WeChat Pay Guide 2026: Passport & Card Registration for China
Unlock easy payments in China! Learn how to register your passport and link international cards to WeChat Pay with this comprehensive 2026 guide.
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Unlock easy payments in China! Learn how to register your passport and link international cards to WeChat Pay with this comprehensive 2026 guide.
WeChat Pay for China
How to Register Your Passport and Link Your Card
A Complete Guide
After my first solo, spur-of-the-moment trip to China,
I completely fell for its charm,
even living in Shanghai for a month back in March...
In the first half of this year alone, I've already explored over four
Chinese cities.
So, for a traveler who visits China this often?
How do I use WeChat Pay?
In this post, I'm going to consolidate all the information
you need about how to use WeChat Pay.
For those of you planning a trip to China,
I hope this offers even a little bit of help!
01.
Shanghai 3-Night, 4-Day Itinerary Excel Share
Before we dive into how to use WeChat Pay,
I'd like to talk about the Shanghai Gaode Map guide
I distributed about a year ago.
For those traveling to China for the first time,
I held an event to distribute my personally curated Gaode Map guide.
It's still receiving a lot of love,
so I'm going to hold another redistribution event!
This file summarizes all the must-visit spots for a trip to Shanghai, China,
including popular attractions, delicious restaurants, cafes, landmarks,
and even shopping itineraries.
If you're interested, check out the post below and grab your copy :)
Gaode Map Usage Guide with over 20,000 views
⬇️Click Here to See⬇️
02.
WeChat Pay App Installation and Registration
Alright, enough with the long introduction.
From here on, I'll slowly guide you through
how to install WeChat Pay, step by step :)
First, search for the app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store,
install it, and then proceed with registration :)
03.
WeChat Pay Passport Registration
After that, you'll need to complete both passport registration and card linking
to use WeChat Pay.
It's not difficult from here on, so let's follow along closely.
Once you've completed registration, you'll see a chat screen like this,
and that's where you'll proceed with passport registration and card linking.
Please note that when using WeChat Pay,
if you don't link your card in advance,
you won't be able to use the payment service.
If you're thinking, 'I'll just register it once I get to China,'
I absolutely do not recommend that approach.
(because there's an approval review period).
Therefore, if your trip to China is confirmed,
I recommend registering for WeChat Pay in advance while you're still in your home country.
For WeChat Pay card registration,
the process is as follows:
Select 'Me' ▶︎ Pay & Services ▶︎
Wallet ▶︎ Bank cards ▶︎ Add Card
When registering a card for WeChat Pay,
you can link more than two cards, so
And if you link your Travel Wallet and an international Visa card,
you'll unlock even more convenience!
Registering your passport isn't difficult either,
but make sure you have your physical passport handy as an absolute must-have!
Select 'Me' ▶︎ Payment & Services ▶︎ Select Wallet
▶︎ Select 'id info' ▶︎ Select 'Verify Now'
Select 'id type' ▶︎ passport ▶︎ Register Passport
The steps have changed a bit since I last shared how to register your passport for WeChat Pay a year ago.
Some procedures have been updated.
Back then, I mentioned it was optional,
but now, I strongly recommend registering your passport.
Nowadays, most popular restaurants, cafes,
and even cultural and leisure facilities throughout China, often handle bookings through WeChat,
because once you've completed identity verification within WeChat Pay,
you unlock even more awesome features!
(like sending money, making reservations, or seamless integration with Dianping, a popular review app).
04.
How to Use WeChat Pay
If you've made it this far and completed your WeChat Pay registration,
it's time for the next crucial step.
It's all about how to actually use WeChat Pay!
Even if you've successfully linked your card to WeChat Pay,
it won't do you much good if you don't know the ropes...
Using WeChat Pay is actually way simpler than you might imagine.
Just tap the "Me" tab at the bottom, then click on the QR code icon.
You'll instantly see your personal QR code along with a 'Scan' option.
Hit 'Scan', and you can easily scan QR codes found in restaurants
to browse menus or even send money to friends!
As you journey through China, you'll find yourself reaching for these apps constantly.
Alipay and WeChat Pay are absolutely indispensable, especially when exploring vibrant cities like Shanghai or Beijing.
Many popular eateries around Nanjing Road East or People's Square
almost always have a waiting line you'll need to manage.
For instance, on my recent Beijing adventure,
I found myself navigating the waiting list at Siji Minfu, a renowned Peking Duck spot.
If this is your first time exploring China,
the queuing system might seem a bit daunting at first, so it's really helpful to know how it works.
05.
How to Join a Waiting List with WeChat Pay
Last year, I explained the waiting process using Hen Jiu Yi Qian, a restaurant located on Nanjing Road East, as an example.
If you're curious about that method,
take a detailed look in the post linked below :)
This time, I'll walk you through the waiting process using Beijing's Siji Minfu as our example:
In the Chat tab, click the search bar ▶︎
Search for the restaurant you want to visit
Siji Minfu
Click the Siji Minfu Channel ▶︎
Verify Branch and Party Size ▶︎
Select a Branch ▶︎
Get a Queue Number
Once you've completed these steps,
You'll see the number of waiting parties and an estimated wait time.
This isn't just for Beijing's Siji Minfu, but also popular spots like Heytea,
Chagee, Holiland, and many other popular Chinese restaurants and cafes!
You can use this for all of them, so make the most of your trip to China!
One important thing to note here is
the selection of the region and specific branch.
If you can't select a branch,
it likely only supports on-site waiting.
Make sure to check this before trying to queue on WeChat!
So today,
I've shared everything from registering your passport for WeChat Pay in China,
to tips for linking and using your card.
I hope this updated guide helps! :)
Since China is a country where cash is barely used anymore,
make sure to register for WeChat Pay well in advance!
Wishing you a wonderful trip to China!
Happy travels! See ya~!
📍 China
China
📍 Beijing
Beijing City, China
📍 Shanghai
Shanghai City, China
Yes, it is recommended to register your WeChat Pay passport and cards in Korea beforehand if your trip to China is confirmed, as there is an approval review period. If you register locally, you might not be able to use payment services immediately.
Yes, you can register two or more cards on WeChat Pay. Registering cards like Travel Wallet and international Visa cards will allow you to use it more conveniently.
Once you complete identity verification through passport registration on WeChat Pay, you can use more features such as money transfers, reservation functions, and integration with Dazhong Dianping. I recently used WeChat Pay for admission to Tangshan Theme Park as well.
In the chat tab, click the search bar and search for the restaurant you want to visit (e.g., Siji Minfu). Click on its channel, confirm the branch and number of people, then select the branch and get a queue number.
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