Alipay is part of Ant Group, a subsidiary of the world-renowned e-commerce company Alibaba. In fact, Ant Group was formerly known as Alipay before rebranding. You can use the Alipay app on both Android and iPhone with verification through your mobile number and bank card number. Once verified, you can directly perform multiple operations from your Alipay account, such as taxi booking, bill payment, and remittance.
Alipay Guide for Expatriates and Foreigners
The Alipay app is a one-stop solution for payments, collections, and transfers.

Before Registration
Before using financial applications like Alipay and WeChat Pay in China, foreigners need to verify their real name through a bank card and verify their phone number. Therefore, prepare the following before registering with the Alipay app.
- Note down your passport number and, if possible, keep a scanned copy on your phone for upload.
- Have the correct mobile number, preferably a Chinese one, for receiving verification codes.
- Keep your Chinese bank account details; a Chinese debit or credit card is necessary to transfer funds from the app.
Downloading and Installing the App
On your phone, visit the Alipay official website and download the Alipay app. Alternatively, you can download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store. Register with your official mobile number to receive an SMS with a unique verification code. Use the code to confirm your identity.
The next step is to set a password for your app; if available on your device, you can enable Touch or Face ID. Now, you can log in to your Alipay account. Remember, your phone number is your Alipay account number. Additionally, you will have a QR code similar to WeChat Pay, and you can also link your Taobao account to Alipay.
Setting Language
Go to the “Settings” page, then click on “General” options. Click on the “Language” option again and select “English” as your language. Although you set the language to English, some options will still be displayed only in Chinese.