See Also: How to Send Money to a Student in China via WeChat, No Bank Account Needed
Why Sending to WeChat Solves a Real Problem
Daily life in China runs on WeChat Pay, from street food stalls to public transport to online shopping. Using it fully has traditionally meant linking a local Chinese bank account to a Weixin account.
For exchange students or foreigners on a short stay, opening that local bank account is often the bottleneck. Sending money directly into Weixin removes that step. The recipient only needs to activate their Weixin Wallet to start receiving funds from abroad.
See Also: What Is Weixin Wallet Balance? A Guide for Foreigners in China
Who Can Receive Money This Way
- Students on exchange programs or studying full time in China
- Foreign employees on assignment in China
- Business travellers making frequent trips to China
- Anyone with a verified Weixin account, including those using a non China phone number, as long as it is linked to their Weixin account
See Also: How Malaysian Business Travellers Can Pay with WeChat in China
How to Send Money to Weixin with Transfez
The process has three parts.
1. Send the Transfer Through Transfez
As the sender, you complete the transfer through Transfez as usual. You will need the recipient’s full name and the phone number linked to their Weixin account.
2. Recipient Sets Up Weixin (First Transfer Only)
Before receiving funds for the first time, the recipient needs to activate the receiving feature through the official Mini Program “跨境汇款 微汇款” (Cross border Remittance). Once this one time setup is done, future transfers arrive automatically and faster.
The general setup steps:
- Open Weixin, then scan the QR code or search for the “跨境汇款 微汇款” Mini Program
- Select the option to collect money (“我要收款”)
- Agree to the terms and conditions
- Enter the WeChat Pay password and complete identity verification
- Choose a receiving method, Weixin Wallet balance or a Mainland China bank card if available
- Once done, the account is ready for instant transfers going forward
Tip: if the Mini Program shows up in Chinese, the recipient can use Weixin’s built in translation, tap “···” in the top right corner, then “Translate”.
3. The Funds Are Ready to Use in China
Once the money lands in the Weixin Wallet, it can be used for:
- Offline payments, scanning a merchant’s QR code, including street vendors with personal QR codes
- Online purchases, e-commerce platforms and Mini Programs that support WeChat Pay
- Mobile top ups and other everyday expenses
See Also:
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the transfer take?
Under normal circumstances, once the recipient’s details are verified, funds arrive within about 30 minutes. Make sure the recipient has completed the setup in the “跨境汇款 微汇款” Mini Program first, otherwise the transfer cannot be received.
Does the Weixin Wallet balance expire?
No. The balance stays available until the recipient chooses to spend it.
Can the recipient use a non China phone number?
Yes. As long as the number is linked to their Weixin account, a non China number works fine for receiving transfers.
Are there fees on WeChat Pay transactions?
QR payments, P2P transfers, and Red Packets within WeChat Pay generally carry no transaction fee. Withdrawing the balance to a bank card follows WeChat Pay’s official fee schedule at the time.
See Also: Remit to Weixin FAQ, Limits, Fees, and Transfer Time
Send Money to Weixin the Easy Way with Transfez
Transfez lets you send money to family, a partner, or a colleague in China straight into their Weixin wallet, no local bank account needed on their side. The whole process is transparent and easy to track from the Transfez app.
Download the Transfez app and send money to WeChat China the simple way.