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On December 18, the Chinese government website published a response to the issue of limited locations for foreigners to directly use their overseas credit cards for transactions in China.
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A netizen from Beijing raised the concern that foreigners still face spending limits when using their cards in China, and that there are few places where they can directly swipe their cards. This restriction affects the spending willingness of foreign tourists and hampers the high-quality development of the domestic consumption market. The netizen strongly suggested relaxing or even eliminating the spending limits on foreign credit cards in China, as well as accelerating the expansion of locations where foreign cards can be used, to promote high-quality consumption growth.In response, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) clarified that there are no spending limits on foreign credit cards in China. Regarding the issue of where foreign cards can be used, SAFE, in collaboration with the People's Bank of China, has been working to optimize payment convenience for foreigners since 2024. The approach follows the "credit cards for larger transactions, scan codes for smaller ones, and resort to cash if needed" model, which has yielded positive results.Currently, foreign nationals can use their overseas credit cards at key locations such as airports, hotels, and large shopping centers via POS machines. Additionally, POS machines have been installed at tourist attractions and major subway stations. Foreigners can also register their overseas phone numbers to use WeChat and Alipay, bind their foreign bank cards for payments, or directly use their overseas e-wallets to scan QR codes, further facilitating the experience for foreigners visiting China temporarily or living and working long-term.SAFE added that it will continue to improve payment and currency exchange convenience for foreign nationals in China. They thanked the public for their attention and support regarding foreign exchange management policies. (State Administration of Foreign Exchange, International Balance of Payments Division)![]()
