Alipay
支付宝
Alipay is China's do-everything mobile wallet. Scan to pay in shops, ride metro and buses, book taxis and hotels, order food, and settle bills — all from one blue app, verified with your passport and linked to your home-country card.
At a glanceFree appNeeds internetForeign card OKSet up before flyingEnglish UINo VPN
Before you install — hard prerequisites
Before you start
- Passport
- Foreign or Chinese phone number
- International card (Visa / Mastercard / …)
- Internet / eSIM or roaming
- Chinese SIM (optional, fuller features)optional
A
Phone number — by country
US / CanadaWorks
SMS delivery near-instant
UK / EUWorks
Some prepaid SIMs block international SMS — test before travel
Australia / NZWorks
No reported issues.
JapanWorks
Some MVNO carriers drop Alipay SMS
South KoreaWorks
No reported issues.
Southeast Asia (SG/MY/TH/ID/PH/VN)Works
No reported issues.
IndiaMixed
Some Indian +91 numbers rejected during registration
RussiaMixed
Sanctions-related carrier blocks reported
OtherUnknown
Not device‑tested in this project
B
Passport — what the app actually checks
- You need a valid passport with machine-readable zone (MRZ).
- The app takes a photo of the photo page — not a scan or photocopy.
- Requirements reported by travelers: no glare on the photo page, all four corners visible, name in the passport must match the name you enter during registration.
- Passport → verify → face scan. Not all passports pass on the first try — blurry photos, name format mismatches, and non‑Latin characters are the most common rejections.
- Some travelers report verification taking several hours to 2–3 business days; do not leave this to the day of your first payment.
C
International cards — what works, what gets rejected
Visa
Direct link: WorksTourCard (prepaid): Works
Some US credit‑union Visa cards blocked
Mastercard
Direct link: WorksTourCard (prepaid): Works
JCB
Direct link: WorksTourCard (prepaid): Works
Discover
Direct link: WorksTourCard (prepaid): Works
Amex
Direct link: WorksTourCard (prepaid): Works
Acceptance varies by merchant
Diners Club
Direct link: UnknownTourCard (prepaid): Works
UnionPay International
Direct link: WorksTourCard (prepaid): Works
D
Network access
- You need internet at three specific moments: receiving the SMS code during registration, uploading passport + face scan, and receiving payment confirmations.
- eSIM / roaming both work; offline registration is not possible.
- Chinese‑only Wi‑Fi networks (hotels, airports) sometimes block Google services the app may call — if verification hangs, switch to mobile data.
E
Country‑specific restrictions
India
Some +91 numbers rejected; individual reports only — no official statement.
Russia
Carrier‑level SMS blocks reported after 2022 sanctions; individual cases.
Japan
MVNO carriers (IIJmio, mineo) may drop Alipay SMS; test before travel.
Other countries
no confirmed restrictions at time of writing. See
03-evidence/conflicts.md for open questions.Step-by-step setup
Before you fly — checklist
- Download the official blue-icon Alipay (intl / English version)
- Complete passport + selfie eKYC before you fly
- Link your foreign card; call your bank to whitelist the first charge
- Turn on Face ID / fingerprint for payments
- Open Transport if you will ride metro / bus
1Get the official app
Install the real Alipay before you fly.
- iOS: App Store → search "Alipay" → tap the blue icon. Avoid any "Alipay (China)" clone or look-alike wallet.
- Android: Google Play or Huawei AppGallery → search "Alipay".
- Opens in Chinese? Me → Settings → Language → English (or switch to "International Version").
2Register with an overseas phone number
Use a phone number that can receive SMS — a +86 number works too, but it is not required.
- Tap Sign Up → pick country code → enter number → SMS code → set password.
- Unverified accounts get lower spending limits.
- No SMS? Switch to mobile data and retry — see Troubleshooting.
3Verify your passport + face
You need a valid passport with a machine-readable zone; the app scans the photo page and asks for a live face check.
- Me → Settings → Account & Security → Identity Verification.
- Upload the passport photo page, then do the live face scan.
- Takes minutes to 2–3 business days — verify before you need to pay.
4Link your international card
Link a Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover or Amex card — no Chinese bank card is needed.
- Me → Bank Cards → Add Card.
- Enter number, expiry, CVV. A ¥0–¥1 check posts and reverses.
- Bank blocked it? Call your issuer, say you are in China, then retry.
5Set payment + backup
Me → Payment Settings → set your card as default.
- Turn on fingerprint / Face ID in Settings → Security.
- Add WeChat Pay as backup if Alipay is down.
Costs & limits
Foreign-card fee
≈3% per txn (free ≤ ¥200)Bank may add 1–3% FX fee
TourCard top-up fee
≈5%
TourCard balance cap
≈¥2,000–5,000
Spending limit (unverified)
≈¥500/day → ¥2,000/day after eKYCNo official uniform number
Daily use — real scenarios
At a restaurant or shop
Scan the merchant's QR, or show your Pay code to the cashier. Both ways work.
- Street stalls: the QR is usually printed on the counter or handed to you on a card.
- ¥200+ on foreign cards: ~3% service fee. Under ¥200: usually free. Your bank may add FX on top.
On public transit
Open Transport → pick your city → scan the gate QR.
- Switching cities takes about 30 seconds — each city has its own QR.
- Some metro gates only take the local mini-program QR. Look for the city icon.
At a hotel
The hotel pre-authorises a deposit on your card — not a charge, just a temporary hold.
- Released at checkout, but may show as pending for 3–7 business days.
- Hold too high? Ask the front desk about a cash deposit instead.
Tax refund at the store
At participating stores, scan the tax-refund QR after paying — the refund lands in your Alipay wallet right away.
- Keep the paper receipt and your passport — the tax counter may ask for both.
Returning an item
Go back to the same shop; the merchant reverses it in Alipay.
- Refunds to international cards take 5–15 business days.
After your trip
Keep the app and linked card active — it works on your next visit.
- Used TourCard? Any leftover balance auto-refunds when the card expires.
Troubleshooting — common problems and what to do
Common problems foreign visitors may run into
"I didn't receive the SMS verification code"
— Switch from Wi‑Fi to mobile data, enable roaming, and move near a window. If the code still does not arrive after a few minutes, try a different phone number or borrow a local Chinese (+86) SIM. This is the #1 setup problem for overseas numbers.
"My passport verification keeps failing"
— Re‑upload a sharp passport photo in good light — glare and blurry photos are the top reason for rejection. Check that the name you typed matches your passport exactly (try switching to LAST‑FIRST order if FIRST‑LAST failed). Call your bank first to confirm they did not block the small verification charge. If it still will not go through, wait 1–2 business days and try again.
"Payment declined at a shop or restaurant"
— Check your spending limits under Me → Account. Switch from Wi‑Fi to mobile data — some shop networks block foreign‑card payments. Try a different card. Ask the cashier if they accept another card brand you are carrying. Keep ¥100 in cash as a universal fallback.
"The merchant says foreign cards are not supported"
— Some small vendors only accept Alipay linked to a Chinese bank card. Try Alipay TourCard — it works like a domestic prepaid card and bypasses this restriction. Or ask if they accept WeChat Pay or cash.
"My account was suddenly frozen"
— This has been reported by some travelers; there is no official statement on what triggers it. Contact in‑app support immediately with your ID. Always keep a second wallet like WeChat Pay activated for backup.
"The app opened in Chinese — I cannot read anything"
— Find settings by the icons: bottom‑right person silhouette → gear icon → tap the first menu item → scroll for "English". If you are stuck, take a screenshot and use Google Translate or Apple Live Text to read the screen.
"I see an unexpected charge from Alipay on my bank statement"
— This is usually the normal ¥0–¥1 verification charge sent during card linking. It reverses automatically in a few days. No action needed.
"My bank blocked the first Alipay payment as fraud"
— This is very common. Call your bank, tell them "I am traveling in China," and ask them to whitelist Alipay. Wait about 30 minutes, then try the payment again. If that card is still blocked, try a card from a different bank.
"I was overcharged — the amount on my receipt does not match"
— Ask the merchant to reverse the transaction right away. If they refuse, contact Alipay in‑app support with the transaction record. As a last resort, dispute the charge with your card issuer. Save all receipts and screenshots.
Need to talk to a real person?
MeCustomer ServiceEnglish support
- Screenshot of the error message (keep the Chinese text).
- Bank SMS confirmations.
- Transaction IDs from your payment history.
Alipay agents never ask for your password or full card number. End the chat if they do.
Your backup plan
AlipayPrimary
WeChat PayBackup
If one app fails, pay with the other. Together they cover nearly every shop, restaurant, metro gate and taxi in mainland China.
some cash (RMB) and your physical bank or credit card as a last resort.
Frequently asked questions about Alipay
Are there fees for using Alipay with a foreign card?
For transactions over ¥200, guides report a ~3% service fee; ¥200 and under is usually free. Your card issuer may add 1–3% on top. Guide‑sourced; see the app for current terms.
What are the spending limits?
Sources vary. Unverified accounts may be limited to ¥500–¥2,000/day; verified accounts ¥2,000–¥20,000/day; annual caps reported at ¥20,000–¥350,000. No single official figure exists — follow the limit shown in your app under Me → Account.
What can I NOT do with a foreign‑linked card?
Person‑to‑person transfers, red packets (hongbao), wealth management products, and insurance payments are restricted to Chinese‑bank‑linked accounts. Use TourCard for P2P.
Is Alipay safe to use?
Yes — standard QR payment with password/fingerprint/Face ID protection. Keep your payment QR private (do not share screenshots of it); enable biometrics in Settings.
Can I register without a Chinese phone number?
Yes — overseas phone numbers are accepted. See section 2a for country‑specific notes.
Do I need a Chinese bank account?
No — link an international card directly.
Can I use tax refund to get money back into Alipay?
Yes, at participating cities/stores (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Chengdu and others) via tap‑to‑pay or scan. You need the paper receipt and your passport.
What happens if I have money left on my TourCard when I leave?
Remaining balance auto‑refunds after the card expires.
Sources
- Foreign phone + intl card binding allowed · gov culture portal
- Transit QR after verification · MOFCOM
- Account freeze (individual reports); WeChat Pay backup
- Verification can take hours to days; first charge often blocked by issuer
- Reference fee data (WeChat intl‑card fee)
- 4‑step setup + supported cards + overseas phone OK · Guangzhou gov
- Daily consumption only; no P2P/red packets; small vendors may reject foreign cards
- English UI switchable; international version exists
- Passport + face verification required for full limits · + guides
- ~3% fee for foreign cards over ¥200 (guide source); FX fees from issuer
- TourCard prepaid option supports Visa/MC/JCB/Diners
- Tax refund can land in Alipay at participating cities · tax bureau
- Spending limits vary; no single official figure
- Official app store download; blue icon only
- Standard biometric/password security
- In‑app support route (Me → Customer Service) · + guides
