Foreign Currency Solution

We provide multi-currency account services including cash deposits and withdrawal transfer, term deposits, mortgages, remittance, foreign currency exchange and rate enquiry. There are two different personal accounts for Foreign Currency Accounts, 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

Yes, HSBC (China) exchange service offers the latest exchange rates. Our Foreign Exchange service will automatically apply the latest exchange rate when your transaction is made.  The exchange rate is a live rate, which is updated minute by minute during market hours.

The annual quota for individual settlement of foreign exchange is equivalent to USD50,000 per person per year. Within the quota, you may approach HSBC branch with your valid ID or log on to Personal Internet Banking.

Conversion exceeding the quota requires relevant supporting documents. You can approach HSBC to exchange FCY to RMB with valid identity certificate and supporting documents, eg invoice for daily purchase or contract (when converting a large sum, for example, buying a car or home renovations).

If you are planning to purchase property* and the price in RMB exceeds the annual quota, it is necessary to provide the purchase contract.

*According to SAFE regulations, property purchase is permitted for non-China nationals who have worked in China for over one year / for Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan residents and overseas Chinese (living abroad with Chinese nationality) who work/live/study in China. Please note that investment property purchases are not permitted.

There is no quota for overseas customers wishing to purchase FCY. Valid identity certificate and the related evidential materials should be presented at HSBC local branches for application:

• With regard to the legal income in RMB under the Current Account FCY Funds held within Mainland China's borders, you should purchase foreign exchange by presenting your valid identity certificate and the related evidential materials (inclusive of tax voucher). When the legal income of RMB comes from salary or other types of income issued from a foreign-investment enterprise to non-China nationals/Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan residents/overseas Chinese, you should purchase foreign exchange by presenting your relevant certificate and documents subject to your after-tax income.
• In order to reconvert an unused portion of RMB previously converted from a foreign currency back into the original foreign currency you must present your valid identity certificate and the original exchange voucher. The validity term of the original exchange voucher is 24 months from the exchange date. If the total amount converted in the same day is not more than USD500 equivalent (including USD500), or the total amount converted in the same day at premises within mainland China's borders, but outside of China's Customs before your departure is not more than USD1,000 equivalent (including USD1,000), you need only present your valid identity certificate in order to reconvert the unused portion of RMB to the original foreign currency.
• When converting RMB proceeds from the sale of a property, you can 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. You are welcome to present the relevant documents and conduct foreign exchange settlement at HSBC local branches.