Alipay lets eligible foreign visitors link an overseas bank card for payments to supported merchants in mainland China. Set up the account before you need it for a hospital bill, and carry another way to pay.
1. Download the right app
- iPhone: open the Alipay App Store listing and tap Get. Check that the developer is Alipay (Hangzhou) Technology Co., Ltd.
- Android: use the Alipay Google Play listing from Alipay (Hangzhou) Technology Co. Ltd, then tap Install.
- If your device or store region cannot use that listing, use the download route on Alipay’s official website. Avoid similarly named apps and third-party download mirrors.
Use the regular Alipay app for this guide. AlipayHK is a separate wallet. Store availability and the app’s displayed subtitle can vary by region. Install and update before departure where practical.
2. Register with a phone number you can keep using
- Open Alipay and choose sign-up. Select the correct country or region code for your phone number.
- Enter your own number and complete the SMS or other verification shown by the app. Read its terms and privacy notice before accepting.
- Choose English in the language options if needed. Keep access to this number after arriving in China, especially if you change SIMs.
Shanghai’s September 2026 guide confirms registration with an overseas number before arrival. A Chinese phone number is not required for this published registration route. Shanghai government: mobile payment instructions, September 2026.
3. Add your own bank card
- Open Me → Bank Cards, then choose Add Bank Card or the add-card control shown.
- Enter the card number and the expiry date, security code, name and billing details requested. Use your own card and details that match your records.
- Complete any approval required by the card issuer, such as an SMS code or bank-app confirmation.
- If Alipay asks for identity verification, follow its in-app passport or other supported-document process. Keep a valid passport available; the required checks depend on the account and transaction.
- Check that the card appears in Bank Cards. Before paying, confirm it is available as the funding method for that particular purchase.
The published card-linking route supports major international networks, including Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover and Diners Club. American Express support has additional issuer conditions; do not assume every partner-issued card is eligible. The app and issuing bank decide whether your particular card can be linked. Ant Group: international cards and Alipay+ wallets; Shanghai government: American Express and Alipay eligibility.
Alipay’s international-card terms describe card-detail verification and identity-document checks before using the service. Enter these details only in the official app or the issuer’s authorised verification screen. Alipay: international bank-card service terms.
4. Make a merchant payment in China
- You scan: choose Scan, scan the merchant’s collection code, check the recipient, enter the amount if asked, choose the card and confirm.
- The cashier scans: open your payment code, check the selected payment method, and show it to the cashier when ready.
- Read the final result and confirm the hospital or merchant has recorded the payment. Keep the transaction record.
This international-card route is for supported merchant purchases. It does not mean that person-to-person transfers or every other wallet function is available. A shop payment is a more relevant check than sending money to a friend. Shanghai government: linking overseas cards and payment functions.
Fees, limits and hospital deposits
The government payment guide describes a standard app service-fee exemption for international-card purchases of RMB 200 or less, and a 3% fee on the whole purchase above RMB 200. Promotions or applicable service terms may change the amount shown. A RMB 500 purchase at 3% would have a RMB 15 app fee, before any issuer charges. Read the actual confirmation screen. China government: foreign investment guide, mobile-payment section.
A successful card link does not reserve a payment limit. Check any deposit with the hospital and your bank, and keep a physical card or cash alternative. For insurance questions, use the healthcare payment checklist.
If setup or payment fails
| Problem | What to do next |
|---|---|
| No verification message | Check the country code and number, then your mobile service. Use the app’s official help if it remains unresolved. |
| Card cannot be added | Recheck your own details and ask the issuing bank whether it permits this app connection. Record the error without sharing the card number publicly. |
| Card is linked but unavailable for a bill | Ask the hospital for another official payment route. Eligibility for this transaction is separate from card-linking success. |
| Payment is pending or appears duplicated | Check the app record and hospital bill before paying again; contact their official support with the transaction reference. |
Alipay’s store description says its foreign-visitor payment service is intended for use in China. A failed purchase outside China does not establish that the setup will fail at a supported merchant in China. Alipay’s official app description.
Sources and last check
Checked on 31 October 2026 for mainland China. These instructions follow published official information; WellInChina has not completed a real passport verification, card-linking or payment test. Menus, eligibility, charges and promotions can change. Follow the current app prompts and confirm hospital arrangements separately.
- Shanghai government: mobile payment instructions, September 2026
- Shanghai government: linking overseas cards and payment functions
- Alipay: international bank-card service terms
- Ant Group: international cards and Alipay+ wallets
- Shanghai government: American Express and Alipay eligibility
- China government: foreign investment guide, mobile-payment section