A Foreigner’s Guide to Registering and Using Alipay in China

We recommend reading the overview guide How Foreigners Pay in China - A Complete Guide to Mobile Payments first for better context

Installing and Logging into Alipay

1. Search for “Alipay” in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store
2. Register with your mobile phone number (international numbers are supported)
3. After registration, you’ll be taken directly to the Alipay homepage

Identity Verification (Optional)

This step is optional. Without identity verification, your payment limits will be significantly lower. For details, please see: Payment Fees & Limits

1. Go to [Me] → [Settings] → [Account and Security] → [Identity Information] → [Identity Verification]
2. Fill in your personal information and submit for review

• Currently supports Passport and Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card

• Review time is up to 72 hours, but usually completes within 24 hours or less

Adding a Bank Card

1. Go to [Me] → [Bank Cards]
2. Enter your card details and submit

• Supported card types include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club (both debit and credit cards)
• During this process, Alipay will ask you to set a 6-digit payment password. Remember it well — you’ll need it every time you pay

Payment Fees & Limits

Actual limits and fees shown at the time of payment shall prevail

Fees

Limits (With Identity Verification)

Limits (Without Identity Verification)

How to verify identity: see Identity Verification

Using Alipay

There are currently two ways to pay with Alipay:

1. If the merchant displays a QR code, open Alipay’s “Scan” feature, scan the code, enter the amount and your 6-digit payment password
2. If the merchant has a scanning device, open the “Pay & Collect” page in Alipay and show them your payment QR code

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still use cash or bank cards in China?

Of course you can — refusing cash is illegal in China. However, because mobile payments are so dominant that many small vendors literally don’t have change on hand, and even more don’t accept foreign credit/debit cards. So it’s still highly recommended to set up mobile payment, while keeping some cash as backup.

How to avoid the extra transaction fees?

For bigger merchants (supermarkets, chain restaurants, hotels, etc.), simply ask if they accept cash or your foreign bank card — most of them do and there will be no fee. Another common trick is to ask the merchant to split one large purchase into several smaller orders (each ≤ 200 RMB), so every transaction stays in the 0 % fee tier.

Is Alipay safe?

Alipay is extremely secure — it uses bank-grade encryption, device fingerprinting, biometric authentication, real-time risk control, and multiple layers of protection. As one of the world’s largest digital payment platforms, it processes billions of transactions daily in China and has a highly mature security system. As long as you never share your verification codes or payment password, using Alipay is very safe

What if I run into other issues?

Inside the Alipay app, there is a customer service page where you can chat directly or call the hotline as instructed

Are there any restrictions for international users?

International users are restricted from person-to-person transfers and receiving payments. If you need these features, contact customer service for possible solutions

Are there other payment apps？

WeChat Pay, operated by Tencent, is the other major payment platform in China. It covers online and offline scenarios just like Alipay and has equally high adoption. In daily life, most merchants accept both Alipay and WeChat Pay, making them the two most important mobile payment tools in China

For a step-by-step guide on how foreigners can set up WeChat Pay, see my other article: How Foreigners Can Sign Up for WeChat Pay (WeXin Pay) and Use It in China

Related Links

• Alipay Official Website
• Alipay Service Fee Rules