【Payment Apps】How Foreigners Can Use UnionPay

Alipay and WeChat Pay are the most well-known mobile payment methods in China.

However, for expats in China, installing the “UnionPay” app provided by China UnionPay is a smart move. Besides Alipay and WeChat Pay, it can be a real lifesaver in those “just-in-case” moments.

* Information as of March 2026.

Prerequisites: When expats use Alipay or WeChat Pay for payments

Payments in Mainland China

In daily life and work scenarios within Mainland China, as long as expats link a credit card or a local Chinese bank account to Alipay or WeChat Pay and verify their identity with a passport and phone number, they can use these apps for everyday QR code payments as well as public transportation, such as subways and buses.

Payments in Hong Kong SAR & Macau SAR

However, when expats travel to Hong Kong SAR or Macau SAR, China and try to use Alipay or WeChat Pay for QR code payments on public transport, they will encounter an “Error.”

This involves the “Cross-border Travel” (境外出行) or “Transport Code” (乘车码) features, which are currently restricted to accounts verified with a Mainland Chinese ID card.

As a result, expats without a Mainland Chinese ID are ineligible for these specific transit features.

When foreigners use Alipay ＆ WeChat Pay for public transportation in Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR

Alipay Error Details

When attempting to set up “Cross-border Travel (境外出行)” in Alipay for travel to Hong Kong SAR or Macau SAR, the app automatically switches to “Alipay+” and then an error occurs.

WeChat Pay Error Details

When attempting to change the region settings in WeChat Pay’s mini-program “Transport Code (乘车码)”　for travel to Hong Kong SAR or Macau SAR, an error occurs.

This is Where the “UnionPay” (Yunshanfu) App Shines

This is where the “UnionPay” (Yunshanfu) app provided by China UnionPay steps in.

If foreigners use the QR code payment function of the UnionPay app, they can use public transportation (such as subways and buses) in Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR without needing to carry cash or prepaid cards.

Download via App Stores

The UnionPay app is available for download on major platforms, including Apple Store, Google Play, and HUAWEI AppGallery.

In terms of verification, UnionPay allows you to link not only Mainland Chinese bank accounts but also international credit cards.

Additionally, the app supports multiple languages, including English and Japanese, making the interface and setup process very user-friendly for international travelers and expats.

Summary

For foreigners who want to complete their travel across Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, and Macau SAR using only QR code payments on their smartphones, installing UnionPay in addition to Alipay and WeChat Pay can be extremely useful in case of emergency.

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