Open a corporate bank account for your WFOE in China – even with a difficult passport.
China has two account types and one mandatory in-person visit – plus a regulator (SAFE) that monitors every cross-border flow. Before you apply, we map your passport and business profile to the right banks and prepare the documents that read the way the branch needs them – then we sequence the visit as one trip.
What we open
Two account types in China
Chinese banking is built around two functions – pay in the domestic currency, and move money across the border. A regulator (SAFE) monitors the second one.
RMB Basic account
Domestic CNY transfers only. Pays Chinese staff, settles with Chinese suppliers, collects from domestic customers, settles tax and rent. Required to operate a WFOE on the ground – every WFOE must hold one as its core domestic account.
Foreign-currency account
USD, EUR, and a few other currencies. Cross-border flows in and out of China, routed under SAFE registration. Every inbound and outbound transfer is matched against a documented purpose. Required if your WFOE receives revenue from abroad, pays a foreign parent, or converts between RMB and foreign currency.
How Chinese business bank accounts work
Why some passports trigger weeks of “we need to confirm with headquarters”, why big banks are stricter but more stable – plus the reason outgoing transfers are harder than incoming.
Watch on YouTube →
Which passport tier are you?
How Chinese banks read your passport
Your passport is the biggest factor – though not the only one – in which China accounts open, and which restrictions they come with. These five tiers match how the banks read you, not how you see yourself. Branch discretion changes outcomes case-by-case – pre-screening matters. Find your country below to see which account types are realistic.
Standard KYC checks, no concerns. Many Chinese banks work with these profiles without additional scrutiny. 3–10 business days from face scan. Rejection is rare; when it happens it’s about business model and payment geography, not the passport risk.
Source-of-funds checks (where your money comes from) and extended KYC required. No structural barriers – major Chinese banks open with EDD, although an introducer helps.
Most top Chinese banks reject onboarding. The realistic route is regional banks, and application through an introducer. Outcome is case-by-case, enhanced due diligence required.
Almost all the Chinese banks reject these profiles. The only route is application through an introducer to a small number of specific regional banks.
Almost all the Chinese banks reject these profiles. The only route is residing outside these countries, existing business proof, and application through an introducer.
How we work
Five steps to a live account
Step 0 happens before the WFOE is registered – we tell you on the scope call whether the path is realistic for your profile. Steps 1–4 run after the WFOE is in place.
Scope call
Before we open your WFOE, we read your passport tier, business profile, and trade flow, and tell you the realistic path for your profile.
Pre-application introduction
After your Chinese company is opened, we introduce your profile to the bank and get a preliminary read. If a bank won’t take you – we move to the next option before your visit.
Legal rep visit to bank
In-person appearance at the branch. Face scan against passport, paper signatures on the account-opening set.
Bank review
Internal compliance at the branch reviews the file. Most questions are document-level, not profile-level, since the pre-application introduction was already done.
Account live
RMB Basic + FX account activated. Online banking credentials issued, typically tied to one or more physical USB tokens whose drivers need Windows on most banks.
Common questions
What founders ask before they book
If yours isn’t here, book a call – we’ll discuss your case in detail.
Can I open a corporate bank account in a Chinese bank without a WFOE?
Yes: a foreign entity can open a Non-Resident Account (NRA, or sometimes other types) at a mainland Chinese bank. This route doesn’t require the mainland WFOE first, but the functionality and possibilities of NRA accounts are different from WFOE accounts.
Do I need to visit China in person? What if I can’t travel?
Yes – the legal representative must appear at the branch in person for the face-scan verification and paper signatures. Mandatory at every Chinese bank with very rare exceptions.
How long does it take to open an account in China for a WFOE?
Typically 2–4 weeks from scope call to active RMB Basic + FX accounts.
How does money move in and out of China for a WFOE?
Every cross-border transfer is matched against a documented purpose, and SAFE (the cross-border regulator) tracks both directions.
Inbound (foreign → China): lands in the FX account. Each transfer matches an invoice, contract, or capital injection. Standard inbound from stable counterparty countries clears within days.
Outbound for goods (China → foreign): heavier evidence load and SAFE filing. Service payments to foreign providers are rarely cleared for small WFOEs – most Chinese companies route their international contractors through a Hong Kong entity instead.
What happens if a bank declines my application?
We pre-screen the file with the branch before formal submission, so a decline at the application stage is rare in our pipeline. Categorical-policy declines at major banks (Tier 3/4 passports) are caught at step 1, not after the visit.
My passport is Tier 3 or Tier 4. Is there a realistic path for my WFOE?
Yes, via regional banks with USG-introduced pre-screen. Some regional Chinese banks accept these profiles when the file is presented through a relationship channel. Sometimes top-tier Chinese banks accept too – but with domestic-only restrictions (your WFOE will only be able to send and receive domestic payments). Outcome is case-by-case.
Book a free call
You explain your business situation. We’ll tell you which Chinese account fits you – and whether one realistically opens for your profile.
Book a free 30-minute call