Check whether the purchase qualifies
Under the official Shanghai guide updated in September 2026, qualifying purchases must total at least RMB 200 in the same refund store on the same day. The goods must leave within 90 days of purchase, and the visitor must depart within 183 days of the most recent entry.
The goods must be unused and unconsumed and travel with you, including in checked baggage where permitted. Ask the store whether the goods, your document and your planned departure port meet the refund requirements.
At the shop
Before paying, ask whether the shop is a designated departure-tax-refund store. Show the accepted identity document and request the required refund information. Keep the sales invoice and the electronic or paper records the store provides.
Check the document details and the items listed while you are still at the counter. A duty-free sale, an ordinary discount and a departure VAT refund are different arrangements; ask which one applies to the purchase.
If offered an instant refund
Read the instant-refund conditions before agreeing. An advance refund in the city does not remove the later departure requirements. Ask about the departure deadline, accepted exit port, payment-card authorization and what happens if the conditions are not met.
Keep those records with the purchase information. If you change your departure date or port, contact the refund service before relying on the original arrangement.
At the departure airport or port
Follow the port’s signs and instructions for departure tax refunds. Current procedures include electronic retrieval of refund records and random inspection for smaller claims; not every traveler is asked to present the goods for physical inspection.
Keep the goods accessible until you know whether they must be shown. If selected for inspection, present the goods and identity document as directed. After the required Customs and departure steps, follow the refund agency’s instructions to complete the claim.
Understand the amount and keep the record
The amount you receive can be lower than the headline VAT or refund rate because of the applicable rate and handling charge. Ask the refund service how the amount and payment method are calculated for your purchase.
Keep the final refund record until the payment reaches the selected account. If it does not arrive as expected, contact the refund agency with the claim reference rather than starting a second claim.
Common questions
Can I use or consume the goods before departure?
The official eligibility conditions require them to be unused and unconsumed. Ask the refund store about your intended purchase before opening it.
Should I check in my suitcase first?
Find out whether Customs needs to inspect the goods before making them inaccessible in checked baggage. Follow the instructions for that departure port.