Guides · Residence permits

Open a Chinese Bank Account on a Foreign

The in-person steps, the documents the branch checks, and why the account class decides what your card can do.

one account · Checked · For visitors, employees, people relocating

No published figure yet. The authority does not publish this cost in a form we could verify and quote, so this guide covers the procedure only: what to bring, in what order, and where it goes wrong. We will add the figures the moment there is a source for them.

In order

  1. Check your passport and permit are valid — The bank verifies identity against the passport and the visa or residence permit, so both must be current on the day you go.
  2. Sort out your residence registration — Get the registration slip for your address, since it is often what satisfies the proof of address requirement.
  3. Ask the branch what it accepts as proof of address — Requirements differ by branch and city, so confirm before you queue.
  4. Go to the branch in person — There is no remote route for a foreign passport holder; you open the account at the counter yourself.
  5. Hand over the passport and address documents — Give the clerk the physical passport and the registration or address paper you were issued.
  6. Check the name on the form against your passport — The name must match exactly, including the order of the names, so read the screen or printout before signing.
  7. State what you need the account for — Tell the clerk about salary, rent, receiving money from abroad or sending money out, so the branch can decide the account class.
  8. Confirm the class and its limits before you leave — Ask what online banking and cross-border receipt the account allows, and what would change the class if it does not fit.

A Chinese bank account is opened at a branch counter, by you, with your passport in hand. The branch checks your identity and your right to be in the country, and it decides which class of account you get. Nothing here is legal, tax or immigration advice; the branch makes the final call on every point.

What the branch is checking

The account is opened in person. There is no remote or online route for a foreign passport holder, so plan to be at the counter yourself. The bank verifies identity against the passport and against the visa or residence permit inside it. Bring the physical passport, not a copy or a photo, and make sure the permit is valid on the day you go. The name on the account must match the passport exactly, including the order of the names. Chinese passports and many others order family name first; if the clerk enters your names in the other order, the account will not match your documents later. Read the screen or the printout before you sign.

Proof of address and residence registration

A proof of address is usually asked for. For a foreign resident, the residence registration is often what satisfies it, so deal with registration before you go to the bank. If you are staying in a hotel, ask the front desk for the registration slip they file for foreign guests. If you are renting, the registration is normally handled with your landlord or the local office that covers your address. Bring the paper you were given, not a description of it. Address documents differ by branch and by city. Ask the branch what it accepts before you queue, and ask again if you move.

Account class decides what the account can do

Online banking and cross-border receipt differ between account classes, and the branch decides the class. A basic class may limit what you can do from the app or what can be sent to the account from abroad. Say plainly what you need the account for: salary, paying rent, receiving money from family, or sending money out. The clerk can then tell you which class fits and what the limits are. If the class you are given does not cover your needs, ask what would change it. Upgrading usually means returning to the branch with more documents, so it is worth settling at the first visit.

After the account is open

Keep the passport and the permit valid. A permit that lapses can affect what the bank will let you do with the account, and renewing it may mean another visit to update the record. Keep your Chinese phone number active. It is normally tied to the account for codes and alerts, and losing it can lock you out of the app. Keep the registration paper and any address documents together with your banking paperwork, so the next visit does not start from nothing.

Confirm before you act

Fees and processing times change. This page was checked on 2026-10-29; confirm the current rule with the authority named in each source above before you rely on a deadline.

Last checked 2026-10-29, next review 2027-04-27. Every figure above names its source and the date it was read. This page is a guide, not legal, tax or immigration advice — confirm with the authority before acting on a deadline.

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