Foreign currency solutions

We provide multi-currency account services including cash deposits and withdrawal transfers, term deposits, mortgages, remittances, foreign currency exchange and rate enquiries. There are two types of personal accounts for foreign currency: Foreign Currency Exchange Accounts and Foreign Currency Notes Accounts.

Notes Accounts: HKD, USD, JPY and EUR

Exchange Accounts: HKD, USD, JPY, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, SGD and NZD

You can see the latest FX rates here. Our Foreign Exchange service will automatically apply the latest exchange rate when your transaction is made. 

The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) allows individual foreign exchange of USD50,000 or equivalent per year. For conversion within this amount, please visit an HSBC branch with valid ID or log on to online banking.

Customers who would like to convert more than the permitted quota are required to visit a branch in person with relevant supporting documents, including receipts of daily expenses (e.g. daily purchases, dinning receipts and taxi fares), or contracts (applicable for large sum currency conversions for the purchase of car or home renovation).

If you are planning to purchase a property* in China, and its price exceeds the annual quota, please provide the purchase contract and supporting documents for currency exchange.

*According to SAFE regulations, non-Chinese nationals (not including Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Taiwan residents and overseas Chinese) are permitted to purchase a property in China only if they have worked or studied in China for over one year. For Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Taiwan residents and overseas Chinese nationals who are working, studying or residing in China, they are allowed to purchase a private property in particular sizes for own use.

There is no annual limit for overseas customers to purchase foreign currency. Just present your valid identity certificates and related supporting documents to local HSBC branches to use the service:

• For customers who would like to convert domestic legal incomes under Current RMB Account, please provide your valid identity certificates and supporting materials together with tax vouchers.
• For non-Chinese nationals, overseas Chinese, and Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan residents employed by foreign companies in China, please provide relevant certificates and supporting documents stating your after-tax salary and legal income.
• To reconvert RMB back to the original foreign currency, please provide valid identity certificates and the original exchange voucher (valid until 24 months after the original date of exchange). Please present valid identity certificates at the branch if your daily total amount to be re-converted is less than USD500 or equivalent, or USD1,000 or equivalent for conversion made outside China Customs, within domestic borders.
• To convert RMB from the sale of a domestic property, please refer to Detailed Rules for Implementing the Measures for the Administration on Individual Foreign Exchange [Reference number: Huifa No. 59 [2012]] and Operating Guidelines for Foreign Exchange Transactions for Direct Investment within Circular on Further Simplifying and Improving Policies for Foreign Exchange Administration for Direct Investment [Reference number: Huifa No. 13 [2015]] for further information. Please provide relevant documents at HSBC local branches.