Personal cross-boundary remittance
between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland

In general, Hong Kong residents can remit funds to the Chinese Mainland through banks for spending/expenses related to travel, business trips, study abroad, daily life, and family support, according to the prevailing Mainland regulations. Common examples include spending for transportation, dining, accommodation, shopping, and service payments (such as renovation, tours, tuition, and medical care). However, the funds cannot be used for investment in financial products in the Mainland. Facilitative arrangements are in place for cross-boundary remittances for property purchases in the Mainland.

Hong Kong residents can make cross-boundary remittances in RMB to their same-name bank accounts in the Mainland, subject to a daily limit of RMB80,000, for the purposes stated above. It is worth noting that due to internal compliance consideration of some receiving banks in the Mainland, they may put in place certain verification measures if a single personal account receives a large amount of incoming payments for multiple days in a short period of time. For prudence sake, Hong Kong residents who plan to remit a large amount of funds to their accounts in the Mainland for consecutive days are advised to consult the receiving banks in advance.

Besides, under the existing policy framework, RMB remittances by Hong Kong residents through banks that are associated with eligible transactions stated in the first paragraph will not occupy the per-head daily limit of RMB80,000, provided that the receivers in the Mainland follow the compliance procedures set by Mainland banks to confirm genuineness of the remittances. Before conducting the remittance, it is recommended that remitters consult remitting banks in Hong Kong and receiving banks in the Mainland in advance.

If the remittances are made in non-RMB currencies (including HKD), while there are no particular daily limit or restrictions to only same-name account transfers, the above requirements on the use of funds still apply. In the Mainland, there is a facilitative arrangement available for individual recipients to convert other currencies into RMB, subject to an annual quota equivalent to USD50,000. Under this arrangement, individual recipients can conduct currency conversion within this quota at the receiving bank by presenting their identity document(s), without providing the documentation proof verifying the genuineness. If a recipient prefers not to use this facilitative arrangement, or when the conversion quota is reached or exceeded, the recipient shall provide supporting documents for the receiving bank to verify the use of funds.

For large transactions that meet the requirements on use of funds, such as paying tuition fees and medical expenses, some institutions or service providers may have specifically established arrangements for cross-boundary payments. Hong Kong residents may consult the relevant institutions before remitting the funds.

Starting from 22 June 2025, Hong Kong residents can also use Payment Connect to make real-time and small-value cross-boundary remittances at participating institutions in Hong Kong via Faster Payment System (FPS). Quota and requirements are separately managed. For details, please refer to: https://www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/smart-consumers/payment-connect/

For remittances related to property purchases in the Mainland, please refer to the relevant Q&A below.

Some Stored Value Facilities (SVFs) operating in Hong Kong, including e-wallets, provide personal cross-boundary remittance services to their users.  These SVFs may set different transaction limits (e.g. per transaction, daily, monthly or yearly) depending on the account verification level.  In conducting remittances, the users should also observe certain requirements about the use of funds (e.g. salary remittance by same individuals, family support remittance, shopping or service payment).

It is worth noting that Hong Kong’s e-wallets have become more widely accepted by merchants in the Mainland for Hong Kong residents’ spending.  Also, different electronic payment means are available for Hong Kong residents to pay for their Mainland spending, including debit/credit cards issued outside the Mainland and those Mainland e-wallets bound with these cards.  However, it is important to note that Mainland e-wallets currently do not provide peer-to-peer cross-boundary remittance services to users who bind their account with debit/credit cards issued outside the Mainland.

Mainland financial regulators introduced facilitative measures for Hong Kong residents applicable to properties in the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) (including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing) in early 2024, which provide a proper and convenient channel for Hong Kong residents to remit funds related to property purchases to the Mainland through the banking system.  Most retail banks in Hong Kong are now offering remittance services to their clients for purchasing properties in the Mainland cities of the GBA.  For operational details, please consult the banks.  More recently, the facilitative arrangements have been expanded to the whole of the Chinese Mainland in September 2025.  Following the launch of the new measures, it is expected that banks in Hong Kong and the Mainland will need time to get prepared to provide the relevant services.  If purchasing a property in an area outside of the GBA, please consult the remitting banks in Hong Kong and the receiving banks in the Mainland in advance for details, and allow sufficient time for the remittance.

Cross-boundary remittances of salary to the Chinese Mainland are allowed according to the prevailing Mainland regulations.  Provided that the processing bank has ascertained the genuineness and reasonableness of the salary, these remittances do not utilise the annual quota under the facilitative arrangement in the Mainland. The subsequent remittances can be processed by the same bank without repeatedly verifying the supporting documents.  Subject to the processing bank’s verification procedures, repeated checking of documentation proof is not required. In view of market demand, some banks and Stored Value Facilities (SVFs) in Hong Kong are providing related products and services. For details of the services, please consult the banks or SVFs.

According to Mainland regulations, a person is not required to make a declaration to the Customs if he or she is in possession of currency up to RMB20,000, or up to USD5,000 equivalent for other currencies, when crossing the boundary.

According to regulations in Hong Kong, any person arriving in Hong Kong and in possession of a large quantity of cash notes (with a total value exceeding HKD120,000 equivalent), must make a written declaration to a Customs officer, using the Red Channel under the Red and Green Channel System.

In principle, Hong Kong residents are permitted to remit funds from the Chinese Mainland to Hong Kong that meet eligibility requirements.  A few examples include:

For specific requirements on proof documents (if any), remittance currency, and other details regarding the remittances, please consult the banks in the Mainland.

In brief, there is a facilitative arrangement available for Mainland residents to convert RMB into other currencies, subject to an annual quota equivalent to USD50,000 per person.  Within this quota, Mainland residents can directly conduct currency conversion at Mainland banks with identity document(s) and remit outside the Mainland.  The funds can only be used for consumption spending outside the Mainland.  If a remitter prefers not to use the facilitative arrangement, or when the conversion quota is reached or exceeded, the remitter shall provide the remitting bank with supporting documents for verification of the use of funds. Examples include expenses related to travel, study abroad, daily life, and medical care.

Mainland residents can also use Payment Connect to make real-time and small-value cross-boundary remittances at participating institutions in the Mainland. For details, please refer to: https://www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/smart-consumers/payment-connect/

If a Mainland resident withdraws cash outside the Mainland using debit/credit cards issued in the Mainland, the total withdrawal amount for all the cards under his or her name is subject to an annual limit of RMB100,000 and a daily limit of RMB10,000.

For all consumption spending such as dining, accommodation, transportation, and shopping during travel, business trips, or study outside the Mainland, Mainland residents can make payments using debit/credit cards or mobile payments.  These transactions do not take up the annual quota for currency conversion under the aforementioned facilitative arrangement or the cash withdrawal limit.

The aforementioned Q&A on property purchase remittance briefly introduces the policy arrangement to facilitate Hong Kong residents’ cross-boundary remittances for their property purchase transactions in the Mainland.  Under the arrangement, Ms. A may transfer the funds to her own bank account in the Mainland before transferring to the property developer/seller’s bank account.  Alternatively, she may remit the funds across the boundary directly from Hong Kong to the property developer/seller’s bank account in the Mainland.

Ms. A is advised to communicate with the property developer/seller and reach a mutual agreement on the payment means.  She should also prepare the necessary transaction documents and obtain the bank account information of the property developer/seller prior to making the remittance.  In addition, it is recommended that Ms. A contact the handling bank in Hong Kong to inquire about the specific procedures and requirements associated with the remittance services.  Currently, most retail banks in Hong Kong are offering cross-boundary remittance services for property purchases in the Mainland.  However, the procedures, transaction scopes, fees, and documentation requirements may differ from bank to bank.  Furthermore, if Ms. A intends to pay the remaining balance via her own personal account in the Mainland, it is recommended that she communicate in advance with the Mainland bank branch with which her account is held to ensure that the funds can be credited smoothly.

Exact payment procedures for cross-boundary property purchase may vary case by case, depending on different factors such as the nature of transaction (first or second-hand property), whether a mortgage is involved, and payment means offered by property developers/sellers.  Therefore, for prospective buyers in Hong Kong, they should communicate with relevant parties involved in the property transactions (e.g. property developers/sellers, the remitting bank in Hong Kong, and the receiving bank in the Mainland) before effecting the cross-boundary remittances.  Based on the practical experience, remitting and receiving banks may take some time to handle cross-boundary remittances, particularly for those involving large sums.  Ms. A should negotiate a more flexible payment deadline with the property developer/seller, with a view to ensuring sufficient lead time for remittance processing.

Renovation and furniture purchase expenses are consumption and service spending, which is an eligible type of transactions for cross-boundary personal remittance, according to prevailing Mainland regulations.  Ms. A should consult the renovation contractors/vendors and furniture merchants on suitable payment arrangements.

For small-value payments, most Mainland merchants accept various payment methods including cash, mobile payments (such as Mainland mobile payment apps or Hong Kong e-wallets), credit cards, and debit cards.  Ms. A may consider using these payment methods.

If a sizable sum is involved and the payment is to be settled by bank transfer, Ms. A may first remit RMB funds from her Hong Kong bank account to her same-name bank account in the Mainland, and subsequently transfer the funds to the renovation contractors/vendors. Cross-boundary RMB remittance through this arrangement is subject to a daily limit of RMB80,000 per person.  In this circumstance, Ms. A may have to arrange remittances on consecutive days in order to complete the full amount of the payment required by the transaction.  Thus, it is advisable for her to consult the receiving bank in the Mainland in advance to understand whether the bank puts in place any extra verification procedures, so as to ensure the remittances can be processed smoothly and timely.  The current policy framework also allows Ms. A to make RMB remittance to her personal account provided that she can present supporting documents to verify the transaction genuineness. With this, Ms. A can arrange bank transfer to renovation contractors/vendors’ accounts afterwards in the Mainland.

Alternatively, Ms. A can also remit funds in HKD to her bank account in the Mainland.  To convert the HKD to RMB with the Mainland bank, she may make use of the facilitative arrangement available in the Mainland for conversion within the personal annual quota of USD50,000.  Under this arrangement, she is not required to provide supporting documents for the use of funds.  The funds can then be transferred to the renovation contractors/vendors.  However, if the conversion limit is reached or exceeded under the facilitative arrangement, Ms. A may be required to present supporting documents (such as invoices or renovation contracts) to her Mainland receiving bank.  If Ms. A plans to directly remit funds across the boundary to the renovation contractors/vendors’ accounts, the contractors/vendors, as the receiving party, are responsible for presenting supporting documents to verify the transaction genuineness. It is recommended that Ms. A check with the contractors/vendors in advance on whether this payment means is being accepted.

By the same token, the aforementioned reference can be applied to cross-boundary payment arrangements associated with Hong Kong residents’ other consumption spending in the Mainland.

In addition to paying in person at designated counters in the Mainland or setting up automatic payment instructions at banks in the Mainland, Ms. A can also make payments through the mini programmes embedded in Mainland mobile payment apps (including e-wallets).

For Hong Kong residents who wish to open bank accounts in the Mainland, besides conventional way to open accounts by visiting a bank outlet in person, they can use the account opening attestation services offered by some Hong Kong banks, which allow individuals to open bank accounts in the Mainland without leaving Hong Kong.  The bank accounts opened through attestation services could support automatic payments, top-up Mainland mobile payment apps.  Furthermore, some Mainland mobile payment apps can be bound with debit/credit cards issued outside the Mainland.

Another possible option would be the Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) service.  EBPP allows Hong Kong bank clients to view and pay different types of bills through online or mobile platforms.  Participating merchants include some water supply and property management companies in some Mainland cities of the GBA.  Hong Kong bank clients can make direct payments to these merchants through online or mobile banking.  In addition, some Hong Kong banks have also launched products and services for their clients to make payments for Mainland bills.  For the details of EBPP or relevant services, please inquire the banks in Hong Kong.  Information about EBPP and the list of participating merchants can be found at: https://www.hkicl.com.hk/eng/information_centre/ebpp/ebpp-form.php.

For small value payments in scenarios (i) and (ii), Mr. B may find it convenient by using Hong Kong e-wallets or Mainland mobile payment apps.  Major mobile payment apps in the Mainland support binding not only with Mainland bank accounts, but also with debit/credit cards issued outside the Mainland.  Many large Mainland merchants also accept payments by these cards.  The Octopus – China T-Union Card can be used to pay for public transportation in over 300 cities in the Mainland.  In addition, Mr. B may consider using e-CNY for cross-boundary retail payments in the selected pilot cities.

For small value transfers in scenarios (iii) and (iv), Mr. B may use Payment Connect to conduct cross-boundary remittance. Money transfer services of Mainland banks and Mainland mobile payment apps are alternative options. To enable the peer-to-peer money transfer function in a Mainland mobile payment app, he should bind it with a bank account in the Mainland or maintain a balance in the wallet. If the payment app is bound with debit/credit cards issued outside the Mainland only, the peer-to-peer money transfer function is not yet available.

On tuition fees, Ms. C may first contact the university to inquire if there are particular arrangements for cross-boundary tuition fee payments.  If such arrangements are available, Ms. C may consider paying the tuition fees directly according to the advice of the university.  Alternatively, if Ms. C prefers to remit the funds to her same-name bank account in the Mainland first, she can make use of the RMB remittance arrangements for Hong Kong residents (i.e. a personal daily quota of RMB80,000 to the account under the same name), and transfer the funds to the university afterward.

Alternatively, Ms. C can also remit funds in HKD to her bank account in the Mainland.  To convert the HKD to RMB with the Mainland bank, she may make use of the facilitative arrangement available in the Mainland for conversion within the personal annual quota of USD50,000.  Under this arrangement, she is not required to provide supporting documents for the use of funds. If Ms. C prefers not to use the facilitative arrangement, or when the conversion quota is reached or exceeded, Ms. C shall provide supporting documents for the Mainland receiving bank to verify the use of funds in processing the payment.

For living expenses, if the involved amount is relatively small, Ms. C may remit to her daughter’s bank account in the Mainland through Payment Connect. Additionally, Ms. C can also use conventional RMB or HKD remittance arrangements to make remittance to her own bank account in the Mainland as abovementioned, and then transfer the funds to her daughter’s account. If both Ms. C and her daughter are registered users of mobile payment apps in the Mainland, Ms. C may also use app function to conduct fund transfer. Ms. C may also consider Hong Kong e-wallets which support cross-boundary remittance. It is worth noting that mobile payment apps in the Mainland may set certain functional restrictions for users under 18 years old. Ms. C should take note of service terms and restrictions of different remittance options and select the appropriate one matching her need.

If the involved amount is relatively small (for example, a few thousand HKD each month), Mr. D can make cross-boundary remittance to his father’s bank account in the Mainland through Payment Connect. He may also consider using remittance services that are provided by some e-wallets in Hong Kong. The limits and restrictions of these services may vary depending on the account verification level and top-up setting. The fund receiving arrangements in the Mainland also differ across remittance products/services. Mr. D should take note of service terms and restrictions of different remittance options and select the appropriate one matching his need.

Alternatively, Mr. D can make cross-boundary remittances to his father’s account in the Mainland via the conventional channel with banks in Hong Kong . For remittance in HKD, Mr. D's father, as the payment recipient, may use the facilitative arrangement available in the Mainland to convert the HKD into RMB, subject to annual quota equivalent to USD50,000. If the cumulative amount of conversion during the year exceeds this quota, Mr. D's father may be requested by the receiving bank in the Mainland to provide supporting documents of their familial relationship and Mr. D's income sources. For remittance in RMB, Mr. D may make use of the RMB remittance arrangement for Hong Kong residents to remit the fund to his same-name account and arrange bank transfer to his father’s bank account in the Mainland afterwards. He may also make direct cross-boundary remittance from Hong Kong to his father’s bank account in the Mainland, provided that supporting documents of their familial relationship can be presented. For detail, Mr. D is advised to consult the remittance receiving banks in the Mainland.

Apart from making remittances manually on a monthly basis, Ms. E may set up standing instructions in Hong Kong banks to remit the allowance to her designated bank account in the Mainland.  To facilitate the recipients of the Guangdong Scheme and Fujian Scheme to receive the allowance without having to return to Hong Kong in person, some retail banks in Hong Kong are now providing remote channels, such as by post, for recipients to set up standing instructions for regular remittances.

Ms. E may also withdraw cash in the Mainland using ATM cards issued by Hong Kong banks.  Hong Kong banks have put in place special arrangement which allows the recipients to activate the cash withdrawal function of their ATM cards issued by Hong Kong banks (including debit cards and those credit cards with cash withdrawal function) in the Mainland through different bank channels (including bank hotlines), without the need to return to Hong Kong. 

The Government will enhance the disbursement arrangements for relevant allowance starting from 2026, so that Hong Kong elderly recipients retiring in Guangdong and Fujian Provinces may opt to receive the allowance directly through their bank accounts with designated Mainland banks.  Details will be announced by the Government later.

Mr. F may use the salary remittance services provided by Hong Kong banks or Stored Value Facilities (SVFs).  For example, some banks are offering cross-boundary salary remittance services. With banks’ review of income supporting documents (such as employment contracts, tax payment certificates, and bank statements), the remitters can designate a receiving bank account under the same name or their family members in the Mainland, and remit the salary from Hong Kong to the Mainland on an ongoing basis, without the need to submit supporting documents repeatedly.  Mr. D should take note of service terms and restrictions of different remittance options and select the appropriate one matching his need.

Many hospitals and medical institutions in the Mainland accept various payment methods including cash, mobile payments (including Mainland mobile payment apps or Hong Kong e-wallets), credit cards, and debit cards.  If Mr. G makes the payments in person at the medical institution, he may consider using these available payment options.

If the involved payment amount is relatively large and Mr. G plans to use the funds in his Hong Kong bank account, which would require a cross-boundary remittance, he can make use of the RMB remittance arrangement for Hong Kong residents (i.e. a personal daily quota of RMB80,000 to the account under the same name) to transfer the funds to his own account in the Mainland, before further processing the payment.  Alternatively, Mr. G may also remit funds in HKD to his own account.  To convert the HKD to RMB with the Mainland bank, he can make use of the facilitative arrangement available in the Mainland for conversion within the personal annual quota of USD50,000, under which he is not required to provide supporting documents for the use of funds.  If the conversion limit is reached or exceeded, Mr. G may be required to present supporting documents (such as invoices from the hospital/medical institution) to the Mainland receiving bank.  

If the hospital/medical institution accepts direct remittances from Hong Kong to its receiving account, Mr. G should communicate with the hospital/medical institution on such arrangements before making the remittance.

Generally speaking, medical expenses are considered as a type of daily expenses and eligible for cross-boundary remittances.

Mr. H can invest in Mainland financial products directly through different Connect Schemes between Hong Kong and the Mainland.  For example, he can invest in listed shares in the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets via the northbound Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect.  He may also consider investing in wealth management products distributed by eligible financial institutions (banks and/or securities firms) in the Mainland through the northbound Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Scheme in the GBA.  In addition, Mr. H may consider indirect investment options.  Financial institutions in Hong Kong are offering different types of investment products targeting retail investors, with underlying investments in the Mainland financial markets.  Before making any investment decisions, Mr. H should carefully consider a range of factors, including his financial situation and personal risk tolerance.

Mr. I may place the unused portion of RMB funds for time deposits in banks in the Mainland, and the interest accrued from these deposits can be remitted back to Hong Kong.

Mainland residents can convert RMB into other currencies, subject to an annual quota equivalent to USD50,000 per person. Within this quota, Mr. J can directly convert RMB to HKD at banks in the Mainland with his identity document and remit to Hong Kong, and pay for consumption spending including rent, spending for renovation, tuition fees and daily outlays. Mr. J may also make use of Payment Connect channel to conduct cross-boundary remittance from Mainland banks to his personal account in Hong Kong.

If Mr. J prefers not to use the facilitative arrangement, or when the conversion quota is reached or exceeded, he can provide supporting documents for verification of the use of funds, for example, the tenancy agreement and payment notice of tuition fee. The remitting banks in the Mainland would review the documents and remit the funds in RMB, or remit after converting to foreign exchanges. If the recipient is a merchant, Mainland mobile payment apps or credit cards are also feasible options. For details of the services, please consult the banks or mobile payment apps.