WeChat Pay now accepts international credit cards
WeChat Pay is ubiquitous in China and has been the catalyst for creating the country’s predominantly cashless economy.
However, this has been difficult for foreigners living in or visiting China, because WeChat Pay has only been available for Chinese bank accounts and credit cards.
All that is changing.
Tencent has collaborated with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, the Discover Global Network (including Diners Club), and JCB to allow people to link their international credit cards to WeChat Pay and use the app to pay for goods and services in China, including shopping, restaurants, transportation, and accommodation.
Here, we share how you can add your credit card to WeChat Pay for your next visit to China!
WeChat Pay now supports 5 major international credit cards
How to Add an International Card to WeChat Pay for Multiple Purchases
It’s easy to add your international credit card to WeChat Pay and store it there to make multiple purchases:
Step 1 – Adding an international card for multiple transactions on WeChat Pay
- Click Me.
- Go to WeChat Pay.
- Click Wallet.
Step 2 – Adding an international card for multiple transactions on WeChat Pay
- Click Cards.
- Click Add a Card.
Step 3 – Adding an international card for multiple transactions on WeChat Pay
- Fill in your card information.
- Fill in your personal information.
- Click Next.
Voila–you can now use your international credit card to complete multiple purchases on WeChat Pay!
How to Add an International Card to WeChat Pay for a Single Purchase
You can also add your credit card when you scan a merchant QR code to complete a single purchase:
Step 1 – Adding an international card for a single transaction on WeChat Pay
- Scan the merchant’s WeChat Pay QR code.
Step 2 – Adding an international card for a single transaction on WeChat Pay
- Click Pay Now.
Step 3 – Adding an international card for a single transaction on WeChat Pay
- Add your card details.
- Add your personal information.
- Click Next.
Voila–you can now use your international credit card for a merchant QR code transaction on WeChat Pay!
Inbound tourists to China reached 141.2 million in 2018
In recent years, more and more overseas visitors are travelling to Mainland China, with some choosing to stay and work.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the number of inbound tourists reached 141.2 million in 2018, an increase of 1.2% over the previous year.
Furthermore, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology, China is also attracting talents from around the globe to start innovative new businesses.
Currently, there are more than 950,000 foreigners working in China, and the country issued 336,000 overseas talent work permits in 2018.
Mobile payments a major pain point for visitors to China
The inconvenience of not being able to use the massively adopted mobile payment system was a major pain point for foreigners living in or visiting Mainland China. The expansion of WeChat Pay’s accepted credit cards brings more accessibility for international cardholders.
Tencent intends to continue exploring further collaborations with industry partners under the guidance of the relevant regulatory authorities in China to provide more convenience for international users both traveling and living in mainland China.
This will create greater advertising and marketing opportunities as the audience on WeChat has now widened to become more international.
News source: WeChat Global
