Easy Reloading
If you've got any questions about how we can make your life easier, please check out our FAQ.
OKAutomatic Add Value Service (via Credit Card) & Other Reloading Methods
You may add value to your Octopus with cash, up to HK$3,000 at designated Octopus service providers, such as convenience stores and supermarket.
More conveniently, you can use Automatic Add Value Service (AAVS) for all types of Octopus.
Your AAVS-activated Octopus will be automatically reloaded under the following conditions:
- The payment amount exceeds the sum of the remaining value and the maximum convenience limit*; or
- The Octopus balance is negative or zero, and you make another payment.
Each Octopus can be automatically reloaded only once per day. The AAVS reload transaction(s) of HK$150, HK$250, HK$500 or HK$1,000 will be shown in your credit card statement.
You may also add value to your Octopus with Octopus Wallet, please refer to the FAQ for details.
*For details, please refer to Schedule of Fees and Guidelines
AAVS can be linked with all types of Octopus, including Mobile Octopus.
You must have an account with the ICBC app or CCBA bank app, enabling you to apply for AAVS through the app. Moreover, please make sure your handset supports NFC, and you have the Octopus App installed before applying. Once the application is approved, you can activate the AAVS.
To apply for AAVS, you must be aged 18 or above and have a designated credit card issued by a participating financial institution.
If your AAVS application through another channel has not been processed, your application for Instant AAVS application will be processed first.
Once you have successfully applied for Instant AAVS via the bank app, and activated AAVS through Octopus App, the Instant AAVS will be effective immediately. This means the auto reload amount will be deposited to your Octopus whenever you do not have enough balance for making Octopus payments.
You can link up AAVS to a maximum of five Octopus for yourself with your selected credit card issued by different financial institutions.
If you are a credit card holder of below participating financial institutions*, you can link AAVS to more than one (to a maximum of five) Octopus for yourself with this credit card.
You can also link a AAVS to an additional three Octopus for your family members or friends, providing they are at least 12 years old.
Hence, you can have a maximum of eight AAVS-linked accounts: five for yourself and three for your family members or friends.
*Participating financial institutions:
- BOC Credit Card (to a maximum of three Octopus)
- CCB (Asia) Credit Card (to a maximum of three Octopus)
- Dah Sing Bank (to a maximum of five Octopus)
- Hang Seng Bank (to a maximum of three Octopus)
- HSBC (to a maximum of three Octopus)
Not by using your BOC Credit Card, which only allows you to obtain AAVS for three Octopus at most. However, you can apply for AAVS for a 4th or 5th Octopus by using other financial institutions.
You have likely seen an error message in the bank app during the application process. Please check with your bank regarding the reason for the application being rejected.
There are two possible reasons.
- The application has not yet been approved by the financial institution. A notification letter with instructions for activation will be issued upon approval of your AAVS application.
- You have not activated AAVS for the Octopus yet. If you have received the notification letter, please click here and follow the suggested activation methods for different types of Octopus to activate your AAVS.
There can be several reasons:
- The application form is not properly filled out, or the financial institution has rejected the application. Please enquire at the financial institution or contact us.
- Some financial institutions may require that the primary credit cardholder also holds an AAVS account at the same bank.
Note: If the AAVS application was made through a supplementary credit card, please enquire with the financial institution for the specific terms and conditions.
For your protection, each Octopus linked with AAVS can only be automatically reloaded once a day. If there is not enough value on your Octopus, you can consider reloading your Octopus with cash.
If an instruction is received from the financial institution that the AAVS transaction cannot be carried out, or autopay is not allowed from the designated account, your Octopus linked with AAVS will be suspended from use. The outstanding amount should then be paid immediately at any MTR Customer Service Centre. MTR staff will reactivate the Octopus after the outstanding amount has been paid.
The transfer of an authorised debit account from one financial institution to another can be done without cancelling the AAVS. Simply complete and submit an application form to the newly designated financial institution. There is a handling fee of HK$20 for switching financial institution. The handling fee will be deducted by the newly designated financial institution once the application is approved.
Mobile Octopus customers can cancel the AAVS function instantly through the Octopus App. Please note that if your Mobile Octopus is not a personalised Octopus, there will be no Lost Octopus Reporting Service after cancellation.
Other Octopus customers can call the Octopus Customer Service Hotline at 2266 2222 (Press 3-2-7 after language selection) to cancel the AAVS function. Upon receipt of your request, we will send an authorisation SMS/letter for de-activating the AAVS function on your Octopus. Please bring the SMS/letter and the Octopus to any MTR Customer Service Centre within 10 calendar days to deactivate the AAVS function on your Octopus. You may continue to use the Octopus normally after cancellation.
Note: Cancellation of AAVS must be made by the Octopus user, not the credit card holder.
Cancelling AAVS is free of charge. A HK$20 handling fee will be charged only if you re-apply for AAVS. You may continue to use the Octopus normally after cancellation.
You (principal credit cardholder) or your mom (Octopus Holder) can call the Octopus Customer Service Hotline on 2266 2222 (Press 3-2-7 after language selection) to cancel the AAVS service. Upon receipt of the request, we will send a letter to your mom (Octopus Holder) to deactivate the AAVS function on her Octopus. Your mom (Octopus Holder) will have to bring the letter and her Octopus to any MTR Customer Service Centre within 10 calendar days from the issue date of the letter to deactivate the AAVS function on her Octopus.
The student must be aged between 12 and 25 for you to apply for a Personalised Octopus with student status through schools or at an MTR Customer Service Centre at designated stations. You can apply for AAVS for the Personalised Octopus with student status through a participating financial institution.
Note: If the applicant is below the age of 18, the application must be made by a parent or guardian.
You can click here to obtain the Automatic Add Value Agreement.
You can contact your bank or credit card issuing company to change the auto-reload amount if the desired auto reload option is currently offered. Upon approval of your application, the bank or credit card issuing company will then issue a notification letter, which you can use to activate the change at any MTR Customer Service Centre, or use compatible Near Field Communication (NFC)-enabled mobile device to activate the change of automatic add value amount in the Octopus App. Please click here for details.
Click here to check the auto-reload amount options available from participating bank or credit card issuing companies.
If you are a holder of BOC, China Construction Bank (Asia), Hang Seng or HSBC Bank Credit Card, you can link up AAVS to a maximum of three Octopus for yourself with your selected credit card. If you are a credit card holder of Dah Sing Bank, you can link up AAVS to a maximum of five Octopus for yourself with your selected credit card. Alternatively, you can maximum link up AAVS to five Octopus for yourself with different credit card issued by different financial institutions. Please check the available auto-reload option with participating financial institutions before applying for AAVS.
If you are currently using AAVS on your Octopus and would like to apply for AAVS to be linked to another Octopus, there will be no fee for such application.
Note: This applies only if no prior application for AAVS has been made on the Octopus.
There is a handling fee of HK$20 for reactivation of AAVS following suspension or cancellation. Once you become an AAVS account holder, there will be no fee for linking AAVS to the subsequent Octopus.
Note: Applications are free of charge only if no prior application for AAVS has been made on the Octopus.
The service is free for first-time applicants. There is a handling fee of HK$20 for switching financial institution or service re-activation. The handling fee will be deducted from the account by the newly designated financial institution.