China has recently raised the transaction limit for foreign visitors using the mobile app Alipay to $2,000 per year without needing to register their ID. This significant increase from the previous limit of $500 will have a major impact on international tourists, making it easier for them to pay for daily purchases during their stay in China.
The decline in the number of foreign travelers to China during the pandemic prompted the country to implement stricter border controls. However, with the increased transaction limit on Alipay, Beijing aims to make it more convenient for foreign visitors to carry out transactions in a country where mobile payment is widely used. Despite the popularity of mobile payment in China, strict real-name verification policies have often posed challenges for foreigners using mobile pay.
Alipay, operated by Alibaba-affiliate Ant Group, is one of the leading mobile payment apps in China. In comparison, Tencent-owned WeChat Pay is another widely used app for mobile transactions. While Alipay has raised its limit to $2,000 for ID-free transactions for foreign users, WeChat Pay has not disclosed a specific figure but allows foreigners to make some payments without registering their IDs.
Ant Group also announced that international travelers who register their ID with Alipay can now make single transactions of up to $5,000, up from $1,000 previously. Moreover, the annual transaction limit for registered users has been increased to $50,000, offering more flexibility for foreign visitors when using the app for payments in China.
Under the program Alipay+, foreign visitors using specific mobile payment apps from countries such as Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Mongolia, Hong Kong, and Macao can scan Alipay QR codes directly for payments in China. This initiative aims to encourage users of overseas mobile payment apps to conveniently make transactions in China without facing limitations.
The recent changes in transaction amounts by Alipay align with the People’s Bank of China’s objectives to facilitate transactions for foreign visitors using mobile payment apps in the country. Deputy Governor Zhang Qingsong mentioned the potential for further raising the threshold above $500 in the future, indicating ongoing efforts to enhance the mobile payment experience for international tourists in China.
The increased transaction limits on Alipay for foreign visitors represent a step towards promoting a more seamless and convenient payment experience in China, contributing to the country’s goal of expanding its digital payment infrastructure.
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