Yes. You can sign up for Alipay with a foreign phone number and pay with a card issued outside mainland China. You don't need a Chinese bank account. Each payment is capped at US$5,000 and the yearly total at US$50,000. Payments over 200 yuan carry a 3% fee on the full amount.
- Sign up with your home number and keep international roaming on, so the SMS code arrives.
- Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Diners Club and Discover cards issued outside mainland China can be linked. So can cards issued by American Express itself.
- Small payments work without ID. In 2024, Ant Group put the limit at US$2,000 a year. We could not confirm a newer figure. Above it, Alipay asks you to verify with your passport.
- Payments of 200 yuan or less generally have no fee. Above that, the fee is 3% of the whole payment.
Set it up before you fly
- Install Alipay from your app store.
- Register with your home mobile number. Alipay sends a code by SMS, so keep international roaming switched on.
- Tap “Add Now” and follow the prompts to link your card. Credit and debit cards both work if they were issued outside mainland China.
- Your bank has to approve the link. If it fails, contact your bank or Alipay’s customer service on +86 571 2688 6000.
- Verify your identity when Alipay asks.
Alipay takes Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Diners Club and Discover cards, and American Express cards since February 2025. At that launch, Amex cards issued by other banks outside mainland China could not be added.
Identity verification
You can make small payments before you verify. China’s government payment guide says no ID is needed below “a certain amount”, but it doesn’t give the figure. In March 2024, CNBC reported that Ant Group, which runs Alipay, put it at US$2,000 a year. Trip.com’s July 2026 guide gives the same yearly figure and US$500 per payment. We could not confirm a current figure on an Alipay or government page.
Above that amount, Alipay asks you to verify with your passport. According to Trip.com’s guide, you upload a photo of your passport, fill in your details and take a face scan. Trip.com also says the name on your card must match the name on your passport.
Some features need verification first. The 2025 government guide says Alipay’s metro QR code (under “Transport”, then “City”) only works after you verify your identity.
Limits
| Limit | Amount |
|---|---|
| Each payment | US$5,000 |
| Total per year | US$50,000 |
These limits apply to foreign cards linked to Alipay or Weixin Pay, according to Shanghai’s government. The People’s Bank of China gives the same figures in its payment guides. According to CNBC, Ant Group said in 2024 that Alipay users get these limits once they register their ID.
Fees
| Payment | Service fee |
|---|---|
| 200 yuan or less | None |
| Over 200 yuan | 3% of the full payment |
The 3% applies to the whole payment, not just the part above 200 yuan. A 500 yuan payment adds 15 yuan. Shanghai’s government describes the 200 yuan exemption as the general rule.
The exchange rate comes from your card network and your bank, not from Alipay. Ask your bank whether it adds its own foreign transaction fee.
What a foreign card can’t do
Alipay+ says foreign cards on Alipay can’t be used for:
- person-to-person transfers
- sending or receiving red packets
- wealth management, insurance or other financial services
You can pay for everyday purchases, but you can’t send money to a friend to split a bill.
Alipay and WeChat Pay
Weixin Pay, the payment service inside WeChat, also takes foreign cards, with the same limits. Setting up both gives you a backup if one card link fails. See WeChat Pay for foreigners for its setup, and WeChat in China for the app itself.
FAQ
Do I need a Chinese bank account or phone number?
No. You can register with a foreign mobile number and link a card issued outside mainland China.
How much does Alipay charge on a foreign card?
Nothing on payments of 200 yuan or less. Above that, 3% of the full amount, so a 500 yuan payment adds 15 yuan.
What is the Alipay limit for foreigners?
US$5,000 per payment and US$50,000 a year once you have verified your ID. Ant Group said in 2024 that unverified users could spend up to US$2,000 a year.
Can I send money to friends with a foreign card?
No. Foreign cards on Alipay don't support person-to-person transfers or red packets.
Sources
- Pay in the Chinese mainland (Alipay+, Ant International), accessed Oct 8, 2026
- American Express and Alipay to enable seamless payments for international travelers in China (Alipay), February 2025
- Pay with overseas bank cards (Shanghai Municipal People's Government), accessed Oct 8, 2026
- A Guide to Working and Living in China for Business Expatriates, 2025 edition (Ministry of Commerce, People's Bank of China and others), August 2025
- Payment service guide for foreigners in Qingdao, in Chinese (People's Bank of China), April 2024
- Payment service guide for overseas visitors to China (State Council of China), April 2024
- Using foreign bank cards for mobile payments in China (China Daily), February 2025
- Alipay not working in China: fixes and solutions (Trip.com, sells travel bookings and eSIMs), July 2026
- China is making it much easier for foreigners to use mobile pay (CNBC), accessed Oct 9, 2026