Send Money from the UK to China

Taptap Send advertises no transfer fee on this corridor. That is not the same as cheapest: a provider with no fee recovers it through the exchange-rate margin, which is usually the larger of the two costs. Compare the final amount that arrives in Chinese yuans across two or three services before you send, because the cheapest option changes with the amount and the payout method you choose.

Delivery ranges from minutes to a few business days depending on the provider and payout method. WorldRemit, Western Union and Taptap Send can deliver within minutes when you pay by debit card. Bank-funded and economy transfers typically take one to three business days but usually cost less. Transfers sent outside banking hours or over a weekend may not settle until the next working day.

Across the providers we compare, the available payout methods are Alipay, bank deposit, cash pickup, mobile wallet, airtime top-up and card payout. The most widely used options in China are bank deposit and Alipay. China applies annual foreign-exchange limits per recipient, so large or frequent transfers may need extra documentation. Not every provider supports every method, so check the table above before you commit.

No. WorldRemit, Western Union and Taptap Send offer cash pickup in China, so your recipient can collect the funds with valid photo ID and the transfer reference number. That said, bank deposit and Alipay generally cost less than cash collection.

Providers rarely give you the mid-market rate — the reference rate you see on Google or Reuters. Instead they add a margin, typically between 0.4% and 4%, and keep the difference. That margin is often larger than the visible transfer fee, which is why a "no fee" service can still be more expensive overall. For GBP to CNY, compare the quoted rate against the mid-market rate to see the real spread you are paying.

Yes, provided you use a licensed provider. Every service listed on this page is regulated in the UK under the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which requires safeguarding of customer funds and identity verification. Send only to people you know personally, keep your transfer reference private, and be sceptical of anyone pressuring you to send money urgently to someone you have not met.

Yes. Each provider sets its own transfer limits, which vary by how much identity verification you have completed and how you pay. Larger transfers may require additional documentation such as proof of source of funds. China also applies an annual foreign-exchange conversion limit per individual, which can restrict repeated large transfers to the same recipient. For transfers above roughly £10,000, a specialist foreign-exchange broker will often beat an app on rate.

China applies an annual foreign-exchange conversion quota of about USD 50,000 per individual. Research indicates this governs Chinese residents converting renminbi into foreign currency to send out, rather than capping what they can receive — but banks still apply purpose-of-payment and anti-money-laundering checks on inbound transfers, and large or frequent transfers can attract scrutiny. Alipay and WeChat Pay are the practical delivery rails. Recipients may need a bank card linked to the wallet before funds can be released.