How to use Alipay in Malaysia: 2026 guide & walkthrough

Key takeaways:

• Malaysians can use Alipay to pay at local participating merchants in Malaysia, shop on Chinese eCommerce platforms like Taobao, or travel within China.

• You can register with a Malaysian mobile number and link your local debit or credit card without needing a Chinese bank account.

• While consumers use the app to pay, Malaysian business owners can use Airwallex to accept Alipay payments from customers and settle in multiple currencies.

Alipay has over a billion users in China — and it's now widely accepted across Malaysia, from major retail chains to hawker stalls that display a DuitNow QR code. Whether you want to shop on Taobao or pay your way through a trip to China, setting up Alipay as a Malaysian user is straightforward.

For business owners, the opportunity is just as real: Chinese tourists are spending more in Malaysia than ever, and accepting Alipay is one of the most direct ways to capture that spend.

We'll show you how to get started as a consumer, and how Airwallex can help your business accept Alipay payments and settle in multiple currencies.

How to set up Alipay in Malaysia: step by step

Setting up Alipay from Malaysia takes around 10 to 15 minutes.

Before you begin, have your Malaysian passport and a local debit or credit card ready — Visa and Mastercard have the broadest compatibility, but Alipay also supports JCB, Discover, Diners Club, and UnionPay.

Step 1: Download the app and register

Download the Alipay app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. When you open it for the first time, select "International User" during registration. Enter your Malaysian mobile number and input the SMS verification code you receive to create your account.

Step 2: Verify your identity with your passport

To unlock payment features, go to your account settings and select "Identity Verification." Upload a clear, well-lit photo of your passport's information page, then complete a facial recognition scan by following the on-screen prompts.

Step 3: Scan your passport chip via NFC (if prompted)

Some users are asked to complete an additional NFC scan, but not everyone. If you are, enable NFC in your phone's settings (under "Connections" on most Android devices; on by default on iPhone). Hold the top of your phone against the back cover of your passport and keep it steady until the progress bar reaches 100%.

If your phone doesn't support NFC and you're prompted to complete this step, try a different device or contact Alipay support for an alternative.

Step 4: Link your Malaysian bank card

Go to "Bank Cards" and tap "Add Card." Enter your card number, expiry date, and CVV, then set a six-digit payment password for authorising transactions.

Note: Most Malaysian banks require you to enable "Overseas Transactions" or "Online Purchases" in your banking app before the card can be linked. If your card gets declined, check that setting first — or call your bank to confirm it's cleared for use with international digital wallets.

How to pay with Alipay in-store and online

Once your account is verified and your card is linked, you're ready to pay. Depending on where you're shopping, you'll use one of three methods: in-store via QR code, scanning a merchant's code yourself, or paying at online checkout.

Method 1: Show your QR code for the merchant to scan

This is the most common method in major retail stores, supermarkets, and restaurants. Here’s how it works:

• Step 1: Open the Alipay app and tap the "Pay/Collect" icon on the home screen.

• Step 2: Your personal payment QR code will appear.

• Step 3: Present this code to the cashier, who will scan it with their handheld device.

• Step 4: For larger amounts, you may be asked to enter your six-digit password or use face or fingerprint authentication.

Method 2: Scan the merchant’s QR code

This method is more common at cafes, food stalls, and smaller shops. Tap the "Scan" icon in the top left corner of the app and point your camera at the merchant's code. There are two types you'll encounter in Malaysia:

• The pink DuitNow QR code: Used by the vast majority of Malaysian merchants — the same code you'd scan with Touch 'n Go or MAE. Scan it, enter the amount in MYR, and authorise with your password or biometrics.

• The blue Alipay QR code: Displayed by merchants who have specifically registered with Alipay or Alipay+, often in malls or areas with high Chinese tourist foot traffic. The app usually pre-fills the merchant name automatically.

Method 3: Pay online at checkout

Alipay is a primary payment method for major Chinese eCommerce sites like Taobao and 1688, which are popular with Malaysian shoppers. Here’s how to pay online with Alipay:

• Step 1: Select Alipay at checkout.

• Step 2: If you're on desktop, scan the QR code that appears on your screen using your phone's Alipay app. If you're on mobile, the browser will open the app directly.

• Step 3: Review the payment details and tap "Pay Now." The merchant's site will confirm your order once payment goes through.

Fees, exchange rates, and limits for Malaysians

Knowing your fees before you tap to pay helps you avoid surprises at the checkout. Here's the actual breakdown of what it costs to use Alipay in Malaysia right now.

Alipay Transaction Fees

When you use your Alipay app to pay at a shop in Malaysia, you generally pay no extra service fees.

If you're using your linked Malaysian card to pay a merchant in China, the following fees apply:

Alipay exchange rates

When you pay in CNY using a linked Malaysian card, Alipay converts the amount in real time using rates set by its partner financial institutions. These typically include a small markup over the mid-market rate you'd see on Google — but you'll see the exact MYR equivalent on the payment confirmation screen before you authorise anything.

Alipay transaction limits

For security reasons and to comply with international regulations, Alipay sets caps on how much you can spend. Your spending limits depend on whether you've completed identity verification²:

Here are the transaction limits for verified users:

• Single transaction limit: Up to US$5,000

• Annual spending limit: Up to US$50,000

Here are the transaction limits for unverified users:

• Annual spending limit: Up to US$2,000

TourCard vs linking your Malaysian card: What's the difference?

If you plan to use Alipay in China, the default option is to link your Malaysian bank card directly and pay from it each time you transact. As mentioned earlier, there’s a 3% surcharge that applies to any single transaction above 200 CNY — below that, it's free.

TourCard is a prepaid balance you top up inside the app before your trip. It exists mainly as a backup, and it’s useful if your card linking fails or keeps getting blocked by your bank's fraud detection. The trade-off is a 5% top-up fee each time you add funds, with a cap of 10,000 CNY over any 180-day period³. Unless you run into card linking issues, you won't need TourCard.

For Malaysian businesses: Accept Alipay payments with Airwallex

Chinese tourists are one of Malaysia's most valuable visitor segments, and they almost exclusively pay by mobile QR. For Malaysian businesses who want to serve Chinese customers, accepting Alipay is a must-have.

The opportunity for Malaysian merchants

Over 80% of cross-border QR payments in Malaysia come through Alipay+, and Malaysian merchants who started accepting it saw revenue from Chinese customers grow 6x in December 2024 compared to a year earlier⁴.

Plus, the Malaysian government is targeting 35.6 million tourist arrivals under the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. This creates even more opportunities for merchants to earn more from international visitors.

Who benefits most from accepting Alipay?

The clearest wins are for hotels, restaurants, retail shops, tour operators, and eCommerce sellers who already see Chinese customers or want to attract them. If your business is in travel, hospitality, F&B, or retail, and you're not yet accepting Alipay, you're likely leaving money on the table every time a Chinese tourist walks in.

But you don't need to be in those industries to benefit — the opportunity extends beyond tourists. The number of Chinese nationals relocating to Malaysia has nearly doubled in the past three years⁵, and they now make up 45% of all MM2H applicants⁶. Any business that takes payments from Chinese customers can gain from offering a payment method they're already comfortable with.

Why use Airwallex to accept Alipay

Airwallex lets Malaysian businesses accept Alipay payments without setting up a legal entity in China. When a Chinese customer pays you in CNY, you can hold that CNY in your Airwallex account or convert it to MYR whenever you’re ready.

Holding CNY is especially useful if you have suppliers or vendors in China. Without this, you'd have to settle incoming CNY into MYR, pay FX fees on the conversion, then turn around and convert MYR back to CNY to pay your suppliers — paying FX fees a second time.

With Airwallex, you hold the CNY and pay your suppliers directly from it, skipping both conversions. When you do need to convert, you get competitive exchange rates that let you save up to 80% on FX fees.

Integration options

Airwallex supports multiple ways to integrate Alipay acceptance, depending on how your business operates:

• Checkout: A customisable payment interface you can embed in your website or app, supporting Alipay alongside other payment methods.

• Payment Plugins: Pre-built integrations for Shopify, WooCommerce, and other major eCommerce platforms — no developer needed.

• Payment Links: Generate a link and send it to customers via email, WhatsApp, or social media. No technical setup required.

• APIs: Full custom integration for developers who need complete control over the payment flow or are building Alipay into more complex systems.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Can I register Alipay using only my Malaysian phone number and passport?

Yes, select "International User" during registration, verify your number via SMS, and use your passport for identity verification. You don't need any Chinese documents or a Chinese bank account.

Do I need a phone with NFC capability to verify my passport?

Only if you're prompted to scan your passport chip — and not all users are. If NFC scanning is required but your phone doesn't support it, try a different device or contact Alipay support for an alternative.

Why does my Malaysian bank card keep getting declined when I try to link it to Alipay?

The most common causes are: your bank hasn't enabled overseas or online transactions on your card, your card type isn't supported (Visa or Mastercard are your safest options), or you haven't completed identity verification. Check your banking app settings first, then call your bank if the issue persists.

What's the difference between using TourCard balance and paying with my linked Malaysian card?

Your linked card is the default — it charges directly to your Malaysian account per transaction, with a 3% surcharge on amounts above 200 CNY. TourCard is a prepaid backup: you load CNY in advance at a 5% top-up fee and spend from that balance. Most travellers won't need TourCard unless their card linking fails.

Does Alipay show me the exchange rate before I confirm a payment?

Yes, the payment confirmation screen shows you both the CNY amount and the MYR equivalent before you enter your password. What you see is what you pay.

Can my Malaysian business accept Alipay payments without setting up a company in China?

Yes, Airwallex handles the cross-border connection to Alipay's network, so you can accept CNY payments and receive funds in Malaysia without any Chinese legal entity.

How long do Alipay refunds take to appear in my account?

Refunds go back to your original payment method — your TourCard balance or your linked Malaysian card. Timing varies by merchant; check with the seller or Alipay's in-app support for an estimate.

Can I use Alipay to pay suppliers in China for my business purchases?

 Yes, but not through a standard consumer Alipay account, because those aren't built for business-to-business transactions. Instead, use Airwallex: you can hold CNY collected from your Alipay sales and pay suppliers directly from that balance, avoiding double FX conversions. It also supports batch payments, payment scheduling, and transaction records for accounting purposes.

Sources:

1. https://english.bjchy.gov.cn/overseas-bank-cards-accepted-weixin-pay-and-alipay

2. https://english.beijing.gov.cn/specials/paymentservices/news/202404/t20240429_3645653.html

3. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://wildchina.com/2025/10/guide-to-using-alipay-2025/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1772527044441674&usg=AOvVaw1f6Pg5fVPuuECOUP80YxpG

4. https://www.alipayplus.com/news/detail/alipayplus-empowers-new-growth-opportunities-for-malaysian-smes-contributing-more-than-80-percent-of-inbound-qr-payments-via-duitnow/

5. https://www.malaysianow.com/news/2024/08/06/sharp-rise-in-chinese-emigration-to-malaysia-since-2022-says-report

6. https://www.livinmalaysia.com/post/why-more-chinese-citizens-are-moving-to-malaysia-in-2025

This publication does not constitute legal, tax, or professional advice from Airwallex nor substitute seeking such advice, and makes no express or implied representations / warranties / guarantees regarding content accuracy, completeness, or currency. If you would like to request an update, feel free to contact us at [[email protected]]. Airwallex (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd is licensed in Malaysia as a MSB Class B (remittance business only) licensee and is regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia (licence number 00318).