Opening a bank account in China as a student or worker
Photo: Li Yang / Unsplash
Opening a bank account as a foreigner follows the same pattern almost everywhere. There's a list of documents, and then there's the branch that wants one more. Germany, Japan and Korea all work this way, and China is no exception.
The good news is that it has become noticeably easier. The hard part now isn't the rules. It's that practice still varies from bank to bank, and from branch to branch.
Why it used to be hard, and what changed
In 2018, a Caixin columnist surveyed five banks in Beijing and found that almost all had tightened account opening for foreigners within about a year. Most would no longer open an account for someone on a tourist visa, and some wanted a letter proving local employment. Recent graduates and freelancers without long-term visas were the ones left out.
That changed direction in 2024. After the State Council's March 2024 opinions on making payments easier, the People's Bank of China issued guidelines saying foreigners can open an account at a bank outlet by presenting a passport or other valid ID. Beijing's government later described a Russian resident who got a debit card at the Bank of Beijing with just her passport, and banks set up foreigner service windows and English application forms.
My take: the official line is now clearly "yes", but the person at the counter still has to satisfy anti-money-laundering checks and wants to know why you need an account. If you're a student or employee, that question has an easy answer. Make sure you can show it on paper.
What to bring
- Passport, plus your residence permit if you have one. A student or work residence permit makes everything smoother.
- A Chinese mobile number registered in your name. This is the one that catches people out. The bank sends verification codes to it, and the number has to match your passport.
- Proof of why you're here: employment contract or employer letter, work permit, or student card and admission letter.
- Your address in China. A lease, dorm registration or your accommodation registration record. See registering where you stay.
- Printed copies of all of the above. Not every branch needs them. The one that does won't have a printer you can use.
Shanghai's official guide for international students lists passport, proof of residence such as dorm registration, proof of enrollment and contact details, and notes that requirements vary between banks. Treat that as the baseline and bring more.
The order that avoids a second trip
- Get the phone number first. Go to a China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom store with your passport. A roaming eSIM is fine for travel, but it won't help here.
- Ask your HR or international student office which branch they use. This one question saves more time than anything else in this article. A branch near a university or business district that opens accounts for foreigners every week will have staff who know the process.
- Go on a weekday morning. Take a queue number and expect an hour, sometimes less if there's a self-service terminal staff can help you with.
- Fill in the name exactly as it appears in your passport, spaces and order included. A mismatch here will cause problems with WeChat Pay and Alipay later.
- Before you leave the counter, ask them to activate mobile banking, set up SMS alerts, and confirm your daily transfer limits. Then link the card to WeChat Pay and Alipay right there, while someone can help if a code doesn't arrive.
When the answer is no
A refusal is usually about a specific gap, and most can be fixed.
- "Your phone number isn't in your name." Fix it at the carrier, then come back.
- "We need proof of purpose." Bring the contract, an employer letter on company letterhead with a stamp, or your admission letter.
- "Your visa period is too short." Some branches set their own threshold. Try a different branch or bank, or wait for your residence permit.
- No reason given. Politely try another branch of the same bank. Travellers on Reddit often report that a second branch said yes on the same day.
Which bank?
The big state banks (Bank of China, ICBC, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank, Bank of Communications) have the most branches and ATMs, and are what most employers and universities use. Bank of China tends to have the most experience with foreign currency. Practically, the best bank is the one your employer pays salaries into, because transfers within the same bank are simpler and HR can help if something goes wrong.
| Your situation | Realistic expectation |
|---|---|
| Student with residence permit | Straightforward. Often done through a campus branch, sometimes in a group session. |
| Employee with work permit | Straightforward with contract and phone number. Use your employer's bank. |
| Newly arrived, permit still processing | Possible at some branches. Easier to wait a few weeks. |
| Short-term visitor | Officially allowed, but branches may still refuse. Most visitors don't need one: link a foreign card to Alipay instead. |
Quick questions
Do I need an account if I'm only here for a few weeks?
Almost certainly not. A foreign card in Alipay or WeChat Pay covers daily payments. An account matters when you're paid in yuan, pay rent, or want to send money home.
What happens when my residence permit is renewed or my passport changes?
Take the new document to the bank and update your record. Banks can restrict an account when the ID on file expires, and you'll find out at the worst moment, usually when a transfer fails.
Can I open an account online before I arrive?
For an ordinary personal account, plan on going in person. Identity checks are done at the branch.
Should I close it when I leave?
If you're leaving for good, yes, after you've moved your money out. A forgotten account with an expired ID is hard to sort out from abroad.
General information, not financial advice. Check with your bank. Sources: Caixin (2018), China Briefing: PBOC guidelines, Beijing Municipal Government, Shanghai: cards for international students.
If something here has changed, email me. I re-check every guide and update the date at the top.
Written by David, who lives in China. About me