Customer using a phone at a merchant payment terminal in China

How Foreigners Can Pay with Alipay and WeChat Pay

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Alipay and WeChat Pay are China’s two dominant payment systems — together accounting for over 90% of mobile payments in the country. If you’re sourcing from Chinese suppliers, buying on Chinese platforms, or paying a service provider in China, you will almost certainly be asked to pay through one of these systems.

Until recently, both platforms required a Chinese bank account. That changed — but the situation is still complicated for foreigners.

Can Foreigners Use Alipay?

Yes — Alipay introduced an “International Edition” specifically for foreign passport holders. Here is what it allows:

  • Sign up using a foreign phone number and passport
  • Link an international Visa, Mastercard, or JCB credit card
  • Pay at physical merchants in China that display the Alipay QR code
  • Pay in some (but not all) online contexts

The limitations: balance top-ups are capped, some suppliers on 1688 or Taobao will not accept payment from international Alipay accounts, and the international version cannot transfer money to another individual’s Alipay account directly.

Can Foreigners Use WeChat Pay?

WeChat Pay similarly allows foreign card linking as of 2023. You can link an international Visa or Mastercard and make payments at merchants that accept WeChat Pay QR codes. The same restrictions apply: some platform-to-platform payments and peer-to-peer transfers remain limited for accounts without a verified Chinese bank card.

What You Still Cannot Do Easily

  • Pay a supplier on 1688.com directly (requires domestic Alipay linked to Chinese bank)
  • Transfer funds to a Chinese individual’s Alipay or WeChat wallet from overseas
  • Receive money into your Alipay balance as a foreigner
  • Pay via Alipay when using a non-China IP address (some restrictions apply)

The Practical Solution for B2B Payments

For international buyers paying Chinese suppliers, the cleanest options are:

  • T/T bank transfer (wire): Slow (3–5 days), costs $25–45 in fees, but universally accepted and legally documented.
  • Trade Assurance on Alibaba: Alibaba acts as escrow. Pay by card or wire; Alibaba releases funds to the supplier after you confirm receipt.
  • PayPal or Wise to USD account: Some larger Chinese factories accept PayPal or have USD accounts — worth asking.
  • Agent intermediary: A China-based agent receives your wire transfer or PayPal payment and pays the supplier in RMB via Alipay or WeChat — they charge a small fee (typically 1–3%) for this service.

What to Ask Your Supplier

Before worrying about payment method, ask your supplier: “What payment methods do you accept from overseas buyers?” Most experienced exporters will have a USD bank account and are comfortable with wire transfers. The Alipay/WeChat question only becomes relevant for smaller or domestic-facing suppliers.

If you need help with a payment arrangement for a Chinese supplier — including acting as your payment intermediary — see our Payment & Platform Help service or contact us directly.

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