WeChat Pay for Foreigners: Complete Setup Guide (2026)

What is WeChat Pay?

WeChat Pay (微信支付) is China’s other major mobile payment service, alongside Alipay. About 90% of China’s population uses one or both. From shopping malls to street vendors, you can pay almost everywhere.

Detail	Info
Operator	Tencent
Supported Cards	Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB, UnionPay
English Support	✅ Yes
Setup Location	✅ Can set up outside China

Setting Up WeChat Pay (8 Steps)

Step 1: Download WeChat

Store	Search
iOS	App Store → “WeChat”
Android	Google Play → “WeChat”

💡 Pro tip: Download and set up before you leave—hit the ground running when you arrive!

Step 2: Create Your Account

1. Open WeChat
2. Tap Sign Up
3. Enter your phone number (with country code)
4. Enter SMS verification code
5. Set password

Step 3: Access WeChat Pay

Me → Pay and Services → Wallet

Step 4: Add a Card

1. Tap Bank Cards
2. Select Add a Bank Card
3. Accept terms

Step 5: Identity Verification

Field	Input
ID Type	Select Passport
Name	Exactly as on passport
Passport Number	Enter your passport number
Passport Photo	Upload photo page

⚠️ Important: Enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport, including middle names!

Step 6: Enter Card Details

Field	Input
Card Number	16-digit card number
Expiry Date	MM/YY
CVV	3 digits on back
SMS Code	Verification from your bank

Step 7: Set Payment PIN

Create a 6-digit PIN. You’ll need this for every transaction—don’t forget it!

Step 8: Test Payment

After arriving in China, test with a small purchase (¥1-10) at a convenience store.

⚠️ Note: Test payments may fail outside China. This is normal!

Supported Cards

International Networks

Card	Supported
Visa	✅
Mastercard	✅
American Express	✅
JCB	✅
Diners Club	✅
UnionPay	✅

High Success Rate Cards

Cards that typically work well:

• Modern digital bank cards
• American Express
• Major international credit cards

💡 Tip: If registration fails, your card’s international online payments might be blocked. Call your card issuer before your trip to enable it!

Transaction Limits & Fees

Limits

Type	Amount
Per Transaction	¥6,500 (~$900)
Monthly	¥50,000 (~$7,000)
Annual	¥65,000 (~$9,000)

Fees

Transaction Amount	Fee
Under ¥200	Free (permanent)
Over ¥200	3%

60-Day New User Bonus 🎉

First-time card registration? Get 60 days of fee-free payments!

Benefit	Details
Daily Limit	Up to ¥1,000 fee-free
Max Savings	¥30 per transaction
Duration	60 days from first payment

How to Pay with WeChat Pay

Method 1: Scan QR (Most Common)

Used at street vendors, small shops, restaurants.

1. Open WeChat
2. Tap + in top right
3. Select Scan
4. Scan merchant QR
5. Enter amount (if required)
6. Enter 6-digit PIN
7. Done!

Method 2: Show Your Barcode

Used at supermarkets, convenience stores, chains.

1. Open WeChat
2. Tap + → Money
3. Display your barcode/QR
4. Show to cashier
5. Cashier scans → auto payment

Method 3: DiDi Taxi Payment

Hail taxis directly within WeChat.

1. WeChat Discover tab
2. Select Mini Programs
3. Search “DiDi”
4. Enter destination, request ride
5. Auto-pay with WeChat Pay

Metro Payment

WeChat Pay doesn’t support direct NFC tap on metro. Use these alternatives:

Shanghai Metro

Method	Description
Metro Daduhui App	WeChat Pay linked QR payment
Suishenxing App	WeChat Pay linked QR payment
Foreign Card Tap	Visa/MC/UnionPay direct tap (500 stations)

💡 Easiest method: Just tap your Visa/Mastercard/UnionPay card at the turnstile!

Switch to English

1. Tap Me
2. Settings
3. General
4. Language
5. Select English
6. Save

Troubleshooting

Problem 1: Passport Verification Failed

Causes:

• Blurry photo
• Glare on passport
• Corners cut off

Fix:

• Take photo in good lighting
• No reflections, capture full page
• Include all four corners

Problem 2: SMS Code Not Arriving

Fix:

• Toggle airplane mode off/on
• Verify country code
• Wait a few minutes and retry
• Switch to email verification

Problem 3: Card Registration Rejected

Causes:

• International online payments blocked
• Name mismatch
• Card type not supported

Fix:

1. Call card issuer → Enable China online payments
2. Verify name matches passport exactly
3. Try different card (if WeChat fails, try Alipay)

Problem 4: Payment Rejected

Some small shops reject foreign card-linked WeChat Pay.

Fix:

• Try Alipay instead
• Carry cash backup

UnionPay Card Advantage

Using a UnionPay card can save on fees:

Card	Fee
Visa/Mastercard	2-3% card fee
UnionPay	~0.8%

UnionPay benefits:

• Lower fees (~0.8% vs 2-3%)
• Wide merchant acceptance in China
• ATM cash withdrawal

Backup Payment Methods

Don’t rely on WeChat Pay alone! Have backups ready:

Priority	Method	Why
1	Alipay	Some shops only take Alipay
2	UnionPay Card	Low fees, ATM access
3	Visa/MC Contactless	Hotels, metro, big stores
4	Cash (yuan)	Last resort

Customer Support

Channel	Info
English Support	https://www.wechat.com/en/contact_us.html
Email	wxpayglobal@tencent.com
In-App Feedback	Me → Settings → Help & Feedback

⚠️ Note: No phone support. Feedback responses can take days to weeks.

Pre-Trip Checklist

Before departure:

• Download WeChat app
• Create account
• Enable international online payments on your card
• Complete passport verification
• Add card

After arriving in China:

• Test with small purchase
• Have backup ready (Alipay, cash)

Other Guides

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