01
Create a card for WeChat Pay in Halocard
In your Halocard dashboard, create a new card, name it WeChat Pay and set a limit that covers what you are about to pay.
WeChat Pay
AcceptedHalocard is accepted
Halocard is accepted at WeChat Pay. WeChat Pay lets visitors link a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Discover or Diners Club credit or debit card in the Weixin Pay wallet and pay merchants across mainland China by QR code. Single payments under 200 RMB are free of fees, and a 3% fee applies above 200 RMB.
What payment methods does WeChat Pay accept?
Accepted
- AcceptedHalocard
- 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
What merchant category (MCC) is WeChat Pay?
5999Miscellaneous and specialty retail stores5812Eating places and restaurants5399Miscellaneous general merchandise
How to pay for WeChat Pay with Halocard
02
Update WeChat and sign in with your phone number
Download or update WeChat to the latest version, then register or sign in. A number from home works if it can receive SMS codes.
03
Open Me, then Pay and Services, then Wallet
Tap Bank Cards, then Add a Bank Card. Read the Weixin Pay User Service Agreement, agree to it and enter your passport details when asked.
04
Enter the card details and the SMS code
Type the card number, your full name, your ID number and the mobile number your bank holds. Enter the SMS code sent to that number to finish linking the card.
05
Scan the merchant's code or show your own
Tap Scan to read a merchant's QR code, or open pay/receive and let the cashier scan your payment code.
Official payment guidance from WeChat Pay
- Set up an international card in Weixin Pay: https://cs.help.wechat.com/hc/en-us/articles/11975770896271-How-to-Set-Up-International-Cards-for-Weixin-Pay
- What you need to link a card: https://cs.help.wechat.com/hc/en-us/articles/11975810140559-What-is-the-requirements-for-using-Weixin-Pay-in-China-s-mainland
- Weixin Pay guide and support for visitors: https://www.tencent.com/welcome-to-china-easy-pay-with-weixin-pay/
Tips for successful payments at WeChat Pay
- AcceptedRegister WeChat with an overseas phone number that can receive SMS codes; a mainland number is not needed.
- AcceptedLink a card issued in your own name, and type your full name exactly as your bank holds it, including capitals and spacing.
- AcceptedVerify your passport in Weixin Pay before larger purchases: verified visitors can pay up to $5,000 at a time and $50,000 a year.
- AcceptedEnter the billing name and address exactly as they appear on your Halocard.
Why do WeChat Pay payments decline?
- Payments are restricted until real-name authentication is done
- Tap the restriction notice when you pay and submit your passport, full name, phone number, address, occupation, a photo of the ID and a face photo. Payments resume once the details are accepted.
- The card will not link
- Weixin Pay needs your name exactly as the bank records it and sends the SMS code to the mobile number your bank holds. Check both details, then link the card again.
- The card issuer's rules stop the payment
- Weixin Pay's terms say the issuing bank's own limits and rules apply to an international card. Check the card has room for the full amount, or link another card in your name.
- The payment is a transfer, red packet or Balance top-up
- An international card in Weixin Pay pays merchants only. It cannot fund transfers, red packets or the Balance, so use it to pay a business instead.
WeChat Pay payment FAQ
Can foreigners use WeChat Pay in China?
Yes. Tencent says visitors can register WeChat with an overseas mobile number, link an eligible international credit or debit card to Weixin Pay and pay tens of millions of merchants in mainland China, including small shops and street vendors. A passport, a Mainland Travel Permit or a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card can be used to set it up.
Does WeChat Pay charge a fee for foreign cards?
WeChat's help centre says single payments under 200 RMB carry no fee and a 3% fee applies above 200 RMB. A refund returns part of the fee. The card network and your issuer convert the payment from RMB into your card's currency, so the exchange rate shows on your card statement.
What is the WeChat Pay limit for foreigners?
A card linked with basic details can spend up to a set amount. Tencent raised the limits for visitors who verify their passport to $5,000 per payment and $50,000 a year. The exact limit shows in the app, and your card issuer's own limits also apply.
Is WeChat Pay the same as Weixin Pay?
They are separate wallets in the same app. Weixin Pay is the wallet for paying merchants in mainland China, and money cannot move between it and a WeChat Pay wallet from another region. If you have both, switch under Me, then Pay and Services, the menu in the top-right corner, then Switch Wallet Region.
Do I need a Chinese bank account for WeChat Pay?
No. You link your own international credit or debit card to pay merchants. A bank card issued in mainland China is needed only to top up the WeChat Balance, which an international card cannot fund.
About WeChat Pay
WeChat Pay, called Weixin Pay in mainland China, is the mobile payment service inside the WeChat app, launched by Weixin and Tenpay in 2013 and run by Tencent. Users link a bank card and pay by QR code, payment code, Mini Programs or in-app checkout. Visitors can link an international card to pay tens of millions of merchants in mainland China.
- Website
- pay.weixin.qq.com
- Support
- +86 571 95017
- Billed by
- Tenpay Payment Technology Co., Ltd.
- Billing region
- China (¥CNY)
- Users
- 1.44 billion Weixin and WeChat monthly users, June 2026
- Revenue
- RMB60.3 billion Tencent FinTech and Business Services revenue, second quarter of 2026
