Quick answer: Yes, Remitly lets you send money to China through WeChat. You start the transfer in the Remitly app or online, choose Weixin (WeChat Pay) as the delivery method, enter your recipient’s phone number associated with their WeChat account, and your recipient completes the required steps inside WeChat to receive the funds.
Maybe someone you love is living or working in China, and they use WeChat every day to chat, pay, and stay connected. If you want to send them money and know they’re active on WeChat, you might be wondering whether Remitly can deliver funds there directly. The short answer is yes, Remitly offers Weixin (WeChat Pay) as a delivery option for money transfers to China.
This guide walks through exactly how it works, what information you’ll need, what your recipient should expect, and how to handle any hiccups along the way.
Can You Send Money to WeChat With Remitly?
Yes. Remitly allows you to start an international money transfer and choose Weixin (WeChat Pay) as the way your recipient receives the funds, where this option is available for sending money from the United States to China.
Here’s how it works:
- You (the sender) create and fund the transfer through your Remitly account, using the Remitly app or website.
- Weixin (WeChat Pay) serves as the method your recipient uses to receive and access the money, rather than a separate app you need to install.
- Your recipient must be located in China and have an active WeChat (or Weixin) account that meets Remitly’s eligibility requirements.
- You don’t need your own WeChat account to send the transfer. The Weixin (WeChat Pay) delivery option in Remitly is designed around your recipient’s account, not yours.
What You Need to Send Money Through WeChat With Remitly
Before you start a transfer, it helps to gather some information ahead of time. Depending on Remitly’s current requirements, you may need:
- A Remitly account. You’ll need to sign up or sign in before starting a transfer.
- You must be 16–65 years old. This is Remitly’s age requirement for senders on this delivery method — transfers from senders outside this range will be canceled.
- Your recipient’s full legal name. This should match the name on their identification and their WeChat account.
- Your recipient’s phone number used on WeChat. Remitly uses this to connect the transfer to their WeChat account.
- Confirmation that your recipient’s WeChat or Weixin account meets Remitly’s requirements. WeChat requires that your recipient has a card linked to their WeChat wallet to receive funds. If your recipient hasn’t completed this step, once you submit your transfer, they’ll receive a text message with a link to authorize it and they’ll need to act on it within 48 hours, or the transfer will be canceled.
- Your preferred payment method, such as a bank account, debit card, credit card, or Apple Pay.
How to Use Remitly to Send Money to China With WeChat
Send a money transfer to WeChat in China from the United States using the following steps.
1. Sign in or create a Remitly account Open the Remitly app or visit the website and sign in. If you’re new to Remitly, create a free account.
2. Start a transfer to China Select China as the destination country and enter the amount you want to send. Remitly will show you an estimated exchange rate and fee based on your selections.
3. Choose your payment method Select how you’d like to pay for the transfer: debit card, bank account, credit card, or Apple Pay.
4. Choose Weixin (WeChat Pay) as the delivery method You’ll see Weixin (WeChat Pay) listed among the delivery options. Select it to continue.
5. Enter your recipient’s information Carefully enter your recipient’s phone number associated with their WeChat account. Accuracy matters here: a small typo may delay or prevent delivery, and the number must match the one on file with their WeChat account or the transfer can be canceled.
6. Review the exchange rate, fees, and delivery estimate Before confirming, Remitly displays the exchange rate, transfer fee, total cost, and the amount your recipient is expected to receive.
7. Confirm and send your transfer Once everything looks correct, confirm the transfer. Remitly will process your payment and begin sending the funds toward delivery.
8. Your recipient completes any required steps in WeChat After you send the transfer, your recipient will need to take action inside WeChat to receive the money — and do it within 48 hours of getting the notification. We’ll walk through this next.
How Does Your Recipient Receive Money Through WeChat?
To receive a Remitly transfer with WeChat, your recipient needs to meet certain WeChat requirements. Before you send money, it’s a good idea to make sure they’re set up to receive the transfer.
Your recipient will need to:
- Have a WeChat account. Your recipient must already be signed up for WeChat.
- Complete WeChat Pay real-name verification using one of the following accepted IDs:
- Chinese Mainland Resident Identity Card (Second Generation)
- Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Chinese nationality)
- Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card
- Residence Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents
- Foreign Passport
- Authorize where they want to receive the money. Your recipient must authorize their bank card or WeChat Wallet balance through the 微汇款 (Weihuikuan) mini-program in WeChat. Recipients using a foreign passport can complete their verification directly through the Weihuikuan mini-program.
- Make sure their phone number matches. The phone number associated with their WeChat account must be the same number you provide when setting up the Remitly transfer.
- Complete the kinship commitment letter when required. If the transfer is being sent for Family Support, your recipient will also need to digitally sign a kinship commitment letter confirming their family relationship with the sender — Chinese banks require this signature to deliver an international transfer from overseas relatives.
Once these requirements are met, your recipient can receive the transfer through the authorized bank card or WeChat Wallet balance selected in Weihuikuan.
Keep in mind that receiving an international money transfer through WeChat is different from using WeChat Pay for everyday purchases. Your recipient needs to meet WeChat’s identity and account requirements before they can receive a Remitly transfer.
How Does My Recipient Authorize Their Bank Card?
Walk your recipient through these steps to link the account where they want to receive the money:
1. Sign up for WeChat and make sure the app is installed on their mobile device.
2. The first time you send them money, they’ll receive a text message with a link to WeChat.
3. They select the link to open the 微汇款 (Weihuikuan) mini-program in WeChat.
4. They select Agree to authorize their phone number.
5. They choose the bank card or WeChat wallet balance where they want to receive the money.
6. They select Authorize to authorize the card.
7. Once the card is authorized, the money is automatically deposited into the selected card or their WeChat Wallet balance, based on their default receiving settings.
Important: Your recipient must authorize their card within 48 hours of receiving the text. If they don’t, the transfer will be canceled.
What If My recipient Didn’t Get a Notification to Link Their Account?
If your recipient didn’t receive a text message or notification with linking instructions, have them:
1. Open the WeChat app.
2. Search for 微汇款 (Weihuikuan).
3. Choose 我要收款 (I am a recipient).
4. Choose 创建名片去收款 (Create my receiving account) to link a bank card or WeChat wallet balance.
5. Link and authorize the bank card or WeChat wallet balance.
6. Provide any additional details required if prompted, such as occupation.
7. Complete the facial recognition scan to verify their identity.
Why Do WeChat Transfers Get Canceled?
A transfer can be automatically canceled for any of these reasons:
- Your recipient didn’t authorize a card or submit the required documents within 48 hours of receiving the notification.
- Your recipient didn’t complete WeChat Pay real-name verification.
- The phone number on your recipient’s WeChat account doesn’t match the phone number provided for the transfer.
- Your recipient didn’t sign the required kinship commitment letter for a Family Support transfer.
- Your recipient has reached their receiving limit. This limit applies across all transfer services, not just Remitly.
- Your recipient has exceeded the monthly five-transfer limit for Family Support or Salary reasons.
- You (the sender) don’t meet the age requirement of 16–65 years old.
If a transfer is canceled, check these reasons first before trying again.
How Much Does It Cost to Send Money to WeChat?
Remitly makes the cost straightforward when sending money to China through Weixin (WeChat Pay): the transfer fee is a flat $1.99 USD when paying by bank transfer or debit card. You’ll see the fee, exchange rate, and amount your recipient is expected to receive before you confirm the transfer.
That means your family can receive money through an app they already use, while you know the transfer fee upfront. If you pay by credit card, an additional 3% processing fee applies.
| Payment method | Remitly fee |
| Debit card | $1.99 USD |
| Bank transfer | $1.99 USD |
| Credit card | $1.99 USD + 3% processing fee |
Fees, exchange rates, transfer limits, delivery times, payment methods, and delivery options are subject to change and may vary based on factors including the send amount, payment method, recipient information, and applicable eligibility or verification requirements. Review the applicable exchange rate, fees, and estimated delivery time shown by Remitly before confirming your transfer. Alipay availability and recipient eligibility are subject to applicable Remitly and provider requirements.
How Long Does a Remitly Transfer to WeChat Take?
Money transfers from the United States to China are delivered instantly, and Remitly shows an estimated delivery time before you confirm your transfer. Several factors can affect how long delivery actually takes, including your payment method, any verification steps required, and how quickly your recipient completes their part of the process — including the 48-hour window to authorize their receiving account.
Is it Safe to Send Money Through WeChat With Remitly?
Remitly builds security into every transfer, and there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your recipient:
- Double-check recipient details. Confirm your recipient’s name, phone number, and any other information before submitting your transfer.
- Only send money to people you know and trust. Avoid sending funds to someone you’ve only interacted with online or haven’t verified independently.
- Protect your account and sign-in information. Never share your Remitly password or verification codes with anyone.
- Recognize common money-transfer scams. Be cautious of urgent requests for money, unfamiliar recipients, or pressure to send funds quickly.
If anything about a transfer feels off, pause and verify before sending. You can also visit Remitly’s trust and safety center for resources on fraud prevention.
WeChat vs. WeChat Pay vs. Weixin: What’s the Difference?
WeChat is a messaging and social app widely used in China, and Weixin is its China-based counterpart. WeChat Pay is a payment feature built into the app that lets people pay merchants, split bills, and make purchases using a linked wallet.
When you send a transfer through Remitly with Weixin (WeChat Pay) as the delivery method, you’re not depositing money into a WeChat Pay wallet the way a shopper would pay for coffee. You’re sending an international transfer that your recipient accesses and verifies through WeChat, following Remitly’s specific delivery process. Understanding this difference helps set the right expectations for both you and your recipient.
What Is a Kinship Commitment Letter?
If your recipient chooses Family Support as their receiving reason, they’ll need to digitally sign a kinship commitment letter declaring their family relationship with you, the sender. This signature is required by Chinese banks to deliver an international transfer from overseas relatives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I send money from the US to Weixin (WeChat Pay) in China?
Yes, you can send money to China from the United States using Weixin (WeChat Pay) through Remitly.
Does my recipient need a WeChat (or Weixin) account?
Yes. Your recipient needs an active WeChat (or Weixin) account that meets Remitly’s eligibility requirements to receive a transfer through this delivery method.
Do I need WeChat to send money with Remitly?
No. You send the transfer through the Remitly app or website. Your recipient uses a WeChat (or Weixin) account to receive it.
Can I send money directly to WeChat Pay?
Sending through Remitly’s Weixin (WeChat Pay) delivery option is different from funding a WeChat Pay wallet directly. Your recipient completes specific steps within WeChat, through the Weihuikuan mini-program, to receive a Remitly transfer.
What information do I need from my recipient?
You’ll need their full legal name and phone number, along with any additional details Remitly requests during the transfer process.
How much money can I send through WeChat with Remitly?
Transfer limits can vary based on your sending country, payment method, and account verification status.
How long does my recipient have to authorize their receiving account?
48 hours from when they receive the text notification. If they miss this window, the transfer is canceled.
Is there an age requirement to send money with Remitly?
Yes, for this delivery method senders must be between 16 and 65 years old.
Send money to China with Remitly
Ready to send money to someone you care about in China? Send money with Remitly today and see your exact fees, exchange rate, and delivery estimate before you confirm.
