AlipayHK Remittance: How to use AlipayHK to transfer money?

Alipay is a digital payment platform from China. Whether you are in or outside of China, you can use Alipay to make online and in-app payments for everyday necessities such as transportation, retailers, restaurants, and other daily services. AlipayHK is a localised version of Alipay that offers a wide range of services to users in Hong Kong. In addition, AlipayHK has a remittance function, allowing you to transfer money across borders to your loved ones overseas.

If you want to use AlipayHK to remit money, this guide will provide all the information you need to get started. We’ll also cover another great way to transfer foreign currency with the mid-market exchange rate, using Wise!

Learn more about Wise

Alipay and AlipayHK: what are the differences?

Alipay and AlipayHK are widely used in China and Hong Kong, respectively. While both platforms share some similarities, they also have some key differences.

The currencies used in the platforms are the main difference between the two platforms. While the mainland China version of Alipay operates in Chinese Yuan (CNY), AlipayHK runs in Hong Kong Dollars (HKD).

The features offered by each platform also differ slightly. Alipay and AlipayHK allow users to make different financial transactions, including shopping, bill payments, investments, and more. However, only AlipayHK has the advantage of making remittances. At the time of this research- 11 December 2023, the remittance features are only available in mainland China, the Philippines and Indonesia¹.

AlipayHK Remittance: Exchange rates

The exchange rates will be provided in real-time by their partner, EMQ. You can find the live exchange rates by logging into the AlipayHK app. Even though the exchange rates are usually better than those of banks, they're not mid-market exchange rates, which means there are still hidden fees. This may mean that your remittance might cost more than you expect.

The table below compare the exchange rates AlipayHK and Wise offer:

Source checked on 12 Dec 2023 19:28 (HKT)

When making any international payment, you must understand all the fees and exchange rates used by your chosen providers. For payments from HKD to a CNY Alipay account, choose Wise for the actual mid-market exchange rate every time. There are no hidden charges- you can immediately see what your recipient will get into their Alipay account! All you need is a Wise account, the recipient's name, and the Alipay account number. It's that simple!

AlipayHK Remittance: Fees

AlipayHK will charge its users some fees to make any international remittance. You can check the table below to see the associated fees:²

AlipayHK Remittance: Limits

AlipayHK remittance has a fixed limit for the value of transfers you can make daily and yearly. Your account needs to be verified before making any remittances. The limits are decided depending on how your account is verified:²

The minimum remittance is HKD 20 per transaction.

AlipayHK Remittance: Transferring money from AlipayHK to Alipay China

AlipayHK can send the remittance to the mainland via the Mainland Alipay account balance or linked bank account. However, if you want to remit to the mainland but don't want to link your bank account, you can transfer money directly to Alipay by following these steps:

1. Make sure that your AlipayHK ID account is verified;
2. Choose 'Remittance' in the application centre in the middle of the homepage;
3. Check your available balance. You have to use your balance as a funding channel to remit;
4. On the remittance page, select "New Remittance";
5. Select the destination as China;
6. Select the recipient's payment method as Alipay;
7. Enter the amount and provide the beneficiary information; and
8. Confirm the transaction to complete.

The beneficiary should receive the payment immediately. Also, before making any payments, remember to double-check the provided information. The remittance will fail if any information is wrong, and the refund can take up to 10 days.

You can also contact AlipayHK customer service if you run into any trouble regarding the payment. Open the AlipayHK App then select ‘User FAQ’ , choose ‘Online Service’ to contact online customer service. Or you can reach AlipayHK Customer service at +852 2245 3201 (English Channel: Mon – Sun, 9:00am – 6:00pm).

Top-up your AlipayHK account

AlipayHK account balance can be topped up through cash, bank account, online banking, and Coin Carts:³

Top up with cash

1. You can top-up your AlipayHK e-wallet at any 7-11, Circle-K, Watsons, Fortress, McDonald’s and ParkNShop stores.
2. Open AlipayHK mobile app. Tap ‘Top-up’ at the homepage, then tap ‘Top up’
3. Tap ‘Top up with cash’
4. Present your top-up barcode to the cashier to top up

Top up via bank account

1. Open AlipayHK mobile app
2. Tap ‘Top Up’ at the homepage
3. Chose ‘Bank Account’
4. Follow the instructions on the page to top up from your bank account.

Top up via online banking

1. Open AlipayHK mobile app.
2. Tap ‘Top Up’ on homepage, then select ‘Top up’, and choose ‘Top up via online banking transfer’
3. Follow the instructions on the page to top up your AlipayHK account.

Top up at Coin Carts

1. Open AlipayHK mobile app.
2. Tap ‘Top up’ at the homepage
3. Select ‘Top up with coins’
4. Show your top up QR code to the cashier
5. Scan the code to complete the top-up with cash
6. You can check Coin Carts operating hours and service locations here.

Frequently asked questions

How to find my AlipayHK account number?

You can access your AlipayHK account number when you top-up your account via online bank accounts or add your bank account to the AlipayHK App.

Can I use AlipayHK in China?

Yes. You can use AlipayHK in popular travel destinations, including mainland China, Japan, Singapore, etc.

Can I use Alipay in Hong Kong?

Alipay is widely accepted in Hong Kong. However, this only applies to Chinese locals with Chinese bank accounts. If you are an expat living in China, you cannot use Alipay in Hong Kong.

That’s everything you need to know about AlipayHK Remittance. AlipayHK Remittance is very convenient to send payments to your loved ones overseas.

However, its coverage for overseas remittances is relatively small, and some unknown fees are coming with it.

If you want to make overseas remittances online, consider Wise. With Wise, you can make remittances to China and more than 70 countries in the world. And remember: when it comes to sending money, Wise can help you get the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent conversion fees!

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