How foreigners set up and use Alipay in China
A complete walk-through for visitors to China: what to prepare, how to pass real-name verification, how to link an international card, what the limits are, and how to pay at a counter. No Chinese bank account is required.
Preparation of materials
- 1On your mobile phone, download or update your Alipay app to the latest version. Register with your phone number and sign in.
- 2Get your valid identity document by your hand (choose any of the following): passport for overseas users; Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong / Macao / Taiwan residents, who can also choose passport; Foreigner’s Permanent Residence Identity Card.
- 3International bank card. Supported cards include Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, Diners Club, and other major international credit / debit cards.
- 4Mobile phone number for receiving SMS. International phone numbers are supported.
Step-by-step instructions to set up Alipay
Real-name authentication
In Settings, “Account and Security” is the first row. Inside it, open “Identity Information”, then “Basic Identity Information”.
- 1Fill in information such as name, gender, type and number of the certificate, expiration date, occupation, and address as prompted.
- 2Back to “Identity Information” → “Verification Photo” → upload a photo of your identity document, a passport for example.
Below that amount Alipay still works, but the account stays unverified and the higher limits do not open up. Enter your name as Surname Given Name, exactly as printed on the passport.
Add an international bank card
In the Chinese interface: Me → Bank Cards → Add Bank Card.
Input card number, expiration date, CVV / CVC, and select the issuing country. If there are any errors, please correct them.
Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, Diners Club and other major international credit or debit cards. The card must be issued outside mainland China; cards issued in mainland China cannot be added.
Check that overseas and online payment is enabled on the card, that the billing address matches the card, and that the cardholder name matches your passport. Otherwise try another bank.
For payments made with your Alipay account linked to international bank cards, once the cumulative payment amount reaches 15,000 yuan, you will be prompted to complete your account identity information on the page before you can proceed with further payments.
Usage restrictions and precautions
You can only use the following two functions to complete consumption payment. Functions such as red envelopes, transfers and change recharge are not supported, because they are not related with the sense of consumption.
The maximum amount per transaction is 5,000 RMB. Alipay allows a maximum of 20,000 RMB in free transfers per day.
For transactions of 200 RMB or less per transaction, there is no handling fee. For transactions above 200 RMB, a 3% handling fee is charged (refunded proportionally when refunding).
Settlement is based on the real-time exchange rate of the international card organization or the issuing bank.
Usage quick guide
- 1Scan a QR code to pay: tap “Scan” on the home screen and frame the merchant’s collection code. Works at stalls, taxis, small shops and restaurants — anywhere a QR code is on display.
- 1Present your payment code to pay: tap “Pay / Receive” and let the cashier scan your code. Works at supermarkets, hotels, hospital cashiers and any counter with a scanner.
Q&A
Q1 · Why does real-name verification fail?
1. Ensure your name follows the Surname Given Name format, matching your passport. 2. Upload the passport information page plus the visa page, if any. 3. Contact customer service (+86 571 2688 6000) for manual review.
Q2 · How to unfreeze an account blocked by risk control?
Submit your passport, entry stamps and proof of a China address (hotel booking or rental contract). Manual review takes 3–5 business days.
Q3 · Can I withdraw an Alipay balance to a foreign account?
Balances funded by foreign cards cannot be withdrawn. They must be spent.
Before you travel
Finish registration, real-name verification and card linking at home. A hotel lobby at midnight is a poor place to debug a card, and some verifications need a second document.
Official Alipay customer service hotline
English language service number. If you are using a Chinese number, dial 0571 2688 6000.
Before you pay, in 20 seconds
- Verified? Real-name verification is required above ¥200 per transaction.
- Read the amount on screen before confirming. Maximum ¥5,000 per transaction.
- Fee: free at ¥200 or below, 3% above that, refunded proportionally when you are refunded.
- Payment didn’t go through? Check the transaction record before paying a second time.
This guide is general information only. Screens, menus, limits and fees are set by Tencent, Ant Group and TenPayGo respectively and may change. The respective names and logos are trademarks of their owners. PandaCareVIP is a coordination service and does not collect any payment from you through these wallets.