WeChat Enables Foreigners to Pay with Overseas Cards in China
Tencent’s latest WeChat Pay upgrade enables foreign users to link international cards, enhancing mobile payments in China and aligning with efforts to attract international tourists and boost domestic consumption.
On July 20, 2023, Tencent, in collaboration with leading international financial services providers like Visa, Discover Global Network, JCB, and Mastercard announced significant improvements to the mobile payment experience for foreign users in China.
Tencent has expanded the WeChat Pay merchant network across multiple cities in China, providing support to merchants in various sectors, including dining, transportation, retail, and hospitality. This development will facilitate diverse payment methods like QR code scanning, in-app purchases, and WeChat Mini Programs, offering added convenience to users.
WeChat Pay had already allowed international credit card binding since 2019 and conducted trials with select merchants in essential sectors. With this recent development, inbound travelers, including those with passports and various permits, can now easily utilize WeChat Pay and link their international bank cards to make purchases at millions of merchants.
Moreover, to enhance the payment experience for users making frequent small transactions, WeChat Pay will bear the transaction fees for international card transactions below RMB 200 (US$27.82), providing users with fee exemptions during payment.
This move by Tencent aligns with the plans previously released by the State Council and the National Development and Reform Commission, aimed at improving mobile payment solutions for inbound tourists and increasing their convenience in making payments ahead of major international events, such as the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games. At that time, the authorities encouraged domestic payment service providers to collaborate with overseas card issuers within legal and regulatory frameworks to offer mobile payment services to foreign visitors.
With China hosting various international events in 2023, such as the Chengdu FISU World University Games and the Hangzhou Asian Games, the number of inbound visitors is expected to rise. Tencent’s expansion of the WeChat Pay merchant network will significantly enhance the mobile payment experience for foreign users, further promoting China as a preferred destination for international travelers.
Below we delve into how foreign users can make payments via WeChat Pay. We provide comprehensive details on the process, timing, and relevant sources for further information.
How can foreign users make payments in China via WeChat?
Foreign users can make payments via WeChat by linking their international credit or debit cards to the WeChat Pay platform. After entering the Chinese mainland, foreign visitors can easily set up WeChat Pay on their WeChat app and proceed to add their international cards issued by Visa, Mastercard, JCB, or Discover Global Network.
Once the cards are successfully linked, foreign users can use WeChat Pay to make payments to merchants across various sectors, including dining, shopping, transportation, and hotel accommodation.
This convenient and seamless payment method enables foreign users to “pay like a local” in China, without the need to carry cash or open a Chinese bank account.
What documents are required for setting up WeChat Pay?
Currently, six types of documents can be used to open a WeChat Pay account. These are:
- Passport
- Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card
- Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents
- Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents
- Residence Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents
- Residence Permit for Taiwan Residents
These documents are all accepted for the registration process of WeChat Pay.
How to bind foreign cards to WeChat Pay?
To bind their foreign cards to WeChat Pay, users can follow these simple steps:
- Make sure the app is updated to its latest version.
- Open WeChat and go to the “Me” section.
- Tap on “Wallet” to access your payment options.
- Click on “Bank Card” and choose “Add a New Bank Card.”
- Enter the card number, select the type of card, and the issuing organization. Fill in the required card and personal information.
- Once everything is filled out, click “Submit.” A confirmation message will appear when the binding is successful.
After the verification, an SMS verification code will be sent to the phone number provided earlier. Enter the code to complete the verification process.
During the card binding process, the mobile phone number needed for verification should be capable of receiving SMS verification codes. Importantly, this number does not have to be a mobile phone number from mainland China, but it can also be a foreign number.
Finally, create a 6-digit payment password to ensure the security of your WeChat Pay account. Once these steps are completed, users can start using WeChat Pay with their foreign card for various transactions at millions of merchants, making payments in China as convenient as possible.
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