Payments · Step-by-step guide

How to set up and use Alipay as a foreigner

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

Updated June 2026Verified sourcesAbout 15 minutes

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What this guide covers

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

Card compatibility

Which cards work with Alipay?

Foreign cards are linked through the Tour Card mini-program inside Alipay. Visa and Mastercard are usually the safest backup choices; JCB is supported but still depends on issuer approval. Always complete setup from home.

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.

JCBSupportedSupported via Tour Card. Issuer verification can still fail, so complete setup from home and keep a Visa or Mastercard backup.

Discover / Diners ClubSupportedListed in official documentation. Verify current status inside the Tour Card mini-program before travel.

American ExpressInconsistentSome travelers link it successfully; others encounter errors. Bring a Visa or Mastercard as backup.

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

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.

Find Tour Card and link your foreign card

Tap the search bar, type "Tour Card" (some regional builds say "Tour Pass"), open the mini-program signed by Ant Group, then enter your Visa, Mastercard, or JCB details.

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

›Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club are supported. Amex results vary.
›Many UK, US, EU, Australian, and Canadian cards work, but issuer rules vary. Tell your bank you are traveling.
›Virtual and prepaid cards may fail KYC — use a physical card.

Note: Tour Card vs Tour Pass: Alipay has used both names over time and its public materials do not define them consistently. What matters is the flow: the current setup charges your foreign card directly per transaction. If the app asks you to pre-load a yuan balance first, you are in the older prepaid flow — update the app.

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.

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 supportTour Card mini-programInternational 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.
✓Since 2023, foreigners can link a Visa, Mastercard, or JCB card via the Tour Card mini-program inside Alipay. No Chinese bank account required.
✓Currency converts automatically through your card network. There is no fee to create the account and no local SIM card needed.
✓Setup takes about 15 minutes and requires your passport for identity verification. Do it at home before you fly — airport Wi-Fi in China adds unnecessary risk.
✓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.

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. Confirm you are under the current daily limit in Tour Card. 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

This appears inside specific mini-programs or city services limited to domestic accounts. Pay the merchant directly via Tour 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.

Common questions

Questions tourists ask

Opening an account is free. For payments, check the current Tour Card fee notice inside Alipay before you travel. Your card network applies its exchange rate, and your home bank may add a foreign-transaction fee — check your bank's terms.

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