How to Set Up Alipay as a Foreigner

I watched a woman at a Shanghai street stall wave away my hundred-yuan note like I'd offered her Monopoly money.

She pointed at a faded QR code taped to her cart. I showed her my Visa card. She shook her head harder.

Behind me, a local scanned, tapped, and walked off with his dumplings in three seconds flat.

That's when I understood: Alipay isn't optional in China. It's how everything works.

The Reality

Here's what I wish someone had told me before landing:

• Your credit card won't work at 90% of shops
• Cash is often refused (yes, refused)
• Even fancy hotels prefer mobile payment
• Street vendors, metros, taxis—all QR codes

The fix? Set up Alipay before you fly.

It takes about 30 minutes of your time, plus 24-48 hours for verification. Do it a week early and you'll land ready to pay for anything.

Before We Start

You'll need:

• A passport (same one you're traveling with)
• A Visa or Mastercard (AmEx doesn't work)
• Your phone with decent lighting for selfies
• 1-2 weeks before your trip (verification isn't instant)

Alipay supports: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, Diners Club.

Not supported: American Express.

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Step 1: Download the App

Get Alipay from your app store before you leave home.

iPhone: Search "Alipay" in the App Store.

Android: Google Play Store or your device's app store.

Don't wait until China. Google Play is blocked there, and the App Store can be painfully slow.

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Step 2: Create Your Account

Open the app and sign up.

1. Select English as your language
2. Tap Sign Up
3. Choose your country
4. Enter your phone number (your home number works fine)
5. Type in the SMS code they send you
6. Create a password

Done. You have an account.

But you can't pay with it yet.

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Step 3: Verify Your Identity

This is the step that takes time. Start early.

Where to find it:

1. Tap Me (bottom right)
2. Tap your profile at the top
3. Select Identity Verification

What you'll do:

1. Choose Passport as your ID type
2. Enter your passport number
3. Enter your full name (exactly as printed)
4. Enter your nationality

1. Take a photo of your passport info page
2. Complete the facial scan (follow the on-screen prompts)
3. Submit and wait

How long does verification take?

| Situation | Time | |-----------|------| | Everything goes smoothly | 24-48 hours | | Extra verification needed | 3-7 days | | Complex cases | Up to 14 days |

This is why you start early.

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Step 4: If Verification Gets Stuck

It happens. Here's the fix.

1. Go to Me → Settings
2. Tap My Namecard
3. If it shows "Uncertified," tap it
4. Complete the additional face verification

This often clears stuck verifications immediately.

Other fixes:

• Blurry passport photo? Retake it with better lighting
• Name mismatch? Your name must match your passport exactly (including middle names)
• Face scan failed? Remove glasses, use natural light, move slowly

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Step 5: Link Your Card

Once you're verified, add your payment card.

1. Go to Me → Bank Cards
2. Tap Add Card (or the + icon)
3. Select International Card

1. Enter your 16-digit card number
2. Enter expiration date and CVV
3. Enter your billing address (must match your statement)
4. Complete any 3D Secure verification your bank sends
5. Set a 6-digit payment password

If linking fails:

• Wait 24-48 hours after verification before trying
• Ensure your name matches passport and card exactly
• Try a different card (Visa works best)
• Call your bank and ask them to enable CNY transactions

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Step 6: Test It

Before you fly, confirm everything works.

Find any online store that accepts Alipay and make a small purchase. Even ¥1 is enough.

If you can't test online, your first real test will be in China. Bring a small amount of cash as backup.

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How to Pay in China

You're set up. Here's how it actually works.

Scanning Their QR Code

This is how 90% of payments happen.

1. Open Alipay
2. Tap Scan at the top
3. Point your camera at the merchant's QR code
4. Enter the payment amount
5. Confirm with your password or Face ID
6. Show them the green checkmark

Three seconds. Done.

Showing Your QR Code

Some shops have scanners. They'll scan you instead.

1. Open Alipay
2. Tap Pay at the top
3. Your barcode and QR code appear
4. Let the cashier scan your screen
5. Payment happens automatically

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Fees and Limits

Here's what Alipay charges:

| Transaction Size | Fee | |-----------------|-----| | Under ¥200 (~$28) | Usually 0% | | Over ¥200 | ~3% |

Per-transaction limit: About ¥6,000 (~$840)

Pro tip: Split large purchases into amounts under ¥200 to avoid fees. Some vendors will let you do this.

Your bank might also charge foreign transaction fees. Cards like Wise, Revolut, or N26 typically don't.

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The £0 Balance Thing

If you're from the UK, you'll notice your balance shows £0.

This is normal. Alipay doesn't need pre-loading.

When you pay, it charges your linked card directly. Ignore the zero balance and pay normally.

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What Else Alipay Does

Once you're set up, you can use Alipay for more than payments.

Metro rides:

• Search "Metro + [city name]" in Alipay
• Get a QR code for subway entry
• Scan in, scan out, fare auto-charged

DiDi rides:

• Search "DiDi" in Alipay
• Book taxis without a separate app
• Auto-payment, no cash needed

Train tickets:

• Search "12306" in Alipay
• Book high-speed rail tickets directly

If you don't want to set all this up yourself, our Guardian package includes pre-trip tech support and 24/7 WeChat help for $19.

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WeChat Pay: Your Backup

Set up WeChat Pay as Plan B.

1. Download WeChat
2. Go to Me → Services → Wallet
3. Link your card (same process as Alipay)

Use it when:

• A merchant's Alipay QR fails
• You need to message hotels (WeChat is essential for this)
• Some mini-programs only work on WeChat

Alipay is your primary. WeChat Pay is your backup.

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Quick Checklist

1-2 weeks before:

• [ ] Download Alipay
• [ ] Start identity verification
• [ ] Wait for approval

3-5 days before:

• [ ] Link your card
• [ ] Set payment password
• [ ] Enable Face ID / fingerprint
• [ ] Make a test payment

Day of flight:

• [ ] Phone charged to 100%
• [ ] Alipay opens and shows "Verified"
• [ ] Backup ready (WeChat Pay or ¥500 cash)

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Troubleshooting

"Verification pending" for days: Go to Me → Settings → My Namecard → complete additional face verification.

Card won't link: Wait 24-48 hours after verification. Try a different card. Call your bank to enable international purchases.

Payment fails at a merchant: Their business QR might not accept foreign cards. Ask for their personal QR code (个人码). Or try WeChat Pay.

Forgot payment password: Reset it in Me → Settings → Payment Settings. Don't retry wrong passwords too many times—you'll get locked out.

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The Bottom Line

Alipay is how you pay for everything in China. Set it up before you fly.

Start verification 1-2 weeks early. Link your card. Test it if you can.

When you land, you'll scan your first QR code, tap confirm, and walk away with your purchase like you've been doing it for years.

That street vendor who waved away my cash? I went back a week later. Scanned her code. Got my dumplings in three seconds.

It's that simple—once you're set up.

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Related Guides:

• How to Use DiDi in China
• China Metro Guide
• China Travel Tech Setup