Link an International Card to Alipay and WeChat Pay

Step 1: Download and Register on Alipay

1. Download “Alipay” from your phone's official app store.
2. Open the app. You'll likely be prompted to register or log in.
3. Register an Account:
   1. Select your country code and enter your mobile phone number.
   2. You'll receive an SMS verification code. Enter it to proceed.
   3. Agree to the terms and conditions.
4. Set Language & Region (if needed): Alipay usually defaults to English if your phone's system language is English. If prompted, you can select your region as “International” or your specific country.

Step 2: Complete Identity Verification (Real-Name Authentication – 实名认证 Shímíng Rènzhèng)

This is a mandatory security step required by Chinese regulations and is essential for linking international cards and unlocking most payment functionalities.

1. Navigate to Verification:
   1. Tap the “Me” icon (usually in the bottom right corner).
   2. Tap on your profile section at the top (where your name/number is displayed) or look for an “Identity Verification,” “Real-name Authentication,” or “Profile Completion” prompt. Sometimes, this is prompted after you attempt to add a bank card.
2. Provide Information:
   1. You will typically be asked to fill in:
      • Nationality
      • Full Name (Exactly as it appears on your passport)
      • Passport Number
      • Passport Expiry Date
      • Date of Birth
3. Upload Passport Photo:
   1. You'll need to take or upload a clear photo of your passport's main information page. Ensure all details are legible, with no glare or obstructions.
4. Submit and Wait:
   1. Once submitted, verification can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, or occasionally up to a day or two. You'll usually receive an in-app notification once it's complete.

Step 3: Add Your International Bank Card

1. Navigate to Bank Card Section:
   1. On the Alipay app, tap the “Me” icon.
   2. Select “Bank Cards”.
   3. Tap “+ Add Card” or a similar button.
2. Enter Card Details:
   1. Input your international card number. Alipay should automatically detect the card type (Visa, Mastercard, etc.).
   2. Enter the Cardholder Name (this must exactly match the name printed on your card).
   3. Enter the card's Expiry Date and CVV/CVC code (the 3 or 4-digit security code, usually on the back).
3. Enter Billing Address:
   1. You may be asked for the billing address associated with your card. Enter it as accurately as possible, matching your bank's records.
4. Bank Verification (if required):
   1. Your bank might send an SMS with a one-time password (OTP) to your registered phone number to authorize the linking.
   2. Some banks perform a micro-transaction (a very small temporary charge) to verify the card.
5. Confirmation:
   1. Once successful, your card will appear in the “Bank Cards” list. You're now ready to use Alipay for payments!

Step 1: Download WeChat and Register Account (if you haven't already)

1. Download “WeChat” from your phone's official app store.
2. Open the app and register an account using your mobile phone number (international numbers are generally accepted). Follow the SMS verification process.

Step 2: Access and Activate WeChat Pay (Wallet)

1. Once logged into WeChat, tap the “Me” icon (bottom right).
2. Go to “Services”. (If “Services” isn't visible, you might need to receive a small “red packet” or have a friend with an activated WeChat Pay send you a tiny transfer to trigger its appearance. However, for new international users, it's often available by default now).
3. Within “Services,” tap “Wallet”.
4. You may need to agree to the WeChat Pay User Agreement to activate the Wallet function. Set a 6-digit payment password when prompted. This is specific to WeChat Pay transactions.

Step 3: Complete Identity Verification (Real-Name Authentication)

As with Alipay, this is crucial for linking international cards.

1. Navigate to Verification:
   1. From the “Wallet” screen, tap the Card icon (often in the top right) or look for an option like “Identity Information,” “Real-name Authentication,” or “Manage Real-name Authentication.” This might also be prompted when you try to add a card.
2. Provide Information & Upload Passport:
   1. The process is similar to Alipay: enter your Nationality, Full Name (as per passport), Passport Number, Passport Expiry Date, Date of Birth, and upload a clear photo of your passport's information page.
3. Submit and Wait for Verification.

Step 4: Add Your International Bank Card

1. Navigate to Bank Card Section:
   1. In “Wallet,” tap “Cards” or “Bank Cards.”
   2. Tap “+ Add a Card.”
2. Enter Card Details:
   1. Input your international card number.
   2. Select the Card Type if not auto-detected.
   3. Enter Cardholder Name (exactly as on the card), Expiry Date, and CVV/CVC code.
3. Enter Billing Address & Phone Number:
   1. You'll likely need to provide the billing address and the phone number associated with the card (this might be your international number used for bank notifications).
4. Bank Verification:
   1. Expect an SMS OTP from your bank or a similar verification step.
5. Confirmation:
   1. Your card will appear in your WeChat Pay “Cards” list once successfully linked.

How to use DiDi (Chinese Uber) inside Alipay/WeChat:

1. Open Alipay or WeChat.
2. In the search bar at the top, type “DiDi” or “Ride”.
3. Select the “DiDi Ride-hailing” mini-program.
4. Grant location permissions. You can now book cars, and the fee will be deducted directly from your linked international card!
5. Tip: DiDi has an English interface option within the mini-program.

How to ride the Metro/Bus:

Instead of buying tokens, search for “Transport” or “Metro” in Alipay.

1. Tap “Transport” (often a bus/train icon).
2. Select the city you are in.
3. Get a QR code card. Scan this at the subway turnstile.
4. Note: Not all cities support international cards for direct Metro QR scanning yet (Shanghai and Beijing often do, others vary), but it is rapidly expanding.