Yes — tourists can use Alipay with a foreign passport and international card. No Chinese bank account needed.
Yes, with a foreign passport
Tourists from 50+ countries can use Alipay Tour Pass or link a foreign credit card. No Chinese bank account or Chinese phone number is required.
Download the Alipay app from the App Store or Google Play. Register with your foreign phone number and complete real-name verification using your passport.
Go to Me → Bank Cards → Add Bank Card. Enter your Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, or Diners Club card details.
Enter the card number, expiration date, CVV/CVC, and select the issuing country. Agree to the terms to link your card.
Use Scan to pay at merchants, or tap Pay/Receive to show your payment code. Works at restaurants, transport, hotels, and more.
Red envelopes, transfers, and phone recharges are not supported for foreign cards because they are not related to consumption.
Maximum 5,000 RMB per transaction. Up to 20,000 RMB in free transfers per day.
No fee for transactions ≤ 200 RMB. A 3% handling fee applies to transactions > 200 RMB (refunded proportionally if refunded).
Settlement is based on the real-time exchange rate of the international card organization or issuing bank.
Restaurants
Transportation
Malls
Supermarkets
Sightseeing
Hotels
Entertainment
Sports
Beauty
Healthcare
Ensure your name matches your passport (Surname Given Name format), upload the passport info page + visa page, or contact Alipay customer service at +86 571 2688 6000 for manual review.
Submit your passport + entry stamps + proof of China address (hotel/rental contract). Manual review takes 3-5 business days.
No. Balances from foreign cards cannot be withdrawn and must be spent.
Official Alipay hotline: +86-95188. English service: +86-571 2688 6000.
Yes. Foreign tourists can use Alipay Tour Pass or link an international credit/debit card. No Chinese bank account or Chinese phone number is required.
Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, Diners Club, and other major international credit/debit cards can be linked. Visa and Mastercard have the best acceptance rates.
Alipay Tour Pass is a prepaid feature for foreign tourists. You preload Chinese Yuan (CNY) using your foreign card, then pay like a local. Unused balance can usually be refunded.
Yes. Foreign card payments are typically limited to 5,000 RMB per transaction and up to 20,000 RMB in transfers per day.
Yes. Alipay works for public transport in most major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Chengdu. Look for the transport QR code in the app.
Some small vendors may only accept WeChat Pay or cash. Always carry some Chinese Yuan as backup, especially in smaller cities.
No. Alipay works normally in China without a VPN.
Yes. Unused Tour Pass balance can usually be refunded to your linked card. The refund process may take 7-14 business days.
Check if you need a visa first, then set up your payments before you land.