🇨🇳 How to Fax to China Online - Complete 2026 Guide
📅 Updated July 2026 · ⏱️ 7 min read · 🌍 Worldwide delivery
✦ Quick Answer
The cheapest way to fax China online is OverseasFax: visit OverseasFax.com, upload your document, select China (+86), enter the number and pay $4.99 for up to 3 pages. Important: drop the leading zero from the city code (Beijing 010 becomes 10, Shanghai 021 becomes 21). China is +86, Hong Kong is +852, and Macau is +853, three separate networks. Delivered within 5 to 20 minutes. No account, no subscription, no fax machine needed.
Let us be straight about China, because most pages on this topic are not. China is not a fax culture the way Japan or Germany are. Domestic Chinese business runs on WeChat, email and digital systems, and fax has largely faded from everyday use.
What has not faded is the specific set of places where a foreign document needs a verifiable paper trail: visa centres, consulates, trade and customs documentation, and some legal and banking correspondence. If you are faxing China from abroad in 2026, it is almost certainly one of those. This guide is written for exactly that.
The Cheapest Way to Fax to China
OverseasFax charges a flat $4.99 per fax for up to 3 pages to China, with no account, no subscription and no monthly fee. China is Tier 3, which reflects the higher termination cost on that route. Extra pages are $0.99 each, and a failed fax is refunded automatically.
A monthly service like eFax costs roughly $16.95 to $18.99 whether you send anything or not. FedEx Office charges around $5.99 for the first international page and $3.99 for each page after, so a 3 page fax in store runs close to $14.
Country code: +86
Format: +86 [city code WITHOUT leading 0] [local number]
Beijing example: 010 1234 5678 → enter as 1012345678
Shanghai example: 021 1234 5678 → enter as 2112345678
Chengdu example: 028 8592 5677 → enter as 2885925677
Shenzhen example: 0755 1234 5678 → enter as 75512345678
Important: OverseasFax adds +86 automatically. Never type it yourself.
The rule for China: drop the leading zero from the city code when faxing from abroad. Beijing's 010 becomes 10, Shanghai's 021 becomes 21, Shenzhen's 0755 becomes 755. This is the standard international rule and the opposite of Italy, which keeps its zero.
China, Hong Kong and Macau Are Three Different Countries to Dial
This trips people up constantly. Mainland China is +86. Hong Kong is +852. Macau is +853. They are three entirely separate telephone networks, despite Hong Kong and Macau being Special Administrative Regions of China. A Hong Kong number cannot be reached on +86, and a mainland number cannot be reached on +852.
Practically: if your number is 8 digits with no city code, it is Hong Kong, and you should select Hong Kong, which is also cheaper at $2.99. If it has a city code like 010, 021 or 0755 and drops a leading zero, it is mainland China.
Chinese City Codes
| City | City code | Example (enter as) |
|---|
| Beijing (北京) | 010 | 1012345678 |
| Shanghai (上海) | 021 | 2112345678 |
| Guangzhou (广州) | 020 | 2012345678 |
| Shenzhen (深圳) | 0755 | 75512345678 |
| Chengdu (成都) | 028 | 2885925677 |
| Tianjin (天津) | 022 | 2212345678 |
| Chongqing (重庆) | 023 | 2312345678 |
| Hangzhou (杭州) | 0571 | 57112345678 |
| Nanjing (南京) | 025 | 2512345678 |
| Xi'an (西安) | 029 | 2912345678 |
| Wuhan (武汉) | 027 | 2712345678 |
| Qingdao (青岛) | 0532 | 53212345678 |
Major cities have two digit codes (10, 21, 20), while smaller cities have three digit codes (755, 571, 532). Every one begins with 0 domestically and drops it when faxing from abroad.
Step by Step, How to Send a Fax to China
1
Upload your documentGo to OverseasFax.com and upload your PDF, Word document or image. You can add up to 10 files in one fax.
2
Select China (+86)Choose China from the country dropdown, not Hong Kong. The +86 code is added automatically and the $4.99 price appears.
3
Enter the number without the leading zeroBeijing 010 1234 5678 becomes 1012345678. Shanghai 021 becomes 21.
4
Pay and sendEnter your email for delivery confirmation and pay securely via Stripe. Your fax is sent immediately.
Why People Still Fax China
Not because China loves fax. Because certain cross border processes still demand a document with a transmission record. Chinese visa application centres and consulates publish fax numbers for supporting documents. Trade, shipping and customs paperwork still moves by fax between exporters, agents and Chinese counterparts. Some legal and banking correspondence follows the same pattern.
If you are inside China dealing with a Chinese company, you will use WeChat or email. If you are outside China trying to satisfy a consular or customs requirement, fax may be exactly what is asked of you.
Who Needs to Fax China?
🛂
Visa centres
Supporting documents to Chinese visa application centres and consulates.
🚢
Trade and customs
Shipping documents, invoices and customs paperwork to agents and exporters.
🏭
Manufacturing
Purchase orders, specifications and proforma invoices to Chinese suppliers.
⚖️
Legal
Formal correspondence with Chinese law firms and notary offices.
🏦
Banking
Signed forms and authorizations where a Chinese bank requests fax.
🎓
Universities
Admissions and transcript documents to Chinese institutions.
Tips for a Successful Fax to China
Drop the leading zero on the city code. Beijing 010 becomes 10.
Do not select China for a Hong Kong number. Hong Kong is +852 and cheaper at $2.99. If the number is 8 digits with no city code, it is Hong Kong.
Mind the 12 to 13 hour gap. China runs on a single time zone, UTC+8, with no daylight saving. Sending at 8pm to 10pm US Eastern arrives during China's 9am to 11am.
Use PDF so Chinese characters stay legible, since fax transmits in black and white at low resolution.
Cost Comparison
| Method | Cost | Subscription | Notes |
|---|
| OverseasFax | $4.99 per fax (up to 3 pages) | None | Pay per fax, auto refund if it fails |
| eFax | About $16.95 to $18.99 per month | Required | Charged monthly even if you send nothing |
| FedEx Office international | About $5.99 first page, $3.99 each after | None | 3 pages is close to $14 plus the trip |
| Fax machine plus international line | Hardware plus per minute charges | Line rental | Only for daily faxing |
Frequently Asked Questions, Faxing to China
What is the cheapest way to fax to China?
OverseasFax at $4.99 for up to 3 pages, with no account and no subscription. China is Tier 3, which reflects the higher termination cost on that route. Extra pages are $0.99 each and a failed fax is refunded automatically.
What is the cheapest way to fax to China from the US?
From the US, OverseasFax is the cheapest at $4.99 for up to 3 pages with no subscription. The +86 code is added automatically and you send from any browser, so no fax machine or Chinese phone line is needed.
Why does faxing China cost more than faxing Japan?
Because termination costs differ by route. China is Tier 3 at $4.99 while Japan is Tier 1 at $2.99. The price reflects what the carrier charges to land a fax on that country's network, not the distance.
Can I fax to China for free?
Free international fax services are rare, usually cap you at a page or two, add branding and very often fail on Chinese routes. For a reliable fax to China, OverseasFax is a flat $4.99 with an automatic refund if it fails.
Is there a cheap way to fax China without a subscription?
Yes. OverseasFax lets you fax China for $4.99 per fax with no subscription, no account and no monthly fee. You pay only when you send.
What is the country code for China?
+86. On OverseasFax you select China from the dropdown and +86 is added automatically. Note that Hong Kong (+852) and Macau (+853) are separate and are not reachable on +86.
How do I know if my number is China or Hong Kong?
Count the digits. Hong Kong numbers are exactly 8 digits with no city code, for example 2174 0019. Mainland Chinese numbers have a city code that starts with 0 domestically, like 010 for Beijing or 021 for Shanghai. If in doubt, an 8 digit number with no area code is Hong Kong, and it is cheaper at $2.99.
Do I drop the leading zero when faxing China?
Yes. Drop the leading zero from the city code when faxing from abroad. Beijing 010 becomes 10, Shanghai 021 becomes 21, Shenzhen 0755 becomes 755. This is the standard international rule and the opposite of Italy.
How do I format a Beijing fax number?
Beijing's city code is 010, so drop the zero and it becomes 10. A Beijing number written 010 1234 5678 is entered as 1012345678. OverseasFax adds the +86 automatically.
How do I format a Shanghai fax number?
Shanghai's city code is 021, so drop the zero and it becomes 21. A Shanghai number written 021 1234 5678 is entered as 2112345678. OverseasFax adds the +86 automatically.
How do I format a Shenzhen or Guangzhou fax number?
Drop the leading zero. Shenzhen 0755 becomes 755, so 0755 1234 5678 is entered as 75512345678. Guangzhou 020 becomes 20, so 020 1234 5678 is entered as 2012345678.
What is the fax number format for China?
+86 followed by the city code with the leading zero removed, then the local number. Beijing 010 becomes 10, Shanghai 021 becomes 21, Shenzhen 0755 becomes 755. OverseasFax adds the +86 for you.
Why did my fax to China fail?
Common causes are keeping the leading zero on the city code, selecting China when the number is actually Hong Kong, a busy line, or a machine that is switched off. Chinese routes can also be less reliable than European ones. OverseasFax refunds automatically and emails you the reason.
Can I fax a Chinese visa application centre?
Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons people fax China from abroad. Chinese visa centres and consulates publish fax numbers for supporting documents. Always use the number on the centre's official website, and never one from a forum.
Can I fax a Chinese consulate or embassy?
Yes, when the post publishes a fax number for your service. Practices vary by consulate, and many have moved to online portals or email, so check the specific consulate's official page before assuming fax is accepted.
Can I fax a Chinese supplier or manufacturer?
Yes. Purchase orders, specifications and proforma invoices still move by fax with some Chinese suppliers, particularly for documents needing a signature and a transmission record. Include a cover sheet with the recipient's name and department.
Can I fax customs or shipping documents to China?
Yes. Trade, shipping and customs paperwork between exporters, freight agents and Chinese counterparts is one of the more durable fax use cases. Use PDF so stamps and signatures stay legible.
Can I fax a Chinese bank?
Yes, where the bank requests it. Chinese banks accept signed forms and authorizations by fax in some circumstances. Confirm the fax number from the bank's official site and use PDF for signed documents.
Can I fax a Chinese university?
Yes. Chinese universities keep fax lines for admissions and transcript documents. Confirm the correct department number from the institution's official site.
Can I fax a Chinese law firm or notary office?
Yes. Chinese law firms and notary offices (公证处) use fax for formal correspondence where a timestamped transmission record matters.
Can I fax to China from my iPhone?
Yes. Open overseasfax.com in Safari, upload your document, select China, enter the number without the leading zero and pay $4.99. No app needed.
Can I fax to China from a Mac?
Yes. Open overseasfax.com in any browser on your Mac, upload, select China, enter the number and pay. Nothing to install.
How long does a fax to China take?
Most faxes to China are delivered within 5 to 20 minutes, though Chinese routes can be slower than European ones. You receive an email confirmation with a delivery reference ID once it is transmitted.
What is the best time to fax China from the USA?
China runs on a single time zone, UTC+8, with no daylight saving, which is 12 to 13 hours ahead of US Eastern depending on the season. Sending at 8pm to 10pm US Eastern arrives during China's 9am to 11am.
Does China have multiple time zones?
No. Despite spanning roughly five geographic time zones, all of China officially uses a single time, UTC+8, and does not observe daylight saving. So Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Urumqi all show the same clock time.
Do I need an account to fax China?
No. OverseasFax needs no account, no registration and no login. Upload, select China, enter the number, pay $4.99 and send.
What file types can I fax to China?
PDF, Word (.doc and .docx), and images (JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP). PDF gives the clearest result, which matters a great deal for Chinese characters.
Can I fax documents in Chinese?
Yes. OverseasFax transmits documents in any language, including Simplified Chinese. Use PDF so the characters stay sharp, since fax is black and white at low resolution and dense characters can smear.
Is it safe to fax sensitive documents to China?
Documents are transmitted over an encrypted connection and deleted from the servers after sending. As with any international transmission, consider what you are sending and to whom, and keep the confirmation email as your record.
What happens if my fax to China fails?
You get a full automatic refund and an email explaining the reason, such as a busy line or a machine that was off. Chinese routes fail more often than European ones, so a retry later is often worth it.
Can I get a refund if my fax to China doesn't deliver?
Yes. Every fax that fails to deliver is refunded automatically to your original payment method. You do not need to request it.
How many pages can I fax to China?
The $4.99 price covers up to 3 pages, with extra pages at $0.99 each. You can send up to 10 files in a single fax, up to 100MB total.
How much does it cost to fax 10 pages to China?
$4.99 covers the first 3 pages and each additional page is $0.99, so 10 pages costs $4.99 plus 7 extra pages at $0.99, which is $11.92. The price is shown before you pay.
Can I fax multiple documents to China at once?
Yes. Upload up to 10 files and OverseasFax combines them into one fax in the order you add them. Pricing is based on the total page count.
Does China still use fax in 2026?
Far less than Japan or Germany. Domestic Chinese business runs on WeChat, email and digital systems. Fax persists in specific cross border contexts: visa centres, consulates, trade and customs documentation, and some legal and banking correspondence. If you are faxing China from abroad, it is almost certainly one of those.
Why do Chinese visa centres still use fax?
Because a fax produces a document with a verifiable transmission record, which suits a consular process that needs proof a document was submitted on a given date. It is also accessible to applicants worldwide without needing an account on a Chinese platform.
Do Chinese businesses prefer WeChat or fax?
WeChat, overwhelmingly, for day to day communication. Fax appears mainly at the edges: cross border trade documentation, consular submissions, and anything where a signed original with a transmission record is required.
Can I fax to Taiwan using China?
No. Taiwan has its own country code, +886, and is a separate selection on OverseasFax at $2.99. Do not select China for a Taiwanese number.
Can I fax to Macau instead of China?
Macau is +853, a separate country code from China's +86 and Hong Kong's +852. Check the OverseasFax dropdown for Macau availability and pricing, and do not select China for a Macau number.
Is faxing to China cheaper than eFax?
For occasional faxes, considerably. OverseasFax is $4.99 per fax with no subscription. eFax charges around $16.95 to $18.99 every month whether you send a fax or not, plus a setup fee.
Can I fax from China to the US?
Yes. You can send from anywhere with a browser and internet access. For a US or Canada destination, our sister service FaxForADollar.com is cheaper at $1.00 for up to 10 pages.
🌐 This Guide in Other Languages
🇨🇳 简体中文
需要从海外发传真到中国吗？使用 OverseasFax，您可以在几分钟内从任何设备发送，无需传真机、无需账户、无需月费。费用为4.99 美元，最多 3 页。重要提示：从国外拨打时请去掉城市区号前的 0（北京 010 变为 10，上海 021 变为 21）。中国是 +86，香港是 +852，澳门是 +853，三者是完全不同的网络。请访问 overseasfax.com，上传文件，选择中国，输入传真号码并付款。5 至 20 分钟内送达。如未能送达，将自动全额退款。
📠 立即发传真到中国 →
🇪🇸 Español
¿Necesita enviar un fax a China? Con OverseasFax puede hacerlo en minutos desde cualquier dispositivo, sin máquina de fax, sin cuenta y sin suscripción mensual. El costo es de $4.99 USD por hasta 3 páginas. Importante: quite el cero inicial del código de ciudad (Pekín 010 pasa a 10, Shanghái 021 pasa a 21). China es +86, Hong Kong es +852. Visite overseasfax.com, suba su documento, seleccione China, ingrese el número y pague. Entrega en 5 a 20 minutos.
📠 Enviar fax a China →
🇫🇷 Français
Vous devez envoyer un fax en Chine ? Avec OverseasFax, c'est simple depuis n'importe quel appareil, sans télécopieur, sans compte et sans abonnement. Le tarif est de 4,99 $ USD pour jusqu'à 3 pages. Important : retirez le zéro initial de l'indicatif de ville (Pékin 010 devient 10, Shanghai 021 devient 21). La Chine est +86, Hong Kong est +852. Rendez-vous sur overseasfax.com, téléchargez votre document, sélectionnez Chine, saisissez le numéro et payez. Livraison en 5 à 20 minutes.
📠 Envoyer un fax en Chine →
🇩🇪 Deutsch
Sie möchten ein Fax nach China senden? Mit OverseasFax geht das in wenigen Minuten, ohne Faxgerät, ohne Konto und ohne Monatsgebühr. Der Preis beträgt 4,99 USD für bis zu 3 Seiten. Wichtig: Lassen Sie die führende Null der Ortsvorwahl weg (Peking 010 wird zu 10, Shanghai 021 wird zu 21). China ist +86, Hongkong ist +852. Besuchen Sie overseasfax.com, laden Sie Ihr Dokument hoch, wählen Sie China, geben Sie die Faxnummer ein und bezahlen Sie. Zustellung in 5 bis 20 Minuten.
📠 Fax nach China senden →
🇯🇵 日本語
中国にファックスを送りたいですか？OverseasFaxを使えば、ファックス機なし、アカウントなし、月額料金なしで、どのデバイスからでも数分で送信できます。料金は3ページまで4.99米ドルです。重要：市外局番の先頭の0を外してください（北京010は10、上海021は21）。中国は +86、香港は +852 で別のネットワークです。overseasfax.comにアクセスし、書類をアップロードして、中国を選択し、番号を入力して支払いを完了してください。5〜20分で届きます。
📠 中国にファックスを送る →
🇸🇦 العربية
هل تريد إرسال فاكس إلى الصين؟ مع OverseasFax، يمكنك إرسال فاكس في دقائق من أي جهاز، بدون آلة فاكس، وبدون حساب، وبدون اشتراك شهري. التكلفة 4.99 دولار أمريكي لما يصل إلى 3 صفحات. مهم: احذف الصفر البادئ من رمز المدينة (بكين 010 تصبح 10، شنغهاي 021 تصبح 21). الصين هي +86 وهونغ كونغ هي +852. قم بزيارة overseasfax.com، وحمّل مستندك، واختر الصين، وأدخل رقم الفاكس، ثم ادفع. يتم التسليم خلال 5 إلى 20 دقيقة.
📠 إرسال فاكس إلى الصين →
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