2025 Wise Account Registration Guide and Virtual Card Application

Wise is a UK fintech company established in 2011, authorized by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI). Originally named TransferWise, it was renamed Wise in 2021 and listed on the London Stock Exchange. Wise provides international money transfer services to people in most countries/regions, using the mid-market exchange rate without markups, the same rate seen on currency query websites like XE and Reuters.

Why Apply for a WISE Account

A WISE account offers many benefits, such as:

• Providing overseas bank accounts (Euro, Pound Sterling, US Dollar - currently more difficult)
• Providing virtual and physical cards for global consumption
• Convenient global money transfers with low fees and friendly exchange rates
• Using WISE bank accounts for investment and wealth management (requires registering with US broker IBKR: https://dwz.ovh/ibkr)

If you need an overseas bank account for investment, you can also check iFAST Global Bank, which accepts real domestic documents for account opening.

Application Conditions & Preparation

• Chinese Passport
• Phone number (Chinese numbers are supported)
• Email address

Registering for WISE

Registration Address: https://wise.com/invite/u/qac3phc (Registering via this address grants a certain number of free transfer opportunities)

Generally select "Personal" for account type and "China" for country.

Verify the phone number; numbers starting with China's "+86" are supported.

Since I have already registered for WISE, some steps cannot be screenshot. Here are some registration notes:

1. Name: Fill in Pinyin, must match the name on the passport exactly.
2. Select "China" for the country you are in.
3. Fill in your home address truthfully (if you don't have a card yet, you can fill in a domestic address).
4. Upload your passport for verification as required, then wait for the audit to complete.
5. You may be asked to fill out a questionnaire; fill it out truthfully according to your situation, otherwise, it may trigger risk control later requiring you to submit various documents.

Note: If you are worried about address risk control, fill in your real domestic address during registration. You can modify it to your European residence address after some time once you are in Europe (flexible adaptation).

Activating WISE Account

After the WISE account audit is passed, you need to deposit (top up) $20 for the first time to activate account functions. This $20 will be saved in your account balance for subsequent use.

Activation is a difficult point. It accepts transfers from US banks, European banks, etc., foreign credit cards, debit cards, and international wire transfers. Domestic credit cards are not supported. Currently, xiaoz understands that activation can be done via the following methods:

• If you have bank accounts in the US or Europe, directly select the corresponding country currency transfer to activate (most people may not have this).
• Some virtual cards can be used to top up and activate WISE (this is the method I used), but it is picky about card prefixes. You have to try it yourself; if it fails, do not try repeatedly to avoid risk control (relatively easy).
• A more reliable method is to purchase foreign exchange through your domestic bank and use international wire transfer (fees may be higher).
• Some users have reported that the Kraken platform can be used to top up and activate WISE (requires knowledge of cryptocurrencies).
• Find a seller on Taobao to help you activate (very easy, but may carry risks).

Note: When top up, do not select Chinese Yuan (CNY), or it will require a foreign passport!!!

Applying for a WISE Card

If you have already topped up and activated your WISE account, you can apply for a WISE card next. Click "Cards" in the left navigation bar of WISE and follow the prompts to order a new card.

WISE cards come in 3 types: "Green Card", "White Card (Eco Card)", and "Virtual Card (Digital Card)". The differences are:

1. Green Card: This is a physical card, requiring a one-time £7 card issuance fee, with the card number printed on the back.
2. White Card (Eco Card): This is a physical card requiring a one-time £4.5 card issuance fee, without the card number printed.
3. Virtual Card (Digital Card): No card issuance fee, no physical card, managed through the WISE backend.

You may encounter the following issues when applying for a WISE card:

1. Region not supported: If you filled in a Chinese address in the registration steps above, you cannot apply for a WISE card. In this case, you need to modify your personal profile and change your home address to your residence address in Europe or the UK (do not fake it, integrity is paramount).
2. Cannot apply for virtual card directly: In this case, you may need to order a physical card first; only after ordering a physical card can you apply for a virtual card. However, applying for a physical card requires filling in a delivery address. Do not fill this address randomly to avoid the card being returned, which could affect your account. The delivery address can be your European residence address or a forwarding address. Continue reading below.

Forwarding to China

Currently, xiaoz has tried 2 forwarding companies that successfully received and forwarded cards to China. However, note that the WISE home address should be your residence address in Europe. If the address risk coefficient is high, it may trigger risk control.

• WISE Home Address: Your real residence address in Europe or the UK (flexible adaptation).
• Delivery Address: Fill in your European residence address or the forwarding address of the country you are in.

Tiptrans

Registration Address: https://www.tiptrans.com/?ref=112437 (Register via this link and complete the first order to receive a $25 balance gift)

• Tiptrans provides UK, Germany, and Hong Kong forwarding addresses, but the Tiptrans UK address does not support receiving cards. It is recommended to use the German forwarding address.
• Note: When registering, fill in your address information with real English information (let ChatGPT help you translate). Do not fill in your domestic address randomly; modifying the address with them is quite troublesome.

UK Postbox

Registration Address: https://client.ipostalmail.net/Signup?Referrer=REF122192

• This company provides a free UK receiving address. Select this free plan during registration and then choose a UK receiving address. For detailed instructions, refer to Simple and Easy: Free Application for UK Postbox UK Address and Forwarding Process Sharing.

• Please fill in your information truthfully, otherwise, it may affect registration and receiving.
• UK Postbox requires passport verification.
• After UK Postbox verification is passed, 2 UK addresses will be provided; generally, the first one is used to receive the WISE card.

Summary of Forwarding Addresses: German region can use Tiptrans; UK region can use UK Postbox.

WISE Card Activation

Currently, xiaoz has successfully received the WISE Green and White Eco cards.

To activate a physical card, find an ATM that supports VISA, check the balance once, or withdraw a small amount of cash to complete activation.

Since the WISE card PIN is 4 digits, most ATMs may not support it. It is recommended to use ATMs of the "Big Four" banks, generally ATMs marked with VISA are fine. xiaoz completed activation by withdrawing 100 RMB at a China Construction Bank ATM.

Risk Explanation

1. Do not frequently change your home address, or it will easily trigger risk control requiring address proof.
2. Do not frequently transfer large amounts to different people, avoid remitting to people of unknown identity to prevent association with bad accounts. Although this is an international remittance tool, understand that it is not for money laundering; use it legally and compliantly!
3. Funds must be legal and compliant; otherwise, you may be asked to provide proof of source of funds.
4. Once a WISE account is banned, you cannot register again.
5. WISE personal accounts do not support registering multiple accounts.
6. Registration information must be filled in truthfully; do not commit fraud, integrity is key.

WISE Registration Address: https://wise.com/invite/u/qac3phc (Registering via this address grants a certain number of free transfer opportunities)

Additionally, I have created a TG group chat. If you have any questions, you can join the group to communicate: https://t.me/usecardone