WeChat Pay and Alipay on a China business trip: setup, receipts and limits

Why mobile payment matters on a business trip

In many Chinese cities, small shops, restaurants, market stalls and taxis expect payment through a phone. Foreign cards are accepted in some hotels and larger venues but not everywhere, and cash may be handled slowly or refused by some small businesses. On a packed working schedule, being unable to pay for a meal or a ride costs time and goodwill.

This guide focuses on the business angle. For a general introduction to paying with a foreign card in China, see our existing guide on credit cards in China with Alipay and WeChat.

Setting up before you leave

Both apps are updated often, and screens and requirements change, so follow the in-app instructions and the app's official help pages for the current steps. The outline below shows the typical order of work, not exact menus.

1. 1Install and register at homeDownload the app from an official store, register with your own mobile number and keep that SIM able to receive a verification SMS.
2. 2Complete identity verificationFollow the prompts for passport-based verification. Use your name exactly as in your passport.
3. 3Link an international cardAdd a Visa or Mastercard if the app supports your card type. Ask your bank whether the card allows overseas and online use, and whether it will send an OTP.
4. 4Test with a small paymentMake a small payment in Thailand if a merchant supports it, or check the app's test options, so you meet any block before you travel.
5. 5Tell your bankCheck whether the bank wants a travel notice, and keep its contact method saved offline in case the card is frozen.

What to pay with the app, and what not to

The reason for the last row is practical. A wallet app is built for everyday spending, and a payment to a company for goods carries contractual and legal weight that should be recorded properly. Agree the method, amount, currency and recipient name in writing, and verify the recipient through a channel other than the one the request came from.

Receipts, fapiao and expense records

If your company or accountant needs evidence of expenses, plan for it from day one. In China, an official invoice is commonly called a fapiao, and a mobile payment confirmation is not always the same thing as an invoice. Ask your own accountant what documentation your company needs, and ask the merchant at the time of payment whether an invoice is available for that transaction.

• Screenshot each significant payment confirmation, and note the purpose next to it the same day.
• Keep paper receipts in one envelope, separate from personal spending.
• Record the exchange rate or your card statement line later, since the amount charged to your card may differ from the amount shown in the app.
• Do not mix a supplier's company payments with spending on personal items, to keep the books clean.

Scams and security

Mobile payment is convenient, which also makes it a target. Use only the payment screen shown in your own app, and be sceptical of unexpected requests, especially when under time pressure.

• Before you scan a QR code on a table or counter, check that it looks original and not stuck over another code.
• Do not share verification codes, passwords or screenshots of your wallet with anyone, including people who say they are helping you.
• If a supplier or agent sends new bank details by message or email, confirm them by calling a known contact before sending money.
• Turn on the app's security lock and your phone's screen lock, and set limits you are comfortable with.

Build a back-up plan

Plan for the moment the payment fails: no signal, a locked account, a flat battery, or a merchant who does not accept your card type. A basic back-up costs little and removes most of the stress.

• A modest amount of Chinese yuan in cash, in small notes, exchanged through a licensed provider.
• At least one physical card, plus a second card kept in a different bag.
• A colleague or contact who can pay in an emergency if you agree on it in advance.
• A saved note with your bank's contact method, available offline.

Connectivity and payments depend on each other

A payment app needs a working data connection, and verification texts need your Thai SIM or the number you registered. Keep your Thai SIM active for SMS and bank codes while using a separate data eSIM, and check that you can open the payment apps on the network you plan to use before you leave. Some roaming eSIM plans route traffic abroad so foreign apps often open, but whether a particular app works depends on the plan and cannot be promised.

See eSIM options for China