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setup · Last verified: 2026-10
My card keeps getting rejected when I try to link it — what's wrong?
Usually either 3D Secure isn't enabled, or your bank is blocking international online transactions. Call your bank before you travel and specifically mention Alipay and WeChat Pay.
Step by step
- 1Enable 3D Secure on your card first. In most banking apps: Security Settings → Verified by Visa / Mastercard ID Check → turn on.
- 2Also enable 'international transactions' and 'online transactions' if your bank has those as separate toggles.
- 3Call your bank and say: 'I'll be using this card on Alipay and WeChat Pay in China — please enable cross-border and online use.'
- 4Try a physical debit or credit card rather than a virtual card — virtual cards (Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank-generated virtual numbers) almost always fail.
- 5If Visa fails, try Mastercard and vice versa — acceptance is sometimes card-network-specific, not just bank-specific.
- 6Wise (Mastercard) and Revolut (Visa/Mastercard) are reliable fallbacks if your main bank card doesn't work.
Common mistakes
- !American Express is not accepted in Alipay or WeChat Pay tourist mode.
- !Prepaid travel cards (Travelex, airport kiosk cards) almost never work — use a regular bank-issued card.
- !JCB and Discover have partial support on Alipay but are unreliable — stick to Visa or Mastercard.
- !Name on the card must match your passport name exactly (including middle names). Mismatch = rejection.