At present, most overseas credit cards can no longer be directly bound to Alipay, which is due to regulatory changes and payment gateway adjustments; ① Use Alipay International Edition such as Alipay HK, Singapore Edition, etc. to bind local bank credit cards; ② Recharge to Alipay accounts through third-party platforms; ③ Borrow the Chinese Alipay account of relatives and friends for funds transfer; despite the low success rate, you can still try to manually enter wild card information in the Alipay App by adding bank card options; some virtual prepaid cards such as Wise cards may be valid, and it is more convenient to use local SIM cards to bind wallets when in China.

Adding a foreign credit card to Alipay used to be more straightforward, but now it's become trickier—especially if you're not in China or don't have a local Chinese bank account. Here's what works based on on current options and user experiences.

Can You Still Link a Foreign Credit Card Directly?

Not really. As of recent updates, Alipay no longer supports direct linking of most foreign credit cards for regular users outside mainland China. This is mainly due to regulatory changes and payment gateway adjustments. Even if you try adding one, the system often rejects it unless you meet very specific conditions (like having an international account or using certain banks).

What Are the Realistic Options?

If your goal is to use a foreign credit card with Alipay, here are the most practical paths:

• Use Alipay HK, Singapore, or other regional versions : These support linking credit cards from local banks in those regions.
• Top up your Alipay balance through a third-party platform : Some services let you pay with a foreign card to top up your Alipay wallet.
• Use a friend or family member's Chinese Alipay account : They can add the card and transfer funds back to you digitally.

How to Try Adding a Foreign Card (Just in Case)

Even though success rates are low, some users still want to give it a shot. Here's how the process used to go:

1. Open the Alipay app.
2. Go to “My” > “Payment Methods” > “Add Bank Card.”
3. Enter your credit card details manually.
4. Confirm ownership via SMS or email.

In many cases, especially with US, European, or non-Chinese issued cards, this will fail at step 3 or 4.

A Few Things People Often Miss

One thing a lot of people don't realize: some virtual prepaid cards actually work , especially ones registered under Chinese financial partners. For example, Wise (formerly TransferWise) cards have worked for some users, though results vary.

Also, if you're traveling in China and trying to use Alipay, consider getting a local SIM card and temporarily linking it to a digital wallet like WeChat Pay or Alipay. That might be easier than fighting with foreign cards.

So yeah, directly adding a foreign credit card to Alipay isn't as simple as it once was. There are workarounds, but they take a little extra effort. If you're outside China, check which regional version of Alipay you qualify for—it might save you time.

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