How does Alipay work?
To send money via Alipay, you’ll need your recipient’s name and their Alipay ID. Once your payment is complete, the recipient will receive the money instantly in one of two ways:
- Alipay wallet: The money will be delivered to an Alipay e-wallet, which your recipient can then use to make payments.
- Bank transfer: The money will be delivered to an Alipay e-wallet and sent to a linked bank account.
Please note, your recipient’s wallet must be linked to a bank account, otherwise Alipay will not be able to process your payment.
You’ll find instructions on how to link Alipay to a bank account here.
How do I set up an Alipay transfer?
Setting up an Alipay transfer is simple. Set up a new transfer and enter your recipient’s:
- Full name
- Alipay ID (11 digits)
The recipient’s name must match the name on their Alipay account. Please make sure your recipient’s Alipay wallet is linked to their bank account and they have international transfers enabled.
Can I send Alipay transfers to any country?
No, Alipay is only available to individual account holders in China.
How long does it take to process an Alipay transfer?
Alipay transfers are instant. Once you’ve set up your transfer and completed the payment, your money will be delivered to the recipient’s account immediately.
Are there limits on how much I can send with Alipay?
Maximum limit per transfer: 5,400 GBP (or equivalent currency)
Maximum limit per calendar year (365 days): 500,000 CNY (or equivalent currency)
Maximum transfers per calendar month (30 days): Five
Can I send money to a business?
No, Alipay transfers can only be sent to individual account holders.
Please also note that Azimo Business account holders will not be able to send Alipay transfers.
Can I use Alipay to send to accounts in currencies other than CNY?
No, CNY is the only currency available.
Can I apply a voucher code to my Alipay transfer?
Yes. When setting up your transfer, tap ‘use a voucher’, enter your code, and that’s it! Your voucher will be applied automatically to your next transfer.
Read more: How do Azimo voucher codes work?
Will my recipient receive a notification about the transfer?
Yes, your recipient will be notified via the Alipay app.
Are transfers with Alipay safe?
Yes, every transfer is secured by anti-fraud and encryption technology.
What documents do I need to provide for an Alipay transfer?
We may request additional details from you to process the transfer. This is a standard security check, in accordance with the Know Your Customer (KYC) policy, which is used across the EU and UK to ensure the safety of all money transfers.
More details on why you need to provide additional details can be found here.