Alipay and WeChat Pay for foreigners: setup, fees and limits for medical trips
You can link an international bank card to Alipay or WeChat Pay without a Chinese bank account.[1] Payments of ¥200 or less carry no platform fee; above that, a 3% fee on the full amount may apply.[1][2] Each transaction can be up to $5,000, and up to $50,000 a year.[1][3]
Fees and limits
| Alipay | WeChat Pay | |
|---|---|---|
| Payment of ¥200 or less | No platform fee[1] | No platform fee[2] |
| Payment above ¥200 | May incur 3% of the full amount[1] | 3% fee (waived under ¥200)[2] |
| New-user offer | — | First-time card linkers: 3% fee waived on daily spending under ¥1,000 for 60 days (max ¥30 saved per payment)[2] |
| Single payment limit | Up to $5,000; check the app for your account's limit[1][3] | |
| Yearly limit | Up to $50,000[1][3] | |
| Cards accepted | Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, Discover[4] | Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners Club, UnionPay[2] |
Your own bank may add its foreign-transaction fee. Example: a ¥1,000 hospital payment with a 3% fee costs ¥30 extra.
Step by step
- Install Alipay or WeChat before you fly. Download the international version from your app store and sign up with your foreign phone number.
- Verify your identity. Follow the in-app prompts to add your passport details.
- Link your international bank card. Add a Visa, Mastercard or other supported card in the wallet / bank cards section. You do not need a Chinese bank account.
- Pay by scanning or showing a QR code. Scan the merchant's code, or open "Pay" and let the cashier scan yours. Under ¥200 there is no platform fee.
- Plan large hospital bills. Check your in-app limit before treatment. For large bills, ask the hospital cashier whether they take international cards directly, or arrange direct billing with your insurer.
Other ways to pay
- Bank cards at the counter: cards may be accepted where the UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club or Discover logo is shown.[1]
- Cash: ATM withdrawals are generally limited to ¥3,000 per transaction; your bank may set its own limits.[1]
- Insurance direct billing: several international departments bill commercial insurers directly — see the payment line on each Shanghai and Beijing hospital page.
Related
Sources
Last verified: Nov 6, 2026. We re-check official pages regularly; rules and prices can change without notice. How we update
- Pay with overseas bank cards — Shanghai Municipal Government, published Sep 21, 2026. Checked Nov 6, 2026.
- WeChat Pay Waives 3 Percent Transaction Fees for International Card Payments Under 200 Yuan — Beijing Municipal Government, published Mar 26, 2026. Checked Nov 6, 2026.
- Payment service guide for overseas visitors to China — The State Council of China (english.www.gov.cn), Xinhua, published Apr 11, 2024. Checked Nov 6, 2026.
- A guide to linking international bank cards to Alipay — Shanghai Municipal Government, published Dec 11, 2023. Checked Nov 6, 2026.
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