ZHANG JUN, Tencent’s director of public relations, announced on Weibo on Thursday that WeChat Pay has undergone a comprehensive upgrade of its services for overseas bank card users.

Users who bind their overseas cards with WeChat Pay can now use mobile payments at the majority of merchants in China, spanning various sectors such as dining, transportation, accommodation and supermarkets. The upgrade also offers multiple payment methods, including QR code scanning, being scanned, miniprogram payments, password-free deductions, and in-app payments.

To better serve overseas users, Tencent said it has deepened its cooperation with international card organizations such as Visa, Discover Global Network (which encompasses Diners Club), JCB and Mastercard.

Meanwhile, the company has opened its WeChat Pay merchant network in various cities across the country to international cards, enabling inbound travelers to conveniently make purchases at millions of small and medium-sized merchants.

Inbound travelers can take advantage of this new feature by following two simple steps. First, they need to open a WeChat Pay account by using identification documents such as their passports, the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Home Return Permit), the Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents (Taiwan Compatriot Permit), the Residence Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, the Residence Permit for Taiwan Residents, or the Permanent Residence Card for Foreigners. Second, they need to link their overseas bank cards to their WeChat Pay account.

In a bid to support users making small and frequent transactions, WeChat Pay has introduced a beneficial offer. For card transactions with a single transaction amount of 200 yuan (US$27.98) or less, WeChat Pay will waive the transaction fees, thereby enhancing the payment experience for overseas visitors on the Chinese mainland (subject to specific instructions on the payment page).

(SD News)