How to add a foreign credit card to WeChat Pay in 2020 (2023)

FAQs

Can you use WeChat Pay with a foreign card? ›

WeChat Pay currently only supports overseas credit cards. You need to verify the card number, expiration date, CVN2, and American and Canadian users need to verify the billing address while binding. Then you will receive a SMS verification code on the phone number you just filled in.

To sign up for the newly-expanded service, WeChat Pay users can add international credit cards directly to their digital wallets on the WeChat app.

You can only use WeChat Pay in the US if you have a bank account registered in China, Malaysia, South Africa or Hong Kong. This is because the WeChat wallet is linked to this bank account. This unfortunately rules it out as a payment option for most people except Chinese citizens and permanent residents.

To activate the payment function on Alipay or WeChat's mobile app, you'll first need to have either a China bank account or a Chinese bank-issued credit card. And to have either of these, you'll need to be a Chinese citizen or a resident with a valid residential address in China.

“There can be many reasons why an international transaction of an active card is being declined. It may be because of FEMA rules violation, as the user may be doing a prohibited transaction, such as buying lottery tickets, buying banned goods, others,” adds Jhaveri.

Tencent has collaborated with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, the Discover Global Network (including Diners Club), and JCB to allow people to link their international credit cards to WeChat Pay and use the app to pay for goods and services in China, including shopping, restaurants, transportation, and accommodation ...

The service works with Mastercard, Visa and JCB.

Start in Me, tap into Pay , tap "..." menu on the top right corner and choose Switch Wallet Region to select the specific region.

Which card can I use for international transactions? ›

This will take effect on 30 September 2022. “Please use your Visa Debit Multicurrency Card, Visa Prepaid (USD) Card, and Visa Gold Credit Card to continue transacting abroad with limits of up to $10,000.” In March, most Nigerian banks announced a $20 spending limit on international transactions using naira debit cards.

Data transmitted by accounts registered outside China is surveilled, analyzed and used to build up censorship algorithms in China. In response to a border dispute between India and China, WeChat was banned in India in June 2020 along with several other Chinese apps, including TikTok.

How WeChat Pay Works. WeChat Pay is linked to users' Chinese bank accounts and/or Visa, MasterCard, or JCB cards. Once they enter their payment information into the WeChat app, they can pay bills, make peer-to-peer money transfers, and pay for items online and in-store wherever merchants accept WeChat Pay.

Quick Pay

The WeChat payment solution can be connected with your POS system. This way you can scan the WeChat payment QR code of the use. It's a much faster payment solution than cash or credit card. In this case, users don't even need to enter the 6-digital pin code to approve the payment.

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted worldwide. If an establishment takes credit cards, it's a good bet that your Visa or Mastercard will work. American Express and Discover have an international presence, too, but they are accepted by fewer merchants.

Unblocking International Purchases

Select your credit card. Select Manage. Select Manage International Purchases. Select the Block International Purchases switch to turn off the blocking feature.

How do foreigners pay in China? ›

Payment by Popular Apps: WeChat and Alipay. The two app payment giants in China are Tencent's WeChat and Alibaba's Alipay. So, basically, two companies (WeChat and Alipay) are the mainstay of e-payment in Chinese mainland. 64% of people in China use both.

American Express currently has the lowest acceptance rates internationally. We recommend Amex cardholders carry a backup Visa or Mastercard, especially when travelling outside the United States.

How to prepare before travelling to China. Go with Visa or Mastercard. Visa and Mastercard are the most commonly accepted cards in China.

That means that you can now use WeChat pay for all of your Apple gadget and accessory needs. WeChat Pay isn't the only epayment system Apple accepts, of course. Obviously Apple's buyers can also use Apple Pay, and the Chinese version of Apple's online store also accepts Alipay, Alibaba's epayment platform.

Hi, you can reload your WeChat and Alipay wallet using PayPal or international credit/debit cards on Vpayfast, you can also pay with your domestic currency, Vpayfast will transfer money to your WeChat and Alipay aftering paying. Can I use Alipay to send money from the US to China or vice versa?

Step 1: Open "Me", go to "WeChat Pay", "Wallet", and select “Cards”. Step 2: Click “+” at the bottom of the page to add your card. Step 3: Enter your WeChat payment password to verify your identity.

In 2022, WeChat touched 811 million users in China, accounting for 57.9% of the total population. In other words, approximately two-thirds of all users of WeChat are located in China. Starting at 968.32 million in 2021, the number of active users on WeChat is estimated to reach 1.102 billion by 2025.

International debit cards allow you to pay for transactions abroad. You can activate international usage on your local debit card. You have to pay a nominal currency conversion fee for using local debit cards abroad. You may opt for global debit cards like forex cards, but they may prove expensive.

As per the RBI guidelines, banks issues Debit Cards only for domestic usage unless international use is specifically sought by the customer.

How do I set up international payments? ›

How do I remove WeChat Pay restrictions? In order to comply with relevant laws and regulations, WeChat Pay now requires real-name authentication for all users. For WeChat Pay users who don't have a China's Mainland ID card, you must provide your identity information.

Use WeChat's support form for attempting to unblock your account. Send a verification code to the number associated with your WeChat account. Follow the instructions included with the code to try recovering your account.

For international sales, wire transfers and credit cards are the most commonly used cash-in-advance options available to exporters. With the advancement of the Internet, escrow services are becoming another cash-in-advance option for small export transactions.

Yes. Visa is globally accepted and hence considered as an international debit card.

The US Commerce Department has issued an order banning Americans from downloading Chinese-owned apps TikTok and WeChat; it's due to come into effect on Sunday, September 20.

Not All WeChat Accounts Are Created Equal

It's important to note that: Non-Chinese WeChat users have access to Both Chinese and Non-Chinese official accounts. Chinese WeChat users only have access Chinese registered accounts.

With more than a billion monthly users, WeChat is one of the most popular social messaging apps in the world, especially in China. No matter what country you're in, WeChat is free to download — but signing up for an account isn't so easy.

How Can I Use a VPN to Access WeChat? To access WeChat with a VPN, simply install the VPN app and connect to a server near you. Just make sure the server isn't in a country where WeChat is blocked, like India. Then, all you need to do is log in to your WeChat account as usual.

What can I use instead of WeChat in China? ›

Companies can create profiles within WeChat and can thus gain viewers and customers. A disadvantage is that companies are now part of this app that also contains the social aspect of a digital society, they can therefore invade people's privacy. Privacy is the major issue regarding WeChat.

WeChat will accept Visa, MasterCard, JCB, Diner's Club and American Express Cards (credit cards, not just debit cards); You won't need a Chinese phone number to register your account; it can be done with your foreign phone number.

WeChat Pay currently only supports overseas credit cards. You need to verify the card number, expiration date, CVN2, and American and Canadian users need to verify the billing address while binding. Then you will receive a SMS verification code on the phone number you just filled in.

You simply download AliPay from your App Store on your device. You will need to register a mobile number and set up your account. Once this is complete just link your bank card (Chinese account or now a foreign account is also possible) and you are good to go.

WeChat will accept Visa, MasterCard, JCB, Diner's Club and American Express Cards (credit cards, not just debit cards); You won't need a Chinese phone number to register your account; it can be done with your foreign phone number.

Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are all widely accepted in big cities in China. Depending on your bank, using a foreign credit card in China will usually incur a foreign currency exchange fee and a transaction fee from either your home or the local bank, which can add up fast.

Alipay is now available to both Chinese nationals and foreign customers. If you've never used Alipay before, you can download the app, enter your information, and link your bank details. Alipay will now work with foreign bank accounts, as well as major credit cards like Mastercard and Visa.