Octopus Wallet: Everything you need to know

Octopus Wallet - formerly known as O! ePay - is a digital wallet which comes with an optional linked virtual Mastercard. You’ll be able to top up your Octopus wallet with FPS, in cash at a convenience store or using the Octopus app. Depending on the Wallet type you choose you may be able to use your virtual Mastercard internationally when you shop with overseas retailers.

This guide covers everything there is to know about Octopus Wallet and Octopus Mastercard. We’ll also touch on how you can use Wise to easily top up an Octopus wallet via FPS.

What is Octopus Wallet?

Octopus Wallet is the new name for O! ePay¹ - a stored value digital payment service. You can apply for an Octopus Lite, Plus or Pro, which all come with different limits and application processes.²

Octopus Wallet Lite is available to customers from 12 years old. Other accounts can only be held by customers who are over 18 and have verified their identity with their HKID card. You can open the Lite account without your HKID, but you’ll need it for the Plus account - and for the Pro wallet which comes with the highest limits, you’ll also need to register your residential address.

With Octopus Wallet you can:

• Top up your Octopus card instantly using FPS, cash or the Octopus app
• Shop online in Hong Kong and abroad with the virtual Octopus Mastercard
• Send and receive P2P payments easily
• Pay merchants by scanning their QR code

How to top up Octopus Wallet?

Top up your Octopus Wallet in the following ways:³

• Instant top ups are available through FPS (Faster Payment System)
• Top up on the go using the Octopus app
• Top up with cash in a 7-Eleven convenience store

How to transfer money out of Octopus Wallet?

You’ll be able to withdraw your Octopus balance by:

• Using FPS for real time instant bank transfers
• Using the Octopus app on a compatible mobile device to send payments to family and friends

Can I transfer foreign currencies by Octopus Wallet?

Funds held in your Octopus wallet will be in Hong Kong dollars only. That means you’ll need to top up your account in HKD, and use HKD when you send payments. However, you can use your virtual Octopus Mastercard to spend internationally or with ecommerce retailers based abroad. It’s worth noting that there’s a fee to spend internationally - we’ll cover this a little later.

The good news is that you can top up your Octopus wallet easily from overseas using Wise if you have already registered FPS with Octopus Wallet. Wise offers international transfers which use the mid-market exchange rate and low transparent fees so you can send money from a foreign currency to your Octopus quickly, easily and with no hidden costs.

Learn more about Wise

Octopus Wallet Limits

Let’s take a look at the differences in limits between the different Octopus Wallet types: Octopus Wallet Lite, Octopus Wallet Plus, and Octopus Wallet Pro.⁴

Octopus Mastercard

The Octopus Mastercard is a virtual card you can use to spend funds from your Octopus Wallet.⁵⁺⁶ You can use your virtual card to make payments with retailers at home and overseas, but because you won’t have a physical card you won’t be able to use this method where the retailer requires the card to be present. It’s also good to know that there’s a 2% foreign transaction fee when you spend in a different currency - and a 1% fee (waived until September 2021) for HKD payments made with overseas retailers.⁷

You’ll be able to link your Octopus Mastercard to Google Pay for easy mobile payments.⁷ At the time of writing you can’t use your card with Apple Pay, Huawei Pay or Samsung Pay.

One final note on the Octopus Mastercard. You used to be able to top up your account with PayPal - however, this service has now been withdrawn.⁸

If you’re looking for a digital payment service for HKD payments and transfers - and an opportunity to spend internationally with your virtual Mastercard, the Octopus Wallet and Mastercard may be right for you. Check out the full details, terms and conditions of the wallet type you prefer over on the Octopus website. And don’t forget, you can always top up your Octopus wallet with FPS and Wise to get a better exchange rate when you use a foreign currency to add funds.

Open a Wise account for free✨

Sources last checked on 16-Aug-2021