Alipay for foreigners: set it up before you
A step-by-step procedure for setting up and using Alipay as a new arrival, with no figures to rely on.
No published figure yet. The authority does not publish this cost in a form we could verify and quote, so this guide covers the procedure only: what to bring, in what order, and where it goes wrong. We will add the figures the moment there is a source for them.
In order
- Download Alipay from your phone's official app store — Use the store for your phone's operating system, not a link sent to you, so you get the genuine app.
- Register with the mobile number you will keep after you move — Changing the number later is possible but adds friction, so pick the long-term number now.
- Complete identity verification with your passport — Photograph the photo page clearly and complete any face scan the app requests.
- Link an international card as your first payment method — Add it in the payment settings and confirm it through whatever check your bank requires.
- Test a small payment before you rely on it — Buy something inexpensive so you learn the scan flow while the stakes are low.
- Link your Chinese bank account once it is open — Add it alongside the international card rather than replacing it.
- Update your phone number in the app before the old one stops working — Do this while you can still receive messages on the old number, or you may be locked out.
Alipay is the payment app most everyday transactions in China run through, and as a new arrival you will need it working before you can pay for much. This guide walks through the setup in the order you perform it. It is not legal, tax or immigration advice, and no figure in this topic could be verified against a source, so treat every number you see elsewhere as unconfirmed.
Before you leave
Do the account setup while you still have a stable phone number and reliable internet, not in an airport queue. Download Alipay from your phone’s official app store and register with the mobile number you will keep after you move. Have your passport to hand for identity verification. The app will ask you to photograph the photo page and may ask for a face scan. Complete this before you travel so the account is ready when you land.
Linking a payment method
Alipay lets foreign users link an international card, and this is the usual route for someone who has just arrived and has no Chinese bank account yet. Add the card in the app’s payment settings and follow the prompts to confirm it. Some foreign cards are declined for certain transactions, and the app will tell you when that happens. Keep a second card or a cash backup for the first days, and do not assume a linked card will work for every payment type.
Verifying your identity
Identity verification is what unlocks the fuller set of features, including higher transaction limits and some services that are otherwise closed to you. Do it in the app under the account or security settings, using the same passport you registered with. If verification fails, the usual causes are a blurry photo, a name that does not match the passport exactly, or a passport that is close to expiry. Fix the cause and try again rather than opening a second account.
Once you have a Chinese bank account
After you open a local bank account, link it in Alipay as an additional payment method. A local account makes everyday payments smoother and is often needed for services that international cards cannot cover. Keep the international card linked as a fallback. Do not close or delete the account you set up before you arrived; add to it instead.
Using it day to day
Most payments are made by scanning a merchant’s code or showing your own payment code to be scanned. Practise both before you are standing at a till with a queue behind you. Keep your phone charged and your screen lock on, because the app is effectively your wallet. If you change your phone number, update it in the app before the old number stops working, or you may lose access to the account.
Confirm before you act
Fees and processing times change. This page was checked on 2026-11-10; confirm the current rule with the authority named in each source above before you rely on a deadline.
Last checked 2026-11-10, next review 2027-05-09. Every figure above names its source and the date it was read. This page is a guide, not legal, tax or immigration advice — confirm with the authority before acting on a deadline.