How to set up Alipay with a foreign card
Install Alipay, verify your passport and link an international card before you arrive.
In this guide
Official Chinese government guidance says foreign visitors can register Alipay with a foreign or Chinese mobile number and link supported international cards. Card approval is still handled by the payment product and issuing bank. Use your passport name exactly as printed, complete any requested identity check, then test the account safely before relying on it.
What you need
- Passport
- Mobile number that can receive SMS
- Supported international card
- Stable internet connection
Set it up step by step
- 1
Install the official Alipay app
Download Alipay from your phone’s official app store. Register with your regular mobile number and choose the correct country code.
- 2
Complete the requested identity check
Follow the identity-information prompts shown in your account. Scan your passport when requested and check every letter before submitting.
- 3
Add your bank card
Open the Bank Cards area and choose Add Card. Enter the card and billing details requested. Supported brands, fees and limits can vary by product and may change.
- 4
Make a small test payment
Before relying on it, test a low-value payment in a safe setting. Your issuing bank may ask you to approve the transaction.
Deciding which wallet to bother with at all? The wider picture — mobile payment, your home e-wallet, physical cards and cash as one stack — is covered in how to pay in China as a tourist.
What you’ll see on screen
This page is verified from official documentation, not from a hands-on app test. In the international interface the documented sequence is: register with your mobile number, complete the identity-information prompt where your passport is scanned, then open the Bank Cards area where Add Card appears; an approved card shows in your card list next to an identity-status label. Wording and order vary by app version and issuing bank, so follow the prompts shown in your own account rather than matching any picture.
A hands-on capture with device, app version and capture month will be added here once a contributor completes the flow. Until then this section is a written reference only.
Troubleshooting
What if it doesn’t work?
My card was declined
Confirm the issuing bank allows the transaction, then retry once. If it still fails, use a different supported card. Repeated rapid attempts can trigger security controls.
My passport name does not match
Enter the name in the same spelling shown on the passport data page. Do not use a nickname or translated name.
The SMS code never arrives
Check the country code and mobile signal, disable aggressive call or message filtering, then wait before requesting another code.
Backup plan
Common questions
Do I need a Chinese bank account?
No. Eligible overseas cards can be linked directly.
Should I bring cash?
Yes. Carry a modest RMB cash backup and a second payment card.
Will every merchant accept my linked card?
No. Acceptance can vary by merchant and transaction type, so keep a backup.
Source notes
Sources accessed September 18, 2026. This page publishes under our official-documentation standard; a hands-on capture will be added when a contributor completes the flow.