01
Create a card for Alipay in Halocard
In your Halocard dashboard, create a new card, name it Alipay and set a limit that covers what you are about to pay.
Alipay
Accepted with conditionsHalocard has limited acceptance
Halocard has limited acceptance at Alipay. Alipay lets visitors link a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Discover or Diners Club credit or debit card issued outside the Chinese mainland and pay by QR code at shops, restaurants and transport across China. Register with your own mobile number, then tap Add Now to link the card. Linked international cards pay businesses only, such as shops, restaurants and transport.
What payment methods does Alipay accept?
Accepted
- Accepted with conditionsHalocardLinked international cards pay businesses only, such as shops, restaurants and transport.
- AcceptedCredit Cards
- AcceptedDebit Cards
Not accepted
- Not acceptedPrepaid Cards
- Not acceptedApple Pay
- Not acceptedGoogle Pay
- Not acceptedPayPal
- Not acceptedBank Transfer (ACH)
- Not acceptedCryptocurrency
- Not acceptedStablecoins
How does Alipay appear on my statement?
ALIPAY US INCALIPAY US INC *SHOPALIPAY US INC *CN
What merchant category (MCC) is Alipay?
4816Computer network and information services- Card networks treat online information services as high risk, so merchants in this category run stricter checks.
5999Miscellaneous and specialty retail stores5691Men's and women's clothing stores
While Halocard has successfully processed transactions at Alipay, this isn't a guarantee of acceptance. Merchant acceptance can change at any time, and merchants can apply fraud and risk-based controls that prevent individual customers from using US-issued cards at checkout. We recommend using Halocard to make a test payment with Alipay in your own situation to confirm acceptance.
How to pay for Alipay with Halocard
Halocard Supported Payment Methods
Supported
- AcceptedShops, restaurants, hotels and transport that take Alipay in the Chinese mainland
Not Supported
- Not acceptedTransfers and red packets to other people
- Not acceptedWealth management and insurance inside Alipay
02
Install Alipay and register with your phone number
Download Alipay, enter your mobile number and tap Next. A number from home works as long as it can receive text codes.
03
Open Me, then Bank Cards, then Add bank cards
Tap Add Now and follow the on-page prompts to enter your card details.
04
Scan the merchant's code or show yours
Tap Scan to read the merchant's QR code, or tap Pay/Collect and show your payment code at the till.
Official payment guidance from Alipay
- Pay in China with Alipay and a foreign card: https://www.alipayplus.com/pay-in-the-chinese-mainland/
- Contact Alipay customer support: https://global.alipay.com/developer/helpcenter/detail?sceneCode=AC_DEV&knowId=201602452316&categoryId=67618&_route=sg
Tips for successful payments at Alipay
- AcceptedChoose the International Version after you sign up, then add your card under Me, then Bank Cards.
- AcceptedRegister your Alipay account in the same name that is printed on your card.
- AcceptedVerify your passport in Alipay before larger payments. Verified visitors can pay up to $5,000 at a time and $50,000 a year; without it, spending stops at $2,000 a year.
- AcceptedEnter the billing name and address exactly as they appear on your Halocard.
Why do Alipay payments decline?
- The payment is a transfer, red packet or financial product
- International cards in Alipay cannot fund person-to-person transfers, red packets, wealth management or insurance. Use the card to pay a business instead.
- The name on the card does not match the account
- Alipay links a card only when the name on it matches the name registered on the Alipay account. Correct the account name and link the card again.
- The card issuer's own limits stop the payment
- Alipay's Quick Payment terms say the issuing bank's single, daily and monthly payment limits apply. Check the card has room for the full amount, then pay again.
Alipay payment FAQ
Can I use a virtual card for Alipay?
Yes, with Halocard. Linked international cards pay businesses only, such as shops, restaurants and transport. Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card that works like a debit card, so you can make a card just for Alipay and stay in full control of it.
Can I keep my real card and address private from Alipay?
Yes, with Halocard. Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card that gives you a separate card for each merchant, so Alipay only ever sees your Halocard, never your bank card. You choose the cardholder name and billing address on each card, so your home address stays out of Alipay's records. If Alipay is ever caught up in a data breach, cancel that one card and make a new one in seconds.
Can foreigners use Alipay in China?
Yes. Download Alipay, register with your own mobile number and choose the International Version. Then link a credit or debit card from a major network issued outside the Chinese mainland. Ant Group says you do not need a local bank account or phone number, and the card works for shopping, dining, ride-hailing and public transport.
Does Alipay charge a fee for foreign cards?
Shanghai's official guide to paying with WeChat Pay or Alipay says single payments of 200 RMB or less carry no fee, and a 3% fee applies above 200 RMB. A refund returns the fee in proportion. The exchange rate comes from your card network and issuer, not from Alipay.
How much can I spend on Alipay as a visitor?
Since March 2024, visitors who register their ID with Alipay can pay up to $5,000 in a single payment and $50,000 a year. Without ID registration, the yearly limit is $2,000, according to Ant Group as reported by CNBC.
What is TourCard in Alipay?
TourCard is a prepaid card from Bank of Shanghai for overseas travelers to make mobile payments in China. Travelers apply online through Bank of Shanghai or a China-based digital wallet app after they arrive, add funds to it, and it is valid for 90 days from issue. Linking your own card in Alipay is a separate option.
What is an Alipay charge on my card statement?
Alipay's American business puts its own company name on card statements, often followed by a tag such as SHOP or CN. Charge lookup sites list it for purchases from merchants or apps that take Alipay, and for refunds of those purchases.
About Alipay
Alipay is a digital payment and lifestyle platform in China, operated by Ant Group and founded in 2004. It connects more than one billion consumers to over 80 million merchants. Its International Version lets overseas visitors link a foreign card, pay by QR code, hail rides, take public transport and book hotels and flights across China.
- Website
- alipay.com
- Support
- +86 571 2688 6000
- Billed by
- Alipay.com Co., Ltd.
- Billing region
- China (¥CNY)
- Products
- Alipay International, Scan and Pay, Alipay Tap!
- Users
- More than 1 billion consumers, 2025
