstern Union	$1000	Own exchange rate	$132.99+own exchange rate⁵	867.01
Wise	$1000	Mid-market rate	$18.28	981.72 Transfer Now

How to transfer money out of China using Wise

Wise can help expats in China to send their legal income outside of China now. This makes it a lot easier for individuals to send CNY to their home countries and stay connected with family or friends.

Whether you have a Wise personal account or a Wise business account, you can use this service. So make sure you register a profile first. Here, you can follow the step-by-step guide onhow to open a Wise account to set up your payment and verify your account.

However, before making a money transfer with Wise, you need totop up your Wise balance. You can do this either through your Wise account or by making a direct deposit/bank transfer from your bank account.

Wondering how long it will take us to transfer your money to your other account outside China? It depends on the transfer partner you choose. We always provide you with an estimate of the transfer duration when you set it up, so that you can make an informed decision about which partner to choose.

Sending money out of China using Wise: Limits

We have a limit of 100,000 CNY per transaction at the moment. The overall money transfer limit depends on your annual income in China and the amount of tax you paid in China on your income, etc.

At present, you can only use Wise to send CNY（RMB） from China to another account you own. This can be your bank account outside of China or another currency balance on your Wise Account. To send to your other balances on your Wise Account, you need to add your own account details as the recipient.

Send your Chinese RMB income home today using Wise

Used by more than 16 million people, Wise is a globally recognized safe and reliable online financial platform. It is the top choice for expats living in China to send money, receive payments and exchange currencies. Using Wise to hold 40+ currencies, and send money to 160+ countries at a fair mid-market rate, much cheaper than most traditional banks, yet quicker and easier to use.

Sign up for Wise today, and transfer your legal CNY income to your own bank account abroad right away. You may also send CNY money directly to your Alipay, Wechat or Unionpay bank cards, to shop, pay bills and all kinds of living expenses. With Wise, you can enjoy a happier and more convenient life in China.

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Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

Please also be informed that Wise in China is operating under a local partner’s licence.