In many Chinese cities, cash is becoming rare and even small purchases — a bottle of water, a metro ride, street food — are paid by scanning a QR code. For international visitors, the two essential apps are Alipay and WeChat Pay. Both have opened up to foreign users in recent years, but setup still trips people up. Below is the practical, step-by-step version. For the bigger picture of how mobile pay fits alongside cash and cards, see our payment methods overview.
Can foreigners use Alipay and WeChat Pay?
Yes — in most cases. Both platforms now support tourist-oriented onboarding: you register with a foreign mobile number, verify your identity with your passport, and link an international card such as Visa or Mastercard. That said, "supported" does not mean "guaranteed." Approval depends on your card issuer, your country of residence, and policy settings that change from time to time. Treat mobile payment as your primary tool, but never your only one.
Setting up Alipay as a visitor
Alipay offers an international-friendly version of its app, and the whole process can usually be done from home before departure:
- Download the app. Get the official Alipay app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Avoid third-party download sites.
- Register with your foreign phone number. Select your country code and sign up with the mobile number you will actually carry while traveling, since verification codes are sent by SMS.
- Complete passport identity verification. In the account or identity section, choose the option for foreign users and photograph your passport information page. Enter your name exactly as printed in the passport's machine-readable line — same order, same spelling.
- Link your Visa or Mastercard. Add your card under the bank card section. Some users are verified in minutes; for others it takes longer or requires a retry with a different card.
- Test before you fly. If possible, make a small test payment or at least confirm the app shows your card as active.
Doing this while you still have reliable access to your home SIM card is important — receiving SMS codes abroad can be unreliable depending on your roaming plan.
Setting up WeChat Pay with a foreign card
WeChat Pay lives inside the WeChat super-app, so there is one extra step compared to Alipay:
- Register a WeChat account with your foreign phone number. New accounts sometimes need an existing WeChat user to vouch for the registration — a friend who already uses WeChat can help.
- Open the Wallet section. Go to Me → Services (or Pay and Services) → Wallet. If the wallet menu is not visible, update the app and check your region settings.
- Complete real-name verification using your passport, again entering your name exactly as it appears in the document.
- Add your foreign bank card. The app will indicate whether your card type is currently supported for international users.
Because WeChat is also the country's dominant messaging app, having it installed is doubly useful — tour operators, hotels and guides often communicate through it.
Foreign card transaction fees on Alipay and WeChat Pay
Neither platform treats a foreign card exactly like a domestic Chinese bank card, and fees are the main difference. It is commonly reported that transactions below a certain amount are processed without a platform service fee, while amounts above that threshold incur a percentage-based fee. Both the threshold and the rate have been adjusted over time, so treat any specific numbers you read online — including here — as approximate and check the current policy inside each app before relying on it.
On top of any platform fee, remember that your own card issuer may charge a foreign transaction fee on each purchase. Our guide to using credit and debit cards abroad explains how to check yours. For larger purchases, it can be cheaper to pay by card directly or with cash withdrawn from an ATM — see ATM and cash withdrawal tips.
Common setup errors and how to fix them
Name mismatch with your passport
The single most frequent failure. If your verified name doesn't match your passport exactly — wrong order, missing middle name, different spelling — verification or card-linking can fail. Re-enter your details precisely as shown on the passport's machine-readable zone.
Card not supported
Some issuers, card types (certain prepaid or virtual cards, for example) and card regions are not accepted. The fix is usually simple: try a different card from another bank or network. Carrying two cards from different issuers is cheap insurance.
Verification code never arrives
SMS delivery to foreign numbers can be slow or filtered. Request the code again, confirm you selected the right country code, and check that your phone plan can receive international texts. Setting up before departure, on your home network, avoids most of this.
Transaction declined at checkout
Your bank may flag sudden overseas QR-code spending as fraud. Notify your bank of your travel dates in advance, and keep the bank's international support number saved offline. Also try scanning the merchant's code instead of letting them scan yours — occasionally one direction works when the other doesn't.
Where tourist mobile payment works — and where it can fail
In major cities, mobile payment is accepted almost everywhere a tourist is likely to spend money: convenience store chains, restaurants from food courts to fine dining, metro systems, taxis and ride-hailing, tourist attractions and chain hotels. In these settings it is often faster than cash.
Be prepared for exceptions, though. Some small vendors and market stalls only accept personal transfer QR codes, which foreign-linked accounts sometimes cannot pay. Rural areas and small towns may be less set up for international cards. And if your phone dies or loses signal, you have no payment method at all. This is why experienced travelers keep a modest cash reserve — and know where to find a reliable ATM.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners use Alipay in China?
Yes. Alipay's international onboarding lets visitors register with a foreign phone number, verify with a passport, and link a Visa or Mastercard. It works for most travelers, but not every card or country is supported, so set it up before departure and keep a backup payment method.
Do I need a Chinese bank account to use WeChat Pay?
Usually no. Foreign visitors can typically complete real-name verification in the WeChat Wallet and link a supported foreign card. Requirements change from time to time, so confirm the current policy in the app or via official announcements.
What fees apply when paying with a foreign card through these apps?
Smaller transactions are commonly reported to be fee-free up to a threshold, with a percentage fee above it — but the exact numbers change, so check each app's current policy. Your card issuer's own foreign transaction fee applies separately.
What if my payment is declined at a shop?
Check name matching, card validity and whether your bank blocked the transaction. Try the other scan direction or a different merchant QR. If it still fails, fall back to your physical card or cash — and see more answers in our travel money FAQ.