How to use WeChat Pay HK to transfer money? How to check the exchange rate?

WeChat is a popular Chinese messaging app that offers a money transfer service called WeChat Pay. If you have a WeChat account, you can also use WeChat Pay HK - a payment service available for users in Hong Kong. WeChat Pay HK provides an international remittance service known as We Remit, through which you can easily send money to Mainland China, the Philippines, and Indonesia. This article provides an overview of We Remit, including exchange rates, fees, limits, and registration & top-up instructions. It also addresses some frequently asked questions about the international remittance service of WeChat Pay HK.

However, if you need to send money to someone who does not have a WeChat account or resides outside of WeChat's service area, you will need to use a different provider. This article also covers another cheap and safe international payment option - Wise.

Learn more about Wise

We Remit: Exchange rates

You can find the live exchange rates by logging into WeChat Pay HK. You might notice that the exchange rates listed are not mid-market rates, which could mean that there might be some hidden fees included in the exchange rate.

In a nutshell, this could end up costing you more than you were expecting to pay for your remittance. Therefore, you should always compare the exchange rate on offer against the mid-market exchange rate for your chosen currency, to spot any markup and save your hard-earned money!

The table below compares the exchange rates We Remit and Wise offer:

Source checked on 23 March 2024 12:26 (HKT)

We Remit: Fees

We Remit charges a fee for sending money to a different country, and the amount of the fee depends on the country where the recipient is. You can also compare them with Wise so you have another option to look at. To give you an idea, if you send 1000 HKD, here are the fees you can expect to pay:

Source checked on 22 March 2024 23:35 (HKT)

We Remit: Limits

We Remit has set limits for the minimum and maximum amount you can send in a single remittance transaction, as well as for the total amount of daily and monthly remittance transactions. Here is a summary of all the fees you need to know:

• Single remittance transaction amount: from HKD 100 to HK 5,000
• Daily total remittance transactions amount: maximum HKD 5,000
• Monthly total remittance transactions amount: maximum HKD 7,999

How to register Wechat Remittance and send money

Before accessing WeChat Remittance, you need to make sure your wallet is using WeChat Pay HK. You can check this by looking at the current balance to see if it is in HKD. If the currency is CNY, you should click "Switch Wallet Region" in the upper right corner and choose Hong Kong.

Then, you can start to send money with Wechat Remittance following these two methods:

Method 1:

1. Click WeChat, select “Me”, choose “Services”, select We Remit, then choose a destination
2. Enter the amount you would like to remit
3. Enter details of your remittance recipient
4. Select purpose to remit
5. Pay with WeChat Pay HK

Method 2:

1. Scan the QR code below to follow WeChat Pay HK’s channel
2. Choose “Fast Service”, then “Cross-border transfer”
3. Select destination
4. Enter the amount you would like to remit
5. Enter details of your remittance recipient
6. Select purpose to remit
7. Pay with WeChat Pay HK

The sender can also choose between cash pickup or direct bank transfer for the recipient. This gives them the flexibility to receive the funds in a way that works best for them.

These steps above are the general step to send money internationally. However, the exact process and options may vary slightly depending on the version of your WeChat app. It is advisable to refer to the WeChat Pay HK guideline if there are any updates to the app.

How to top up a WeChat Pay HK account

If you want to top up your WeChat Pay HK account, you can follow these steps:

1. Make sure that you have linked a valid payment method to your WeChat Pay HK account. This can be a bank account, credit card, or other accepted payment method.
2. Open WeChat and select “Me.” Make sure that the current currency is HKD.
3. Click on balance and choose “Top Up”
4. Enter the amount you would like to top up and click “Next”
5. Enter payment PIN to verify.
6. Choose a preferred payment method. If you haven’t set up your card in your account yet, you might need to do so at this point.
7. After the top-up, check your WeChat Pay HK account balance to ensure the funds have been successfully added.

Frequently asked questions

Can I receive CNY with WeChat Pay HK?

No, WeChat Pay HK does not support receiving CNY. If you want to receive CNY from your loved ones, you must open a CNY wallet. However, as mentioned above, you can use WeChat Pay HK to remit CNY if you want to send money to Mainland China.

If you want to send CNY to your loved ones in Mainland China, you may want to explore other options like Wise. Wise can help you get the mid-market exchange rate with low and transparent conversion fees. So, why wait? Remit money to China now with Wise.

Can I use WeChat Pay HK in China?

Absolutely! During your stay in Mainland China, you can make payments in HKD for services such as ride-hailing, dining, entertainment, Meituan, Dianping, and metro.

Is WeChat Pay HK safe?

WeChat Pay HK incorporates multiple cutting-edge technologies to offer top-notch security to its users. All the security technologies implemented are up to international standards. Additionally, the platform has a dedicated risk control system that ensures the security of payment transactions 24/7.

WeChat and all participating merchants adhere to strict security and privacy policies to ensure the quality of our products and services. This enables users to make payments without any concerns.

A cheap, fast and transparent alternative: Wise

WeChat Pay HK offers various features to assist locals in their day-to-day transactions and to remit money to the Philippines, Mainland China, and Indonesia. However, as you can also see, the platform has its limitations. If you wish to send money to someone residing in a location other than those mentioned above or to someone who doesn't have access to WeChat, you may need to explore other alternatives.

Check out Wise, a smart way to send money globally. Similar to WeChat, you can conveniently open your free Wise account online and manage your money using the Wise app or any web browser. With Wise, you can effortlessly send money to people all over the world. For example, you can send money to over 70 countries from Hong Kong.

What's even better? When you send money through Wise, you can get the mid-market exchange rate with low and transparent conversion fees.

Send money with Wise

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