Set up before you fly

Get the mainland China version — the blue Alipay icon. Not AlipayHK, which is Hong Kong-only.

• • iOS: search "Alipay" in the App Store. If it doesn't appear, temporarily switch your App Store region to China Mainland.
• • Android: search Google Play or download the APK from alipay.com directly.

Use your home-country phone number with the correct country code (+1 for US, +44 for UK, etc.).

• • If SMS doesn't arrive, wait 60 seconds and tap resend. After 3 failed attempts, switch networks (try mobile data instead of Wi-Fi).
• • Don't retry more than 4–5 times — repeated failures can block your number temporarily.

You'll need to upload a photo of your passport's data page (the one with your photo and details).

• • All four corners of the page must be visible.
• • The name you enter must match your card exactly — middle names count.

Alipay accepts Visa and Mastercard from most major banks. American Express and prepaid cards usually fail.

• • Also enable international / online transactions if your bank has that toggle.
• • Wise and Revolut Visa cards work reliably as backups.
• • Link a second card if you have one — a backup costs nothing.

Before you rely on it at a busy checkout, make a small real transaction to confirm everything works end to end.

• • Find a merchant with an Alipay QR (coffee chain, convenience store, restaurant).
• • Open Alipay → tap "Scan" → point at their QR → confirm amount → pay.
• • A ¥5–20 purchase is enough to confirm the whole chain works.