Use WeChat Pay as a foreigner?

WeChat Pay is a digital wallet service from Chinese social media giant WeChat, which lets users make mobile payments and online transactions.

But if you’re in the US or a US tourist visiting China, you’ll want to know – can Americans pay with WeChat?

Read on to find out, in our guide to WeChat Pay for foreigners.

We’ll also show you an alternative for easy, low-cost international payments.

Yes, you can use WeChat Pay without linking a Chinese bank account, simply by adding credit card details.
But there are some restrictions you should know about. WeChat Pay only accepts foreign credit cards, not debit cards. And you’ll only be able to use WeChat Pay in stores, not for sending money to friends and family.

How to set up WeChat Pay – a guide for foreigners

Now, let’s look at setting up WeChat Pay for foreigners.

The first step is to download the app and set up your account. Here’s how to get started:

1. Go to the app store for your device (such as Google Play or the App Store) and download the WeChat app – look for the international version
2. Open the app and tap the ‘Sign up’ button
3. Provide your personal details when prompted
4. Follow the on-screen steps to create your account.

Before you can use the money app, you’ll need to add a credit card (or a Chinese bank account if you have one) and verify your identity.

This requires providing identity documents (such as a passport), a photo of yourself and full personal details in order to prove that you are who you say you are.²

How do I link my foreign credit card to WeChat?

Here’s how to add your credit card to WeChat Pay:

1. Open the WeChat Pay app
2. Select ‘Me’ and then ‘Wallet’
3. Tap ‘Bank card’ and then ‘Add new bank card’
4. Enter your card information
5. Follow the steps to verify the billing address, including entering an SMS verification code sent to your registered phone number.

Bottom line

After reading our guide on how to use WeChat Pay for foreigners, you should have all the info you need to download the app and get started. It can be a little tricky, as the app isn’t fully geared up for use outside of the US.