Alipay is China’s most widely used digital wallet, with over a billion users. If you have family or friends in mainland China, sending money directly to their Alipay account is one of the fastest and most convenient ways to get funds to them — no bank visit required.
OrbitRemit supports direct transfers from Australia and New Zealand to Alipay accounts in China. This guide covers everything you need to know to send money to Alipay with OrbitRemit.
What is Alipay?
Alipay (支付宝) is a digital payment platform owned by Ant Group, widely used across mainland China for everyday payments, online shopping, bill payments and money transfers. It has over 1.3 billion users globally. To receive international transfers, your recipient will need to link a Chinese bank card to their Alipay account and complete identity verification with a Chinese Mainland Resident Identity Card.
Sending money to someone’s Alipay account means the funds land directly in their digital wallet — fast, simple and accessible on their phone.
Important: Alipay is only available for users with Chinese Mainland Resident Identity Cards who have completed real-name authentication. It is not available for Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan residents.
Before you start — what you’ll need
Before creating your transfer, collect the following details from your recipient:
| Detail required | Notes |
|---|---|
| Full name | Must match exactly as shown on their Chinese Mainland Resident Identity Card |
| Alipay ID | Their Alipay ID is either their registered mobile number or email address |
| Recipient’s bank card | Your recipient will need to have a Chinese bank card linked to their Alipay account to receive the transfer |
Step-by-step: how to send money to Alipay with OrbitRemit
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Log in and start a transfer
– Log in to your OrbitRemit account at orbitremit.com or open the OrbitRemit app. If this is your first transfer, create a free account and complete identity verification.
– Select CNY (Chinese Yuan) as the receiving currency from the calculator.
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Enter the transfer amount
Enter the amount you want to send in AUD (from Australia) or NZD (from New Zealand). OrbitRemit will show you the exchange rate and fee upfront before you confirm — no hidden charges.
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Add your recipient
Enter your recipient’s details:
– Full name (as on their Chinese ID)
– Alipay ID (their registered phone number or email address)
– Select the transfer purpose -
Pay for your transfer
Complete payment using your preferred payment method:
– From Australia: bank transfer, debit card, PayID, Apple Pay or Google Pay
– From New Zealand: bank transfer, POLi, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
Pay as soon as possible after creating your transfer. OrbitRemit will not process the transfer until payment is received.
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Your recipient accepts the transfer
Once OrbitRemit receives your payment, your recipient will receive a push notification from Alipay letting them know a transfer is ready.
Your recipient will then need to complete a short two-step process in the Alipay app to accept the funds (see below). They have 48 hours to complete this — after which the transfer will expire.
What your recipient needs to do
This is the most important thing to tell your recipient before you send. Unlike a bank transfer, Alipay transfers require the recipient to take two steps in the Alipay app to accept the funds:
Step 1: Log in to Alipay and complete real-name authentication (if not already done)
Step 2: Open the Global Remittance mini app inside Alipay and link a Chinese bank card to their Alipay ID
Alipay will send your recipient a notification and guide them through the process. Once these steps are complete, the funds will be available in their account.
Time limit: Your recipient has 48 hours to complete this process. If they don’t accept within 48 hours, the transfer will expire.
Make sure your recipient knows to:
- Check their Alipay notifications after you send
- Have their Chinese ID and bank card details ready
- Complete the steps promptly — don’t leave it overnight
Transfer limits
| Limit | Details |
|---|---|
| Maximum per transfer | 50,000 CNY |
| Maximum transfers per month | Up to 15 transfers per month to each Alipay ID |
| Business transfers | ❌ Not supported — Alipay transfers are personal only. You cannot transfer to a business account, and cannot send from an OrbitRemit business account. |
Limits are set by both OrbitRemit and Alipay’s regulatory framework and may change. Check orbitremit.com/china for the most current figures before sending.
Transfer speed
Transfers to Alipay in China are typically completed within 1 working day. Transfers made on weekends may take longer to process.
There is no deduction at the receiving end — your recipient receives the full CNY amount shown at the time you confirmed the transfer.
Fees
OrbitRemit’s standard fees apply to China (CNY) transfers. The fee and exchange rate are shown upfront before you confirm — there are no hidden charges and no deduction at the receiving end.
To see the current fee and live exchange rate, use the calculator at orbitremit.com/china.
New customers receive a $0 transfer fee and promotional exchange rate on their first transfer (applies to the first $500; terms apply).
FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can I send money to Alipay from Australia?
Yes. OrbitRemit supports direct transfers from Australia (AUD) to Alipay accounts in mainland China.
Can I send money to Alipay from New Zealand?
Yes. OrbitRemit supports direct transfers from New Zealand (NZD) to Alipay accounts in mainland China.
What is an Alipay ID?
An Alipay ID is the identifier linked to your recipient’s Alipay account — either their registered Chinese mobile number or their email address. Ask your recipient which one is linked to their Alipay account before sending.
Does my recipient need to do anything to receive the money?
Yes. Your recipient will receive a push notification from Alipay and will need to complete two steps in the Alipay app: complete real-name authentication, and link a Chinese bank card via the Global Remittance mini app. They have 48 hours to do this before the transfer expires.
What happens if my recipient doesn’t accept the transfer within 48 hours?
The transfer will expire. Contact OrbitRemit support at support.orbitremit.com if this happens.
How long does an Alipay transfer take?
Transfers to Alipay in China are typically completed within 1 working day. Weekend transfers may take longer.
Is there a maximum amount I can send to Alipay?
Yes.
– 50,000 CNY per transfer
– 15 transfers per month per Alipay ID
– 800,000 CNY yearly cap
Limits are subject to change — check orbitremit.com/china for current figures.
Can I send to a business Alipay account?
No. OrbitRemit’s Alipay transfers are personal only. Transfers to business accounts are not currently supported, and you cannot send from an OrbitRemit business account.
Does Alipay work for Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan recipients?
No. Alipay transfers through OrbitRemit are available for recipients with Chinese Mainland Resident Identity Cards only.
Is it safe to send money to Alipay with OrbitRemit?
Yes. OrbitRemit is regulated by ASIC in Australia (AFSL: 470646) and supervised by the DIA in New Zealand (FSP7721). Customer funds are held in segregated accounts. Your money is sent directly to your recipient’s Alipay account with no deduction at the receiving end.
What if I entered the wrong Alipay ID?
Contact OrbitRemit support as soon as possible at [email protected] before the transfer is processed. Always double-check the Alipay ID with your recipient before confirming.
Send money to Alipay with OrbitRemit
OrbitRemit makes it simple to send money directly to Alipay in China from Australia and New Zealand — with transparent flat fees, no deduction at the receiving end, and real-time transfer tracking.
- Direct to Alipay — no bank visit required for your recipient
- Transfers typically completed within 1 working day
- No deduction at the receiving end
- Regulated by ASIC in Australia (AFSL: 470646) | DIA-supervised in New Zealand (FSP7721)
- Rated Excellent on Trustpilot — 4.8/5 from 33,000+ reviews
This guide is based on OrbitRemit’s current support documentation. Transfer limits, fees, and processes are subject to change. For the most current information visit support.orbitremit.com or orbitremit.com/china. Last updated May 2026.
Sources: orbitremit.com/china | support.orbitremit.com — Paying to an Alipay ID
