Airwallex Review for Importers (2026): Fees, Limits and Paying China

Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our ranking. How we make money

Figures last checked: 31/10/2026.

This Airwallex review for importers answers one practical question: is Airwallex Business a good way to pay Chinese suppliers in CNY or USD? We looked at the published fee schedules for the UK, the EU, the US, Hong Kong and Singapore, the list of countries where a company can open an account, and the limits that matter when you pay a factory.

The short version: Airwallex is one of the cheapest published ways to convert into CNY and pay a supplier through local Chinese clearing. But it only opens accounts for companies registered in its supported countries, and the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco are not on that list today.

Short answer: Airwallex is a good way to pay Chinese suppliers if your company is registered in a supported country such as the UK, an EU state, the US or Hong Kong. Published cost on the entry plan in the UK, EU and US is a 0.50% FX margin plus a 0.10% CNY payout fee, paid through local Chinese clearing.

In 30 seconds

• FX margin: 0.50% above interbank for CNY and USD in the UK, EU and US; 0.40% in Singapore; "from 0.20%" in Hong Kong.

• CNY payout fee: 0.10% on the UK, EU, US and Singapore schedules. In the US it applies to the Explore plan only (from 12/10/2026).

• SWIFT in USD: GBP 10.00 / 20.00 (UK), EUR 10.00 / 20.00 (EU), USD 15.00 / 25.00 (US) for SHA / OUR.

• Who can open: companies registered in the EEA, UK, US, Hong Kong, Singapore and other listed countries. Not yet the Gulf or North Africa.

• Best for: importers who pay China every month from a company in a supported country.

In this guide: Quick verdict · Who is Airwallex for, and who is it not for · Who can open an Airwallex business account (UK, · What are the Airwallex business account requirem · Airwallex FX margin · Transfer fees · How to pay an Alibaba or Chinese supplier with A · Limits, holding currencies and cards · How much does Airwallex cost per month · Worked example · Airwallex cost by order size · Worked example 2 · Worked example 3 · Why was my Airwallex payment to China rejected · Is Airwallex safe · Airwallex pros and limits for importers · Airwallex vs Wise vs Payoneer · By region · Mistakes to avoid with Airwallex supplier paymen · Checklist · Key takeaways

Quick verdict: is Airwallex good for paying Chinese suppliers?

Yes, if your company is registered in a supported country and you pay suppliers regularly. The total published cost of a CNY payment is 0.60% in the UK, EU and US (0.50% margin plus 0.10% payout), which is far below a 3.00% margin (an assumed bank-style rate we use for comparison throughout this guide).

For a full three-way comparison, read our guide on how to pay a Chinese supplier with Wise, Payoneer or Airwallex.

Who is Airwallex for, and who is it not for?

The fee table only matters if Airwallex fits the way you buy. Four profiles get the most from it, and four should look at other routes first.

• For: an EU or UK trading company that pays China every month; a Hong Kong company buying from Mainland factories; a US LLC that wants a free plan; a buyer with several suppliers who can use batch payments.

• Not for: a company registered in the Gulf or North Africa (not eligible today); an importer with one small order a year; anyone who wants to pay a factory by card; a business that needs cash deposits or a branch.

Who can open an Airwallex business account (UK, EU, US, Hong Kong, MENA)

Airwallex decides by where your business is registered, not where you live or trade. Its help centre lists the supported registration countries and says that if yours is not listed, "Airwallex is unable to process your application at this time" (Airwallex help).

• Europe: all 27 EU states plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are on the list. Airwallex's regulated EU entities are Airwallex (Netherlands) B.V. and AWX Lithuania, UAB.

• United Kingdom: supported, including Gibraltar and the Isle of Man.

• United States: supported.

• Hong Kong and Singapore: supported, and often the base that importers from other regions use. Israel is also on the list; Jordan and Tunisia are not.

• UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco: not on the list. In the UAE, Airwallex announced in-principle approval from the Central Bank of the UAE for stored-value and retail-payment licences, and it has set up an entity in Saudi Arabia after the Ministry of Investment granted its incorporation (Airwallex newsroom, 25/09/2025). In-principle approval is not a launch: check the list again before you plan around it.

If your trading company is in the Gulf or North Africa, the usual route is a company in Hong Kong, the UK, the EU or the US. Our guide Hong Kong vs Dubai vs US LLC for importers compares them, and the Setup Route Finder suggests one in seven questions.

What are the Airwallex business account requirements?

Airwallex says applications are "processed within 1-3 business days" once you submit all the required information; complex applications or follow-up questions take longer (Airwallex help).

1. Apply online with the company's legal name and registration number.

2. Upload company documents. For a UK limited company: certificate of incorporation and articles of association (Airwallex UK verification).

3. Verify the people. Photo ID and home address for every director and every owner with 25% or more (direct or indirect), plus a live selfie check for the person applying. If ownership is unclear, Airwallex may ask for a signed Declaration of Beneficial Ownership on company letterhead, dated within the last 6 months.

4. Explain your trade. New businesses may be asked for invoices, contracts or a business plan. Have your supplier contracts ready.

5. Fund and test. Add money to your Global Account and send a small test payment to the supplier before the deposit.

Tip: write your activity in plain words ("import of auto parts from China, sold to garages in Germany"). A clear description and a real supplier invoice answer most compliance questions before they are asked.

Airwallex FX margin: what conversion to CNY really costs

The exchange-rate margin is the main cost of paying China. Airwallex publishes it as a fixed mark-up over the interbank rate, the same on all plans:

• UK, EU, US: 0.50% for major currencies (AUD, USD, HKD, CNY, JPY, EUR, GBP, CAD, CHF, NZD, SGD); 1.00% for other currencies, such as TRY, INR or PKR (UK pricing, EU pricing, US fee schedule).

• Singapore: 0.40% for the same major currencies and 0.60% for others (SG fee schedule).

• Hong Kong: "from 0.2%" above interbank (HK pricing). The exact rate is not listed per currency.

Two extras can apply: a scheduled conversion (booked for a later date) adds 0.20%, and API rate quotes add 0.02% to 0.30% depending on how long the rate is held (UK schedule). Most importers converting in the web app pay neither. Airwallex's UK China page says you can generally convert up to USD 5,000,000.00 at a time (indicative: that page contains copy errors, see below).

The 3.00% bar is an assumption for comparison, not a quote from any one provider. For reference, Payoneer's pricing page lists "up to 3%" for non-local currency withdrawals for users from China, Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong (Payoneer pricing). Your own bank's margin is rarely published: ask for it in writing and compare.

Transfer fees: local CNY payouts vs SWIFT in USD

You can pay a Chinese supplier two ways from Airwallex. The invoice currency decides.

• CNY through local clearing. Airwallex pays CNY through its local network where possible. The UK, EU, US and Singapore schedules list a 0.10% fee on CNY payouts. The UK and US schedules also show a flat CNY (FPS) fee of GBP 2.00 / USD 2.00 in the same table; the layout does not make clear whether the two stack, so check the fee shown in the app before you confirm. On the US fee schedule, both CNY fees take effect on 12/10/2026 and do not apply to Grow and Accelerate customers.

• USD by SWIFT to the supplier's USD account. You choose SHA (fees shared, the supplier may receive a little less) or OUR (you pay intermediary fees, the supplier receives the full amount).

Speed: Airwallex says about 93% of its transfers from Hong Kong are processed "within a few hours to one business day", and payments to China are typically received within one business day (Airwallex HK). Its UK page gives a similar figure: 90% of transfers are received "in as little as one business day".

How to pay an Alibaba or Chinese supplier with Airwallex step by step

Whether you buy through Alibaba.com or directly from a factory, the bank transfer itself follows the same order. Alibaba orders paid through Alibaba's own checkout follow Alibaba's payment rules instead, so this flow is for paying the supplier's company bank account.

1. Check the invoice. Note the currency (CNY or USD), the amount, the supplier's legal name and its bank. A CNY invoice goes by local payout; a USD invoice goes by SWIFT.

2. Verify the bank details. Call the supplier on a number you already know. Never accept changed details by e-mail alone; our checklist to verify a Chinese supplier shows what else to confirm.

3. Add the beneficiary. Enter the company name exactly as on the bank account, the account number, the bank name and, for SWIFT, the BIC code.

4. Convert the money. Convert from your balance into CNY or USD. Read the rate and fee on the screen before you confirm.

5. Send a small test payment. For any new account, send a small amount first and ask the supplier to confirm receipt.

6. Pay the deposit or balance. Put the invoice number in the purpose / reference field. Choose OUR for SWIFT if the supplier must receive the full amount.

7. Keep the proof. Download the payment confirmation, send it to the supplier and file it with the contract and invoice. You will need them for customs and for any compliance question.

Limits, holding currencies and cards

Does Airwallex charge to receive money?

Holding currencies. A Global Account lets you receive and hold 20+ currencies, so you can collect EUR from customers and keep USD for suppliers without converting twice. Receiving is free for most currencies; the US and UK schedules list USD 15.00 for an incoming Fedwire.

Limits. Airwallex's UK page on paying China says there is no hard limit on the total amount sent, but once monthly transfers to one beneficiary exceed USD 25,000.00 (or the CNY equivalent), it may ask for invoices or contracts (Airwallex UK). Parts of that page also mention Mexican payment details, which looks like a copy error, so confirm limits in your account.

What the supplier must give you for a payout: the full legal name exactly as on the bank account, the account number, the bank name, the SWIFT/BIC code (SWIFT payments only) and a payment purpose such as the invoice number.

Can you pay with Airwallex cards?

Cards. Airwallex issues multi-currency company cards: up to 10 free on Explore and 50 on Grow in the UK and EU. If a card pays in a currency you do not hold, the UK schedule lists a 1.00% automatic conversion fee. Cards are useful for samples, trade-fair costs and software, not for paying a factory.

How much does Airwallex cost per month? Plans by region

In the UK and EU, Explore costs GBP / EUR 19.00 per month unless you deposit at least 10,000.00 a month or keep a 10,000.00 minimum balance. Fees are per legal entity, not per account. Above Grow, an Accelerate plan is priced on request in the UK, EU and US, and from HKD 2,499.00 per month in Hong Kong. Singapore prices exclude GST. Prices checked on 31/10/2026; the UK schedule took effect on 17/10/2026.

Worked example: a Rotterdam importer pays a Ningbo factory

Example scenario. A Dutch trading company pays a CNY invoice worth EUR 20,000.00 to a factory in Ningbo, on 30/70 terms, from an Airwallex EU account on the Explore plan. It deposits more than EUR 10,000.00 that month, so the plan is free.

The difference is EUR 480.00 on one order. If the same importer paid by SWIFT in USD instead, the transfer fee would be EUR 10.00 (SHA) or EUR 20.00 (OUR) per payment, plus the 0.50% margin to convert EUR to USD. The 0.10% CNY payout fee is applied to the CNY amount, so its value in EUR moves slightly with the rate.

Airwallex cost by order size: is it worth it for small orders?

A percentage fee looks the same on every order, but a fixed monthly fee does not. In the UK and EU, the Explore plan costs GBP / EUR 19.00 in any month where you deposit less than 10,000.00 and hold less than 10,000.00 at month-end. On a small order, that fee can cost more than the conversion itself.

Example (assumption: the order is the only money paid in that month, UK Explore, CNY invoice). The chart shows the effective cost falling from 1.55% on GBP 2,000.00 to 0.60% from GBP 10,000.00, where the waiver applies.

Two ways to avoid the small-order penalty: group several small orders into one month so deposits pass 10,000.00, or keep a 10,000.00 working balance at month-end. In the US, Hong Kong and Singapore, Explore costs 0.00, so this problem does not exist there.

Worked example 2: a US LLC pays a first USD 3,000.00 order

Example scenario. A non-resident founder's US LLC places a first order of USD 3,000.00 with a factory in Guangdong, 30% deposit and 70% before shipment. The LLC holds USD in its Airwallex US account on the free Explore plan. The supplier can invoice in CNY or USD; which is cheaper?

On a small order, the flat SWIFT fee is the bigger cost, so paying in CNY is cheaper even after conversion. If the flat USD 2.00 CNY (FPS) fee on the US schedule also applied to each payment, option A would rise to USD 22.00, still the cheapest. The picture flips on large USD orders: at USD 50,000.00, 0.60% is USD 300.00 while a SWIFT payment stays at USD 15.00 to 25.00, so a supplier happy to be paid in USD by SWIFT can be the cheaper route for big payments.

Worked example 3: a Dubai founder's Hong Kong company pays USD 50,000.00

Example scenario. A Dubai-based founder trades through a Hong Kong company, because a UAE company cannot open Airwallex today. The company pays a repeat CNY order worth USD 50,000.00 to a factory in Zhejiang, 30/70, from USD it holds in Airwallex HK.

Read the first row carefully: Hong Kong advertises "from 0.20%", which is the best case, not a fixed rate. Read the rate in the app before converting; if it is 0.50%, the cost is USD 250.00. The USD 35,000.00 balance is above the USD 25,000.00 monthly level where Airwallex's UK China page says invoices or contracts may be requested, so upload the contract and invoice early to avoid a delay before shipment. If the supplier invoices in USD instead, a SWIFT payment from Hong Kong costs HKD 120.00 to 200.00 per transfer.

Why was my Airwallex payment to China rejected?

Most failed payments come from the details, not the provider. Airwallex publishes its payout failure reasons; the six below cause most problems for importers.

Airwallex says a failed transfer is cancelled automatically and you create a new one with corrected details (Airwallex payout failure reasons). If the reason is "internal policy" or a China local transfer error, contact Airwallex support instead of retrying.

Can you pay a supplier's personal account in China?

Some small suppliers ask to be paid into a personal account. Airwallex has a beta China local method for individual mainland accounts with an "offline B2B order declaration"; an account manager must enable it, and each payment must stay within a limit (Airwallex help). For goods, ask for the company account named on the contract: it matches your invoice, your customs file and your supplier checks.

Airwallex alternatives for China payments

If you cannot open Airwallex, the main options are Wise Business (where CNY sending is available from your country), your own bank, and China-focused providers such as XTransfer, LianLian Global and PingPong. Compare eligibility for your company's country and the amount the supplier receives, not only the headline fee. Our Wise vs Payoneer vs Airwallex comparison covers the three most common choices.

Is Airwallex safe? Deposit protection vs safeguarding

Airwallex is not a bank in the UK or EU. It is a licensed e-money and payment firm, and that changes how your balance is protected. A bank deposit is covered by a government deposit insurance scheme, up to a limit. A balance with a payment firm such as Airwallex or Wise is not. Instead, the firm must safeguard it: keep customer money apart from its own money, so it can be handed back if the firm closes.

What bank deposit insurance covers, and what it does not

Here are the four schemes importers ask about most, with the limit each one publishes today.

The key point sits in the last column. Deposit insurance pays when a bank fails. It does not pay when a payment company fails, even if that company keeps your money at an insured bank. The UK regulator says it plainly: "Funds held by payments and e-money firms are not directly protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme", and when a firm with weak safeguarding fails, customers can lose money or wait for it (FCA, 25/09/2024).

How Airwallex and Wise safeguard client funds

Both firms explain their method on their own help pages. In short:

• Airwallex UK: customer money sits in separate bank accounts. If Airwallex UK became insolvent, customers would be paid from that safeguarding account "in priority to all our other creditors", although an insolvency practitioner may first deduct a standard fee. The FSCS could only help if the safeguarding bank itself failed (Airwallex: how does Airwallex keep my money safe).

• Airwallex EU: in the Netherlands, funds are held in a designated safeguarding account owned by an independent foundation, the Airwallex Netherlands Foundation, and can only be used to repay customers. In Lithuania, funds sit in ring-fenced accounts in the EEA. Airwallex states that funds with an e-money institution are not covered by the Dutch or Lithuanian deposit guarantee.

• Airwallex US: funds are held in an "FDIC-insurance-eligible omnibus account" at Evolve Bank & Trust, a member FDIC partner bank. That cover is for a failure of the partner bank, not of Airwallex, in line with the FDIC fact sheet above.

• Airwallex Hong Kong: customer funds go into designated bank accounts with partners such as DBS, JP Morgan, Standard Chartered and ANZ.

• Wise (UK entity): Wise Payments Ltd keeps customer money apart from its operating money, held as cash in several banks, secure liquid assets (mainly government bonds) and a comparable guarantee. Its e-money and payment services "are not subject to" the FSCS (Wise: how Wise Payments Ltd safeguards customer funds).

Who regulates Airwallex

Safeguarding is only as good as the supervision behind it. Airwallex's help centre lists each licence (Airwallex: how is Airwallex regulated):

• UK: Airwallex (UK) Ltd, an electronic money institution authorised by the FCA, licence 900876. You can check it on the FCA Financial Services Register.

• EU: Airwallex (Netherlands) B.V., an e-money institution supervised by De Nederlandsche Bank (relation number R179622, see the DNB public register); customer funds are held by a separate custodian foundation, as Dutch law requires. AWX Lithuania, UAB holds e-money licence no. 88 from the Bank of Lithuania.

• US: Airwallex US, LLC, a licensed money transmitter under state regulators.

• Hong Kong and Singapore: Money Service Operator licence 16-09-01929 from Hong Kong Customs and Excise, and Major Payment Institution licence PS20200541 from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

What this means for an importer

Example: a Manchester importer keeps GBP 150,000.00 on Airwallex between two factory payments. If Airwallex UK failed, none of it would be FSCS-covered; it would come back from the safeguarded pool, possibly after a delay and an insolvency fee. In a UK bank account, the company, as an eligible depositor, would be covered up to GBP 120,000.00 at that bank. Neither route is risk-free, so a simple habit helps: keep on Airwallex what you need for the next few supplier payments, and hold longer-term reserves at a bank.

In practice, the bigger daily risk for an importer is not the provider but fraud: fake bank details sent by e-mail. Steps 2 and 5 of the flow above remove most of that risk.

Airwallex pros and limits for importers

• Pros: clear published margin, local CNY payouts, many currencies in one account, free plans in the US, Hong Kong and Singapore, batch payments to several suppliers (upload a template file and Airwallex validates each line, see Airwallex help).

• Limits: no direct accounts for Gulf and North African companies today, document requests above USD 25,000.00 a month per supplier, a monthly fee in the UK and EU if you deposit less than 10,000.00, and fee tables that are not always easy to read.

Airwallex vs Wise vs Payoneer: which is cheaper for paying China?

Wise cannot send CNY to businesses from a list of countries that includes the UAE, Jordan, Turkey, Bulgaria, Croatia and Gibraltar, and it can only pay CIPS member banks (Wise help). Payoneer's pricing page lists an annual fee of USD 29.95 if 12 months pass with less than USD 2,000.00 received, and also mentions it for 12 months without a transaction (Payoneer pricing).

By region: MENA, Europe, USA

The same Airwallex fee schedule does not mean the same experience everywhere. Here is what changes by region.

Gulf: can you use Airwallex in the UAE or Saudi Arabia?

Not for a local company today. Airwallex has announced in-principle approval from the Central Bank of the UAE and set up an entity in Saudi Arabia, but neither country is on the supported registration list yet. Importers in Dubai or Riyadh who already own a Hong Kong, UK or US company can use Airwallex for that company's purchases. Note that Wise cannot send CNY to Chinese businesses from the UAE or Jordan either. Country guides: how to pay a Chinese supplier from the UAE and from Saudi Arabia; for the company question, see Dubai free zone vs mainland trading company.

North Africa: Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia

Companies registered in Egypt, Morocco or Tunisia cannot open Airwallex. Imports into these countries are usually paid through a local bank under central-bank foreign-exchange rules, so check the rules of the Central Bank of Egypt or Bank Al-Maghrib and talk to your bank before using any foreign company to pay. See paying China from Egypt and from Morocco.

Europe and the UK: the strongest case

Free domestic EUR, GBP and CHF transfers, a 0.50% margin and 0.10% on CNY. One trap: Wise cannot send CNY to businesses from Bulgaria or Croatia, so Airwallex is one of the published routes for companies registered there. Watch the GBP / EUR 19.00 monthly fee if your deposits are under 10,000.00 a month. More in paying a Chinese supplier from Europe.

USA: free plan, USD 15.00 SWIFT

Explore costs USD 0.00, domestic USD transfers are free and SWIFT costs USD 15.00 (SHA) or USD 25.00 (OUR). The 0.10% CNY payout fee applies on Explore only, so a high-volume buyer on Grow pays the 0.50% margin alone, plus the Grow plan fee. Non-resident founders often pair it with a US LLC; see US LLC for non-residents and paying China from the USA.

Hong Kong company paying China

Hong Kong is the classic hub: margin "from 0.20%", Explore at HKD 0.00 and payments to China typically received within one business day. Setting one up from abroad is covered in register a Hong Kong company as a non-resident.

Mistakes to avoid with Airwallex supplier payments

• Paying CNY to a USD account or the reverse: match the invoice currency and the account currency.

• A beneficiary name that is not exact: copy it from the supplier's bank document, in Latin characters.

• Choosing SHA when the supplier needs the full amount: if a short payment would stop shipment, use OUR.

• Skipping the purpose field: put the invoice number in it.

• New bank details by e-mail: call the supplier on a known number. Read our supplier verification checklist.

If a payment goes wrong: contact Airwallex support the same day with the payment ID and ask for a recall or a trace; send the supplier the payment confirmation; and if documents are requested, upload the contract and invoice quickly. Airwallex's developer docs say a failed transfer is cancelled automatically; check your wallet and create a new transfer with corrected details. The next section lists the most common reasons.

Checklist: before your first Airwallex payment to China

• Registration country is on Airwallex's supported list

• Company documents and IDs of directors and 25% owners ready

• Plan chosen and monthly deposit level checked (UK/EU fee waiver)

• Invoice currency matches the supplier's account currency

• Beneficiary name copied exactly from the bank document

• Fee and rate shown in the app checked before confirming

• Small test payment sent to any new supplier account

• Contract and invoice saved for compliance requests

Key takeaways

• Airwallex publishes a 0.50% FX margin (UK, EU, US), 0.40% (Singapore) and "from 0.20%" (Hong Kong).

• CNY payouts carry a 0.10% fee on the UK, EU, US and Singapore schedules; check the fee in the app.

• On a EUR 20,000.00 order, the published cost is EUR 120.00 versus EUR 600.00 at an assumed 3.00%; small orders in the UK and EU cost more in percentage terms if the GBP / EUR 19.00 plan fee applies.

• In the US, the 0.10% CNY payout fee applies on the Explore plan only.

• Eligibility depends on where your company is registered; the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco are not on the list today.

• UK and EU accounts cost GBP / EUR 19.00 a month unless you deposit or hold 10,000.00.

• Funds are safeguarded under e-money and payment licences, not covered by the FSCS, FDIC, HK DPS or SDIC if Airwallex itself fails; keep reserves at a bank and only working balances on Airwallex.

• Always verify bank details by phone and send a test payment to a new supplier account.

Glossary

Interbank rate: the wholesale exchange rate banks use between themselves; Airwallex adds its margin on top.

FX margin: the percentage added to the exchange rate; often the biggest cost of a transfer.

Global Account: Airwallex's multi-currency account that receives and holds several currencies.

Local clearing: paying through a country's domestic payment system instead of SWIFT, usually cheaper and faster.

SWIFT: the international bank network behind most cross-border wires.

SHA / OUR: who pays intermediary bank fees, shared (SHA) or all paid by you (OUR).

UBO: ultimate beneficial owner, a person who owns or controls 25% or more of the company.

CIPS: the Cross-border Interbank Payment System for CNY; Wise can only pay CNY to its member banks.

Explore / Grow: Airwallex plan names; Explore is the entry plan, Grow the paid tier with more cards and users.

Safeguarding: the legal duty of a payment or e-money firm to keep customer money apart from its own, so it can be returned if the firm fails.

Deposit insurance: a government scheme (FSCS, FDIC, HK DPS, SDIC) that repays bank depositors up to a limit when a bank fails; it does not cover payment firms.

KYC: "know your customer", the identity and business checks done at account opening.

FAQ

Can a UAE company open an Airwallex account? Not directly today. The UAE is not on Airwallex's list of supported registration countries; Airwallex has announced in-principle approval from the Central Bank of the UAE, which is a step before launch.

What is Airwallex's FX margin for CNY? 0.50% above interbank in the UK, EU and US, 0.40% in Singapore and "from 0.20%" in Hong Kong, on the published pricing pages.

How much does Airwallex charge to pay a supplier in China in CNY? The UK, EU, US and Singapore schedules list 0.10% on CNY payouts, on top of the conversion margin. In the US this fee applies to the Explore plan only. Check the fee shown in the app before confirming.

Can I pay a Chinese supplier in USD with Airwallex? Yes, by SWIFT to the supplier's USD account, for GBP 10.00 to 20.00, EUR 10.00 to 20.00 or USD 15.00 to 25.00 depending on region and SHA or OUR.

How long does Airwallex account opening take? Airwallex says 1–3 business days once all information is submitted, longer if it needs more documents.

Is there a limit on payments to China? Airwallex's UK page says there is no hard limit on the total, but it may ask for invoices or contracts above USD 25,000.00 a month to one beneficiary.

Is Airwallex cheaper than Wise for paying China? Airwallex publishes a fixed margin; Wise shows its total cost in a calculator per transfer. Compare the amount the supplier receives on the day for your exact amount.

Is Airwallex safe for paying Chinese suppliers? Airwallex operates under licences such as an FCA e-money licence in the UK and a DNB e-money licence in the Netherlands, and customer funds are safeguarded. It is not a bank deposit, so funds are not covered by a deposit guarantee scheme. The main practical risk is paying fake bank details, which you avoid by verifying by phone.

Is money on Airwallex covered by the FSCS or the FDIC? Not against Airwallex failing. The FSCS says it cannot protect e-money or payment firms, and the FDIC says its insurance does not cover the failure of a non-bank. Airwallex instead safeguards client money in separate accounts; in the US those accounts sit at an FDIC member bank, which only helps if that bank fails.

What documents does Airwallex ask for to open a business account? It depends on where the company is registered. Expect company papers (a certificate of incorporation or registry extract plus articles in the UK and EEA; a certificate of formation or incorporation and the IRS EIN letter in the US, where bylaws and operating agreements are not enough; the certificate of incorporation and business registration certificate in Hong Kong if Airwallex cannot find the company in public records). Add government photo ID and home address for every owner with 25% or more and for the applicant, who also does a live selfie check. If ownership is unclear, a signed declaration is needed, dated within 6 months (UK, EEA, US) or issued within 12 months (Hong Kong). New businesses may be asked for invoices or contracts. Files can be PDF, Word or images, up to 10MB in the US and 20MB in Hong Kong.

Can a Saudi Arabian company use Airwallex? Not today. Saudi Arabia is not on the supported registration list, although Airwallex has set up an entity there. Check the list again before planning around it.

How do I pay an Alibaba supplier with Airwallex? If you pay the supplier's company bank account directly, add it as a beneficiary, convert to the invoice currency and send the payment with the invoice number as reference. Orders paid through Alibaba.com's own checkout follow Alibaba's payment options instead.

Can a Hong Kong company use Airwallex to pay Mainland China? Yes. Hong Kong is a supported country, the Explore plan costs HKD 0.00 and the published margin starts from 0.20%. Airwallex says payments to China are typically received within one business day.

Why was my Airwallex payment to China rejected? The most common published reasons are a wrong account name or number, a name or currency mismatch, invalid bank or SWIFT codes, special characters in the beneficiary details, an invalid payment purpose, or a closed or restricted supplier account. Fix the detail and create a new transfer; a failed transfer is cancelled automatically.

Can I pay a Chinese supplier's personal bank account with Airwallex? Airwallex has a beta China local method for individual mainland accounts with an offline B2B order declaration, enabled by an account manager and subject to a limit. For goods, paying the supplier's company account named on the contract is the safer and cleaner choice.

Is Airwallex worth it for small orders? In the US and Hong Kong, the Explore plan is free, so small orders cost only the margin and fees. In the UK and EU, a GBP / EUR 2,000.00 order can cost about 1.55% if the 19.00 monthly fee applies, so check whether you will reach the 10,000.00 deposit waiver.

Can I use Airwallex cards to pay a factory? Cards are meant for spending such as samples, travel and software. Pay factories by bank transfer to their company account.

Related guides

• How to Pay a Chinese Supplier: Wise vs Payoneer vs Airwallex
• Hong Kong vs Dubai vs US LLC: Best Company Setup for Importers (2026)
• Pay Chinese Supplier from UAE: Banks vs Wise (2026)
• Pay Chinese Supplier from Europe: EU & UK Guide 2026
• Setup Route Finder: which company should you open?

This review is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Fees, eligible countries and limits change often and vary by the country of your account; always confirm on Airwallex's site and in your account before paying.

Sources

• Airwallex: UK pricing (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex: UK fee schedule, effective 17/10/2026 (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex: Europe pricing (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex: EU fee schedule (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex: US pricing (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex: US fee schedule (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex: Hong Kong pricing (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex: Singapore fee schedule (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex: Send money to China from Hong Kong (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex: Send money to China from the UK (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex Help: Which countries can open an account (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex Help: How long will my application take (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex Help: Verifying your business in the UK (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex Newsroom: Market entry in the Middle East (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex Help: How is Airwallex regulated (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex Docs: Payout failure reasons (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex Help: China local transfer method, offline B2B order declaration (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex Help: How do I create a batch transfer (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex: Singapore pricing (checked 31/10/2026)

• Wise: How to send CNY for China businesses (checked 31/10/2026)

• Payoneer: Pricing (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex Help: How does Airwallex keep my money safe (checked 31/10/2026)

• Wise: How our UK entity Wise Payments Ltd safeguards customer funds (checked 31/10/2026)

• Wise: How Wise keeps your money safe (checked 31/10/2026)

• FCA: Proposed new rules to better protect customers of payments firms, 25/09/2024 (checked 31/10/2026)

• FSCS: Check your money is protected (checked 31/10/2026)

• FSCS: Banks, building societies and credit unions (checked 31/10/2026)

• FDIC: Deposit insurance (checked 31/10/2026)

• FDIC: Fact sheet on deposit insurance and crypto companies, 28/07/2022 (checked 31/10/2026)

• HKMA: First phase of Deposit Protection Scheme enhancements, 01/10/2024 (checked 31/10/2026)

• HKMA: Deposits and the Deposit Protection Scheme (checked 31/10/2026)

• SDIC: Deposit Insurance Scheme (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex Help: Documents required for companies in Europe (EEA) (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex Help: Documents required for companies in the US (checked 31/10/2026)

• Airwallex Help: Documents required for companies in Hong Kong (checked 31/10/2026)