How to send money to South Africa from China with the best CNY-ZAR rate

A comparison of providers offering services between China and South Africa is the easiest way to ensure the best deal.

For CNY/ZAR

• Wise scored the highest of the 2 money transfer companies supporting CNY to ZAR transfers. For example, sending 50,000 CNY to ZAR will cost you 元403.63 in fees, and you will receive 120,305.42 ZAR. The delivery time usually is same day, but it depends on the day you make the transfer.

• Cheapest way to send money from China to South Africa is with Wise. This includes the fee of 403.63 CNY and a CNY-ZAR exchange rate for international transfers that is 0.1% different to the mid-market rate.

• Fastest way to transfer money to South Africa from China is via Wise. For example, if you send 50,000 CNY with Wise to South Africa, the transfer time is same day

We've compared 2 providers that offer services for sending Yuan Renminbi to South Africa.

This ensures you will get the best options for your transfer to South Africa from China.

Whilst we rate Wise as the best overall, comparing gives you a comprehensive view of all the options for transferring money from China to South Africa.

An exchange rate determines the price you will pay when buying Rand. A better exchange rate means more money reaching the recipient in South Africa.

The current rate between the Yuan Renminbi and Rand is 2.4417.

The total cost of money transfers to South Africa from China, is a combination of exchange rates and fees. Sending with a company that can offer a good competitive rate and low (or no) fees is the best way to get a good deal.

• The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: The current mid-market for CNY-ZAR is 2.4417 ZAR per Yuan Renminbi.

• Fees: Some money transfers between China and South Africa will be subject to fees. Wise has a fee of 403.63 CNY based on a 50,000 CNY transfer. Although you should search for your send amount for actual fees as your scenario may be different.

• Amount Received: Money transfer companies will show you the amount of Rand eventually received in South Africa.

Waiting a day or two can help you get more ZAR for the same amount of Yuan Renminbis.

A better option is to use a forward contract can also allows you to lock in an agreed exchange rate between China and South Africa.

Paying via bank transfer is the payment method that will get you the best price with a money transfer company. When sending money from China to South Africa.

Here are the best options:

Bank transfers

A bank transfer is often the default option for money transfers from China to South Africa.

By using a money transfer company such as Wise to send money from China to South Africa, you can while benefit from lower fees and more favorable exchange rates than a bank would offer. 


Debit and prepaid cards

Sending money from China to South Africa with a prepaid or debit card is very easy with .


is a great choice for sending money with a debit card from China to South Africa. This is from the 2 money transfer companies compared.

Credit cards

When it comes to credit card transfers from China to South Africa, we recommend comparing your options to get the best deal.

Regulations are important for keeping your money safe, China and South Africa have different regulations to consider.

Our directory of worldwide financial regulators contains details on regulation for money transfers between China and South Africa.

Companies offering money transfers between China and South Africa have minimum or maximum thresholds on how much money you can send.

Rates and fees for different transfer amounts could change if you pass a threshold - that’s why it’s best to compare CNY-ZAR rates for your specific transfer amount.

For regular transfers from China to South Africa, shopping around each time can make a huge difference.

We’ve recommended Wise for sending CNY to South Africa, because of their combination of rates and fees when sending from China to South Africa that is the most competitive, even at larger amounts.

Check with the recipient and understand any declarations needed on large amounts of money entering South Africa from China.

There are different ways to receive Rand in South Africa. The most popular options are direct bank deposit, cash pickup, a mobile wallet or receiving money into a multi-currency account.

All providers work differently and not all offering transfers from China to South Africa support every method for receiving Rand so it’s best to check ahead of time.

Sending directly to a bank account in South Africa is one of the most common ways to receive money from China. For most part, this is convenient but does have receiving fees to potentially be aware of.

Wise is the best company for bank transfers between China and South Africa.

Cash pickup is popular in South Africa, but not always supported and can be costly compared to cheaper options.

Mobile wallet or P2P services and payment apps like PayPal, Zelle, and CashApp are popular because of convenience. They come with more limitations and higher costs compared to money transfer providers like Wise, and are recommended for domestic payments only.

When sending Rand to South Africa, you will need to verify your ID with your chosen money transfer company.

The documents you need will vary and in some cases you might need more than one.

For the most part, accepted IDs in China include government issued IDs such as passports or driver's licenses. If the recipient needs an ID to collect money in South Africa, the options are similar.

Large transactions between China and South Africa can be subject to additional checks such as proof of funds for anti-money laundering purposes. These won’t be needing when signing up, but will be need ahead of any transfer.

One of the reasons Wise has scored so highly for transfers to South Africa is their easy sign up process in China.

When sending money between China and South Africa there will be tax declarations to consider.

Some transfers into Rand may need to be reported to tax authorities in South Africa and China, depending on size and particularly where inheritance or property purchases are involved.

Tax limits and personal allowances will change in South Africa based on age, income and a few other elements - such as whether the funds are a gift. Tax law can be confusing, when in doubt, please contact a tax professional in China or South Africa to discuss your personal circumstances to ensure you are not missing any specific tax declarations associated with your international money transfer.