In recent updatesWeChat Pay announced a comprehensive upgrade of its international bank card service. Currently, users outside of China can use WeChat Pay to make transactions in China, including catering, transportation, restaurants, convenience stores, etc. by binding their international bank cards to WeChat Pay. It can also be used for consumption modes including scan code payment, scanned code payment, password-free deduction, WeChat mini-programs or in-app payment.
Prior to this, WeChat Pay had actually begun to join international card issuing organizations such as Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, Discover Global Network, and JCB in issuing bank cards, but the actual implementation was still in the testing phase, so not all consumption modes in China could be used smoothly.
After this update, it is expected that more users holding international bank cards will be able to make purchases in China through WeChat Pay, and they will no longer have to worry about not being able to make purchases through international bank cards. Overall, it will also help further promote tourism consumption opportunities in China after China relaxes entry restrictions.
As for binding an international bank card to WeChat Pay, in addition to using a card issued by an international card issuing organization such as Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, Discover Global Network, JCB, etc., you must also prepare your personal passport, or a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents, a Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents, a Hong Kong and Macau Resident Residence Permit, a Taiwan Resident Residence Permit, or a Foreigner Permanent Residence Identity Card to complete identity verification.
In addition, during the binding process, you can also choose to fill in a mobile phone number outside of China. At the same time, if the single consumption amount does not exceed RMB 200, the 3% transaction fee will be waived. However, international bank cards do not currently support transaction functions such as sending red envelopes, grabbing red envelopes, or transferring money.
In addition to WeChat Pay's comprehensive update to support international bank cards, Alipay also recently fully upgraded its services. Similarly, it binds bank cards issued by international card issuing organizations such as Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club International, and Discover, and simplifies the registration and verification process. Users do not need to set up a default payment account or a mobile phone number in China.
Users can use Alipay for most consumer payments within China, but they cannot use financial management, transfer and other services. At the same time, the maximum amount of each transaction is RMB 3000, the monthly transaction limit is RMB 5, and the annual transaction limit is only RMB 6. In addition, no 200% transaction fee will be charged for single transactions of no more than RMB 3.
