Limits & fees: where to check
Spending limits and service fees for foreign cards change. Here's where to find today's numbers.
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When you pay with a foreign card through Alipay or WeChat Pay, three things decide what you can spend and what it costs. They change from time to time, so this handbook doesn't list numbers. Here's where to look.
1. Spending limits — set by the app
Both apps set limits per payment and per year for foreign cards. Verifying your identity with your passport may raise them.
Where to check: inside the app, in its help or customer service section (search for "international card" or "limit"), or on the official Alipay and Weixin Pay websites.
2. Service fees — set by the app
Some payments with a foreign card carry a service fee, depending on the amount.
Where to check: look carefully at the confirmation screen before you pay, and at the payment details in your bill afterwards. The app's help section explains the current rules.
3. Exchange rate and foreign transaction fees — set by your bank
Your bank converts the yuan (RMB) amount into your currency and may add its own foreign transaction fee.
Where to check: your bank's website or app, before you go. Some cards charge no foreign transaction fee — worth bringing one if you have it.