Tourist payment methods in Singapore: 2026 merchant's guide

Key takeaways:

• Singapore's top visitor markets, including China, Indonesia, and India, each arrive with distinct payment preferences that go well beyond Visa and Mastercard.

• SGQR+ and Alipay+ have simplified tourist wallet acceptance significantly, but coverage varies by provider, so merchants need to verify what their setup actually supports.

• Airwallex POS lets Singapore merchants accept major cards and wallets (including Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay) alongside local options such as Alipay and WeChat Pay, all through one terminal setup.

Tourist payment methods in Singapore go well beyond Visa and Mastercard.

Visitors from China, Indonesia, India, and other major markets often arrive with payment habits shaped by the wallets and apps they use at home, and they may expect to use those same methods while travelling.

For Singapore merchants, accepting these payment methods can make it easier for tourists to complete purchases, whether they’re shopping, dining, or paying for services.

This guide covers the most popular payment methods used by tourists in Singapore, how they work, and what you need to know before adding them to your payment setup.

Why tourist payment preferences are different from local ones

Singapore has a highly cashless payment ecosystem, but much of it is designed around how residents pay. Tourists often arrive with different payment habits, and they may not have access to the local payment methods you’re used to accepting.

Local payment methods aren’t always available to tourists

PayNow, for example, is widely used by Singapore residents but generally requires a Singapore bank account or mobile number. Most tourists won’t have either, although some Indian visitors can pay through the UPI-PayNow linkage at participating merchants.

Tourists tend to use what they already know

A visitor from China is more likely to reach for Alipay or WeChat Pay, while someone from Indonesia may expect to pay using a familiar local wallet or QR payment method. They’re unlikely to download a new app just to make a purchase while travelling.

Which tourists come to Singapore, and how do they prefer to pay?

Singapore’s biggest visitor markets include mainland China, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, and South Korea, along with Western markets such as the UK and US.

Their payment habits can vary significantly, so accepting Visa and Mastercard alone may not cover all the ways your international customers want to pay.

If you serve visitors from the US, UK, Australia, and other Western markets, standard card acceptance will cover much of your customer base. A terminal that accepts Visa, Mastercard, and contactless payments is usually enough.

The picture is different for visitors from markets such as China, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and Thailand. Many are accustomed to using local wallets or QR-based payment methods at home, so offering these options can make it easier for them to pay while travelling.

The good news is that you don't necessarily need a separate setup for every wallet.

Depending on your provider, multiple payment schemes can be accepted through a single QR or payment integration.

For example, Airwallex POS lets Singapore merchants accept major cards and wallets (including Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay) alongside local options such as Alipay and WeChat Pay for Chinese visitors and UnionPay, all through one terminal setup.

How SGQR handles tourist wallets

SGQR gives merchants one QR code for multiple payment methods, rather than requiring a separate code for each scheme.

With SGQR+, this can include international payment methods such as Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay QR, PromptPay, DuitNow, QRIS, UPI, and KakaoPay.

Note that SGQR doesn’t automatically mean you accept every wallet. The payment methods available to you depend on your provider.

Before signing up, check whether your provider supports the specific LPMs your customers use, such as Alipay, WeChat Pay, QRIS, DuitNow, PromptPay, or UPI.

Alipay and WeChat Pay for Chinese visitors

China is one of Singapore’s largest sources of international visitors, making Alipay and WeChat Pay important payment options for merchants serving Chinese tourists.

The main thing to understand is that Alipay, Alipay+, and WeChat Pay are separate payment networks:

• Alipay China is the wallet used by mainland Chinese customers.

• Alipay+ connects merchants to Alipay and other participating wallets through a single integration.

• WeChat Pay is a separate wallet that needs to be enabled independently.

Airwallex POS lets you accept Alipay, WeChat Pay, and UnionPay, all through one terminal setup.

UPI for Indian visitors

India is one of Singapore’s largest visitor markets, making UPI an important payment method for merchants serving Indian tourists.

This is particularly relevant for businesses in tourist-heavy areas such as Little India, Orchard Road, and airport retail.

How UPI works for tourists in Singapore

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is India’s real-time payment system. Visitors can use apps such as BHIM, Google Pay, and PhonePe to make payments in Singapore, provided they activate UPI International before travelling.

The UPI-PayNow linkage also allows them to pay participating Singapore merchants directly from their Indian bank accounts.⁵

Why acceptance is still limited at smaller merchants

While the infrastructure is in place, not every merchant accepts UPI. Businesses need a payment provider that supports the UPI-PayNow linkage and can process UPI payments through a compatible QR code.

For larger retailers with significant tourist traffic, adding UPI may make sense. Smaller businesses may have less incentive if they see relatively few Indian customers.

If you serve a meaningful number of Indian visitors, check whether UPI is supported by your existing payment provider before adding another payment setup.

Visa and Mastercard for international visitors

For most international visitors, card acceptance remains the baseline, particularly for visitors from Western markets.

Visitors from Australia, the UK, US, and most of Europe will typically pay with Visa or Mastercard, either with a physical card or through Apple Pay or Google Pay.

If your terminal accepts contactless payments, you’re likely already well covered, with no additional wallet integration needed.

For most merchants, the priority is simply making sure your terminal accepts Visa, Mastercard, and contactless payments.

Deciding what to accept: a practical framework for merchants

You don’t need to accept every tourist wallet. The right mix depends on where you operate, who you serve, and how much customers typically spend.

Here’s a quick overview:

Once you understand your visitor mix, ask your provider which payment methods are actually enabled on your account. Don’t rely on a list of schemes that the provider supports in general, as availability can vary by merchant account and setup.

Make it easier for tourists to pay you with Airwallex

Airwallex lets merchants accept major cards and popular tourist wallets through one POS setup, including Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay, WeChat Pay, and UnionPay.

This makes it easier to cater to different visitor preferences without managing separate payment systems.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Can tourists use PayNow in Singapore?

Most international visitors cannot use PayNow. It requires a Singapore bank account or a Singapore mobile number linked to one. The exception is Indian visitors whose banks support UPI International: the UPI-PayNow linkage lets them pay at select Singapore merchants directly from their Indian bank account.

Do I need a separate terminal to accept Alipay and WeChat Pay?

No. Both can be accepted through your existing SGQR setup, provided your payment provider has enabled them on your account. Some providers support Alipay+ and WeChat Pay on the same device as your card terminal. Confirm with your provider which schemes are active, not just available.

What is Alipay+ and is it different from regular Alipay?

Alipay+ is a cross-border payment network operated by Ant International. Enabling it gives merchants access to Alipay China and up to 18 partner wallets from other markets through a single integration. Regular Alipay China only covers mainland Chinese users. For most Singapore merchants, enabling Alipay+ is more useful than enabling Alipay China alone.

How do I accept UPI payments from Indian tourists in Singapore?

You need a payment provider that supports the UPI-PayNow linkage and a QR code compatible with UPI International. Ask your provider whether UPI is active on your account. Note that Indian visitors also need to activate UPI International on their app before travelling, with a seven-day activation window.

Do Chinese tourists in Singapore prefer card or wallet payments?

It varies by visitor profile and transaction size. Younger visitors and those on leisure trips tend to default to Alipay or WeChat Pay. Business travellers and older visitors are more likely to use a UnionPay card. Accepting both covers the full range. Airwallex POS lets you accept Alipay, WeChat Pay, and UnionPay, all through one terminal setup.

Is SGQR enough to accept all tourist wallets?

SGQR is a standard, not a guarantee. Your actual coverage depends on which schemes your payment provider has enabled underneath the label. Two merchants can both display an SGQR sticker and support entirely different wallets. Always confirm with your provider which international schemes are live on your specific account.

Sources

1. unionpayintl.com/wap/en/mediaCenter/newsCenter/companyNews/3015602.shtml

2. wise.com/sg/blog/what-is-sgqr

3. businesswire.com/news/home/20250127889352/en

4. worldfirst.com/sg/blog/international-transactions/wechat-alipay-singapore

5. oxigenwallet.com/upi/upi-in-singapore