How Foreign Nationals Can Make Payments in China
If you have foreign friends who are about to travel to China and they do not have a domestic SIM card or a domestic bank card, how can they make payments? Here are a few feasible methods:
如果您有外籍朋友即将来华旅游，没有境内手机卡和境内银行卡，如何进行支付呢？以下是几种可行的方式：
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1. Electronic Payment
一、电子支付
Preparation: Prepare a smartphone (you can use your overseas phone number to receive SMS verification codes), connect to the internet, have valid identification (passport, etc.), and a bank card (supporting overseas cards like Visa, MasterCard).
事前准备：准备好智能手机（可使用您的境外手机号，需要接收短信验证码）、链接网络、有效的身份证件（护照等）、银行卡（支持境外银行卡，Visa、Master等）。
(a) Setting up WeChat Pay
（一）开通微信支付
Step 1: Download the WeChat app from your app store (Apple's App Store or Android's Google Play) or from the official website (https://www.wechat.com/en/), and register an account using your overseas phone number.
步骤一：在手机上通过应用商店（苹果手机APP Store、安卓手机应用市场）或官网（https://www.wechat.com/en/）下载微信APP，并使用境外手机号注册账号。
Tip: Foreign nationals find it more convenient to register with an overseas phone number and can link an overseas bank card. Ensure your overseas phone number can receive SMS verification codes.
提示：外籍人士使用境外手机号注册微信会更为方便，并可绑定境外的银行卡，但需要注意的是必须确保境外手机号码可以正常接收短信验证码
Step 2: Locate the WeChat Pay entrance and link your bank card.
步骤二：找到微信支付入口并绑定银行卡。
If you cannot find the WeChat Pay entrance, try the following:
若找不到微信支付入口，可尝以下方式：
In "Wallet," click "Add Bank Card" to enter the identity information filling and foreign card binding process. After agreeing to the service agreement and other terms, proceed to the next step. Follow the on-screen instructions to fill in or check your identity information, then click "Next" to add your foreign card and complete the setup as prompted.
在“钱包”内，点击“添加银行卡”，进入身份信息填写及绑定外卡流程。用户同意服务协议等后进入下一步，按照页面操作填写或勾选身份信息，继续点击“下一步”添加外卡，按照提示操作，即可以完成开通。
Tip: Whether you can link an overseas bank card depends on the submitted identity information. As long as you provide overseas identification during the identity verification process, the verified WeChat account can link to an overseas bank card.
提示：是否能够绑定境外银行卡，取决于提交的身份信息；只要在进行身份信息认证时提供的是境外身份证件，则认证后的微信账号即可绑定境外银行卡。
Step 3: To use WeChat Pay, open the payment code or scan to pay. Click the "Scan" or "Receive Payment" button on the top right corner of the WeChat main page to complete the payment.
步骤三：使用微信支付，打开付款码或者扫码付款，点击微信主页面右上角-“扫一扫”或者“收付款”完成支付。
(b) Setting up Alipay
（二）开通支付宝支付
Step 1: Download the Alipay app from your app store (Apple's App Store or Android's Google Play) and register an account using your phone number.
步骤一：在手机上通过应用商店（苹果手机APP Store、安卓手机应用市场）下载支付宝APP，使用手机号注册账号。
Step 2: Link your bank card.
步骤二：绑定银行卡。
Step 3: Scan to pay.
步骤三：扫码支付。
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2. Bank Card Payment
二、银行卡支付
If foreign nationals wish to obtain a bank card in mainland China, they need to personally visit a bank counter with their identification documents:
如果外籍人士想办理中国大陆境内的银行卡，则需要本人亲自携带证件到银行柜台办理：
Preparation:Valid identification documents (passport, Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents, Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Residents, Permanent Residence Permit for Foreigners, etc.)
事前准备：有效的身份证件（护照、 港澳居民来往内地通行证、台湾居民来往大陆通行证、港澳台居住证、外国人永久居住证等）
Note: When providing a foreign passport as the identification document for account opening, please be aware of the following:
提示：提供外国护照作为开户证件，需要注意以下事宜：
If the visa type is a "long-term visa," you can directly open an account. Long-term visa types for foreign passports include: D (residence), J1 (resident journalist), M (trade), Q1 (family reunion), R (talent), S1 (long-term private affairs), X1 (long-term study), Z (work), VF (visa-free).
签证类型为“长期签证类型”，可以直接开立账户。外国护照长期签证类型有：D（定居）、J１（常驻记者）、M（贸易）、Q1（长期探亲）、R（人才）、S1（长期私人事务）、X1（长期学习）、Z（任职就业）、VF免签。
If the visa type is a "short-term visa," you must also provide a "Foreigner's Residence Permit." Short-term passport visa types include: C (crew), F (visit), G (transit), J2 (temporary journalist), L (tourism), Q2 (short-term family reunion), S2 (short-term private affairs), X2 (short-term study).
签证类型为“短期签证类型”，还需另外提供“外国人居留许可证”。短期护照签证类型如下：C（乘务）、F（访问）、G（过境）、J2（临时记者）、L（旅游）、Q2（短期探亲）、S2（短期私人事务）、X2（短期学习）。
Step 1: Personally visit a bank counter to apply for a bank card account.
步骤一：本人亲自前往银行柜台，办理银行卡开户业务；
Step 2: Provide a domestic or overseas phone number.
步骤二：提供境内或境外手机号码；
Step 3: Provide a contact address, which can be the address of a hotel or a residential address.
步骤三：提供联系地址，可以是居住酒店的地址或居住地址。