As of Friday, the mobile app operator for Alipay has revealed that foreign visitors to China can utilize the platform for expenditures of up to $2,000 annually without the requirement to register their ID.
Additionally, Ant Group, the operator, has announced that international travelers who do register their ID with Alipay can now engage in single transactions as substantial as $5,000, a notable increase from the previous cap of $1,000.
These adjustments in transaction limits are in response to recent announcements by the People’s Bank of China, signaling a broader effort to facilitate financial transactions for foreign visitors.
In comparison to the previous $500 limit, this fourfold increase is expected to have a significant impact on international tourists, particularly as China aims to attract more visitors following temporary border controls implemented during the pandemic.
The decision to raise the transaction limit reflects Beijing’s ongoing initiative this year to simplify financial transactions for foreign travelers making daily purchases in a country where mobile payment has become pervasive.
Despite the widespread use of mobile payment, stringent real-name verification policies have posed challenges for foreign visitors in utilizing mobile payment services during their stay in China.
Ant Group specified that these modifications extend to foreign visitors in China who either download Alipay or utilize ten specific overseas mobile payment applications.
The initiative, known as Alipay+, facilitates users of designated mobile payment apps from Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Mongolia, Hong Kong, and Macao to seamlessly scan Alipay QR codes, enabling direct payments within China.
In early February, Deputy Governor Zhang Qingsong of the People’s Bank of China informed CNBC that foreign visitors employing Alipay or WeChat Pay would not be required to furnish ID information if their annual transaction volume remained below $500. He also mentioned the prospect of considering an increase in the $500 threshold in the future.
Alipay, operated by the Alibaba-affiliate Ant Group, stands as one of the two major mobile payment apps in China, with Tencent-owned WeChat Pay being the other widely used application. Tencent did not specify an exact figure for ID-free transactions through WeChat Pay but acknowledged that foreigners could complete certain payments without registering their ID.
In addition to the increased limit for ID-free transactions, Ant Group announced that international travelers registering their ID with Alipay can now engage in single transactions as substantial as $5,000, a noteworthy increase from the previous cap of $1,000. The annual transaction limit for those who register their IDs has been raised to $50,000, marking a fivefold increase from the previous cumulative amount of $10,000, as per Ant’s statement.
These adjustments in transaction limits align with recent announcements from the People’s Bank of China, indicating a broader effort to enhance financial convenience and accessibility for foreign visitors.
Ant Group specified that these modifications extend to foreign visitors in China who either download Alipay or utilize ten specific overseas mobile payment applications.
The initiative, known as Alipay+, facilitates users of designated mobile payment apps from Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Mongolia, Hong Kong, and Macao to seamlessly scan Alipay QR codes, enabling direct payments within China.
In early February, Deputy Governor Zhang Qingsong of the People’s Bank of China informed CNBC that foreign visitors employing Alipay or WeChat Pay would not be required to furnish ID information if their annual transaction volume remained below $500. He also mentioned the prospect of considering an increase in the $500 threshold in the future.
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