Payments · Step-by-step guide

How to set up and use Alipay as a foreigner

Q: Does JCB work with Alipay in China?

Check whether JCB appears on the Add bank card screen for your account and region. Even when a network is available, issuer verification can fail, so complete setup from home and keep another payment method.

Q: I only have an American Express card — can I use it with Alipay?

Check whether American Express appears on the Add bank card screen for your account. Availability and issuer approval can vary, so do not rely on it without testing; carry another card or cash backup.

Q: Do I need a Chinese phone number or SIM card?

A Chinese phone number is not required for the standard international registration and foreign-card flow. Use your home-country number, but make sure it can receive verification texts while you travel.

Q: Can I get a refund through Alipay?

A merchant-approved refund should return through the original payment route. Timing depends on Alipay, the card network, and your issuer; keep the transaction record and contact in-app support or your bank if it does not arrive.

Q: Does Alipay work in Hong Kong or Macau?

Hong Kong uses AlipayHK, a separate app with its own merchant network. Macau has its own payment ecosystem. Mainland Alipay acceptance is more limited in both regions — bring a backup card.

Q: Why do older guides mention Tour Card or Tour Pass?

Those names refer to older visitor-payment flows. Current official guidance directs international visitors to bind a foreign card directly in Alipay. Open Me → Bank Cards → Add bank card and follow the options shown in your current app.

Q: Is Alipay safe for foreign travelers?

Payments require your passcode, fingerprint, or face ID. You can freeze the account from the app if your phone is lost. Alipay is regulated by China's central bank and widely used in China.

Q: What if my phone breaks while I'm in China?

Have backups ready: a physical Visa or Mastercard for ATM withdrawals, a small amount of yuan cash, and ideally Alipay installed on a second device before you leave home. Alipay can be reactivated on a new device with your number plus KYC.

Q: Can I withdraw cash with Alipay?

No. Alipay is only for paying merchants. For cash, use a foreign Visa or Mastercard directly at an ICBC, Bank of China, or other large bank ATM.

No Chinese bank or SIM required — passport + foreign card, setup takes about 15 minutes.

Last updated July 2026Verified sourcesAbout 15 minutes

Home/Payments/Alipay for foreigners

Quick answers

Can foreigners use Alipay?

No Chinese bank or SIM required — passport + foreign card, setup takes about 15 minutes.

See compatible cards →

How do you link a card?

Open Me → Bank Cards → Add bank card, then enter the details for a supported foreign credit or debit card. Menu wording can vary slightly by app version.

See all 5 steps →

What if it fails?

Check your bank app for a blocked international transaction and review the current account limits shown in Alipay. Switch to WeChat Pay or use cash if needed.

See troubleshooting →

What this guide covers

1Cards that work→2Before you start→3The 5 setup steps→4How to pay→5WeChat Pay backup→6Where it works→7If something goes wrong→

Card compatibility

Which cards work with Alipay?

Link a supported foreign bank card directly from Me → Bank Cards → Add bank card. The card choices shown in your app and your issuer's approval are the final check, so complete setup from home and carry a backup payment method.

Visa / MastercardSupportedPrimary path. Many issuers from the US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia work, but bank risk controls vary. Notify your bank of international travel.

JCBCheck in appAvailability can vary by account region and issuer. Use the networks displayed on the Add bank card screen as the current source of truth.

Discover / Diners ClubCheck in appAvailability can vary. Confirm the network appears on your Add bank card screen before relying on it.

American ExpressCheck in appAvailability can vary by account and issuer. Bring a Visa or Mastercard as backup if possible.

Prepaid / virtual cardsOften failsMay fail KYC or issuer verification. Use a physical credit or debit card for the most reliable linking.

Which setup fits you

Scenario → payment setup

The direct card-binding flow is the same starting point for most visitors. Your trip length and the features you need determine whether it is enough.

Short tourist trip (a few days to 30 days)Link a supported foreign card before you fly and keep WeChat Pay plus some cash as backups. A Chinese bank account is not required for the basic international-card payment flow.

Student on a study visa (longer stay)Start with a directly linked foreign card, then check the limits and available services shown on your account. Ask your university or bank whether a local account will be useful for longer-term needs.

Business traveler, repeat tripsA successfully linked foreign card normally remains on the account. Re-check that international use is enabled and run a small test before each departure.

Long-term resident / staying months or moreDirect card binding covers many merchant payments, but some domestic services may require a mainland account. Verify the requirements for the specific services you expect to use.

Step 0 · Before you start

Get these ready first

Two minutes of prep saves trouble later. Do this at home, before you fly.

Your phone

iOS 14+ or Android 6+. About 200 MB free. Download Alipay from the App Store or Google Play before you fly.

Your passport

Required for identity verification (KYC). Have the photo page ready to photograph.

A Visa or Mastercard

Must be enabled for international use. JCB, Discover, and Diners Club also work. Tell your bank you are traveling.

A data connection

Alipay requires internet for every payment. Set up an eSIM before you fly — local SIMs often require in-person passport registration and setup time.

The 5 setup steps

Set up Alipay before you fly

Do them in order, then tick each one off as you go.

Your progress0 / 5

Download the Alipay app

Tap the link for your device to go directly to the official listing, then install.

↗ Download on App Store (iPhone)↗ Download on Google Play (Android)

A blue app icon on your home screen and the Alipay welcome page.

›The app is free to download and free to open an account.
›Check the publisher reads "Ant Group" to avoid look-alike apps.

Tip:iOS 14+ or Android 6+. About 200 MB free space needed.

Create an account with your phone number

Open the app, choose your country code, enter your home phone number and the SMS verification code. Choose the Tourist / International option when prompted.

A country-code selector followed by a one-time SMS verification screen.

›Use your home-country number — you do not need a Chinese SIM.
›If you see a mainland China account option, skip it and choose the international path.

Warning:Do this at home, on your own Wi-Fi. SMS codes can be slow or blocked on airport Wi-Fi inside China.

Verify your identity with your passport

Tap Me, then identity verification. Scan your passport photo page and take a short selfie.

A document-scan screen followed by a face-movement prompt.

›The camera scan works best in bright, even light — avoid direct sunlight on the passport.
›The selfie uses liveness detection: follow the arrow or blink prompts on screen.
›Finishing KYC at home avoids being interrupted mid-checkout in China.

Tip:Full identity verification raises your spending limit. Skip it and you may hit a cap on your first day.

Add your foreign bank card

Open Me → Bank Cards → Add bank card, then enter the details for a supported foreign credit or debit card. Menu wording can vary slightly by app version.

A card-entry form followed by a one-time code from your bank.

›Visa and Mastercard are commonly listed. For other networks, use the options displayed on your Add bank card screen as the current source of truth.
›Issuer rules vary even when a card network is supported. Tell your bank you are traveling and enable international online transactions.
›Virtual and prepaid cards may fail KYC — use a physical card.

Note: Older guides may mention Tour Pass or Tour Card. Current official visitor guidance uses direct foreign-card binding, so follow the Bank Cards flow shown in your app rather than searching for an older prepaid mini-program.

Warning:If your bank sends a one-time code, enter it quickly — the Alipay session times out after about 90 seconds.

Run a small test payment

Make a tiny purchase or test payment to confirm your card works before you leave home.

A confirmation screen with a green tick and the payment amount.

›If the payment fails, your card issuer likely blocked the transaction — unblock international payments inside your bank app.
›For street stalls and small shops, "Pay" (show your code) is usually faster.
›Save in-app support (Me then Help) before you leave — English chat is available 24/7.

Tip:Test with a tiny purchase at home — troubleshooting card issues is much easier on your home network.

If something goes wrong

Common problems and fixes

Most issues have a quick fix. Try these before switching to cash.

"Payment failed" at checkout

Check your bank app for a blocked international transaction and review the current account limits shown in Alipay. Switch to WeChat Pay or use cash if needed.

Card declined — issuer block

Contact your card issuer to enable international online use. Some cards block overseas transactions by default. Unblock it inside your bank app in under a minute.

App asks for additional KYC

Triggered at certain payment thresholds. Snap a passport photo and selfie on the spot. To avoid this mid-checkout, finish KYC at home before you fly.

The QR scanner won't open

Grant camera permission in your phone settings, then reopen Alipay. A weak connection can also stall the scanner — switch to Wi-Fi or a stronger signal.

The app is in Chinese

Open Me then Settings then General then Language and choose English. The International tab is shown in English by default.

"Limit reached" on a payment

Tourist accounts have spending caps. Completing full passport verification raises them. For a very large purchase, use your card directly instead.

Alipay asks for a Chinese bank card

Some mini-programs and city services are limited to domestic accounts. Try the merchant's normal payment QR with your linked foreign card, switch to WeChat Pay, or use cash.

No internet at the airport

Activate your eSIM before takeoff. Once you land, eSIM data lets you open Alipay immediately and pay your taxi or transit.

Step 6 · Two ways to pay

Scan their code, or show yours

Once your card is linked, most payments follow one of these two motions. Learn both so you can handle restaurants, taxis, shops, and posted QR codes without guessing at the counter.

Scan to pay

For posters, menus and bigger stores. Tap Scan, point at the merchant's QR, type the amount, confirm.

1Tap Scan2Point at QR3Enter amount4Confirm

Show your code

For small shops and markets. Tap Pay, show the cashier your code, they scan it — payment is instant.

1Tap Pay2Show your QR3Cashier scans4Done

WeChat Pay · Essential backup

Set up WeChat Pay as a backup

Some merchants only accept WeChat Pay. Set it up in parallel so you have a backup when Alipay, a card issuer, or a merchant QR flow fails.

Install WeChat

Download from the App Store or Google Play. Create an account with your home phone number.

Enable WeChat Pay International

Me then Services then Wallet then International Card. Add a supported foreign card such as Visa, Mastercard, or JCB.

Pre-clear KYC

Same passport-photo and selfie process as Alipay. Do it from home to avoid mid-trip interruptions.

Use as backup

Some vendors only accept WeChat Pay. Alipay covers many common travel situations; WeChat Pay reduces the chance of getting stuck.

Alipay vs WeChat Pay: which one to use

Feature● Alipay● WeChat Pay

Foreign-card supportDirect binding in Bank CardsInternational Card in Wallet

English UI for travelersStrong, traveler-focusedFunctional, less polished

Coverage at large storesExcellentExcellent

Street markets / stallsExcellentVery good

Ride-hailing (Didi)Built inBuilt in

Metro QR fareYes (city services)Partial

Our recommendationPrimary appEssential backup

Where it works

Alipay works in many everyday places in China

Once the app is set up, it covers many everyday payments on a China trip, especially in cities.

Restaurants

Scan the table QR or show your code at the register. Commonly works from noodle stalls to hotel restaurants.

Convenience stores

Major convenience-store chains commonly accept Alipay. Show your code at the counter.

Metro and buses

Open Alipay, tap Transport, choose your city. The app generates a timed QR for the gate reader.

Taxis and Didi

Didi ride-hailing is built into Alipay. For street taxis, show your Pay code to the driver.

Street markets

Many market vendors have a QR posted at their stall. Use Scan to pay in seconds.

Online and in-app

Many China-based apps and bookings support Alipay at checkout, but foreign-card acceptance can still depend on the merchant flow.

Why this matters

What you need to know about Alipay for foreigners

✓China is highly QR-payment oriented — street stalls, taxis, metro gates, and restaurants often expect Alipay or WeChat Pay. Cash can still work, but it is less convenient in many travel situations.
✓Reality check — acceptance is not 100%. Travelers commonly report foreign-card failures on personal transfer QRs (the private codes some stall owners use, as opposed to printed merchant codes), inside domestic-only mini-programs and city services, and at counters that only take Chinese bank accounts. If a payment fails twice, switch to WeChat Pay or cash instead of retrying the same code.
✓Alipay or WeChat Pay? Set up both, lead with Alipay: its foreign-card onboarding is the smoother of the two, while WeChat Pay is the fallback that saves you at merchants where Alipay fails — and the only option inside WeChat-based mini-program bookings.

Common questions

Questions tourists ask

Are there any fees to use Alipay as a foreigner?−

Opening an account is free. Before paying, review any service fee displayed by Alipay for the transaction. Your card network sets the exchange rate, and your home bank may add a foreign-transaction fee.

Does JCB work with Alipay in China?+

I only have an American Express card — can I use it with Alipay?+

Do I need a Chinese phone number or SIM card?+

Can I get a refund through Alipay?+

Does Alipay work in Hong Kong or Macau?+

Why do older guides mention Tour Card or Tour Pass?+

Is Alipay safe for foreign travelers?+

What if my phone breaks while I'm in China?+

Can I withdraw cash with Alipay?+

How do I link (bind) a foreign card to Alipay?+

Do I need to top up my Alipay balance before traveling?+

What is the Alipay foreign card spending limit for tourists?+

Why does Alipay say my card linking failed?+

Why did my Alipay payment fail in China?+

Published: 2026-05-18

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