Step-by-Step: Getting Your SIM
- Find a Carrier Store
Go to an official carrier store (营业厅, yíngyètīng) — not a third-party phone shop. Official stores are required to register foreign passports. Look for the carrier's logo — stores are located in shopping malls, main streets, and near train stations. Avoid small phone accessory shops — they often can't register foreign passports.
- Tell Them What You Need
Say: "我要办一张手机卡" (Wǒ yào bàn yī zhāng shǒujī kǎ) — "I want to get a SIM card". Or simply show them your passport and say "foreigner SIM."
- Choose a Plan
Common starter plans for foreigners: tourist/short-term 10-30GB at ¥50-100/month; standard monthly 30-100GB at ¥79-129/month; long-term (12 months) 100GB+ at ¥49-99/month. Ask for a plan with at least 30GB data if you'll use maps, WeChat, and streaming regularly.
- Register with Your Passport
The staff will scan your passport, take a photo of you (facial recognition registration), enter your details into their system, and activate the SIM. This is a legal requirement in China — all SIM cards must be registered to a real identity.
- Test It
Before leaving the store: make sure you have signal, send a test SMS, confirm data is working (open a browser), and note your new phone number (ask staff to write it down).
よくある質問
Can I use my home country number instead?
For initial setup of WeChat and Alipay, yes. But for ongoing verification, bank accounts, and full app functionality, a Chinese number is effectively required.
How long does registration take?
20-30 minutes at the store, including waiting time.
Can I get a SIM at the airport?
Yes — all major international airports have carrier stores in the arrivals hall. Convenient but sometimes slightly more expensive. Good option if you need connectivity immediately.
Do I need a Chinese bank account to pay for the plan?
No. You can pay cash at the store, or use Alipay/WeChat linked to an international card.
What happens to my number when my visa expires?
The SIM stays active as long as you top it up. Your number isn't tied to your visa status — only to your passport registration.
How do I get a Chinese phone number for WeChat specifically?
WeChat doesn't need a special number — any +86 SIM works, and you can even register with your home number (WeChat's sign-up accepts any country code). What you're really choosing is the type of number: a passport-registered physical SIM (best, requires being in China), an HK-carrier eSIM add-on, or a virtual number (riskiest — WeChat's own block-reasons page lists virtual-number registrations). Full comparison in Chinese Phone Number for WeChat above; the 5-step binding flow closes that section.
Will WeChat ban me for using a virtual Chinese number?
It's an official, documented risk: WeChat's help center lists "using a virtual phone number to register" (Skype In, Google Voice, Nexmo, and similar) among the reasons accounts get blocked, and virtual-operator numbers cannot be used to unblock an account. Real-SIM-backed rental numbers mostly deliver codes fine, but registration success is hit-or-miss, and recycled pool numbers carry account-takeover risk. The safe pattern: register with your real home number, and use a private long-term number only for receiving codes.
Can I get a Chinese phone number without visiting China?
Generally no. Real-name rules require in-person passport registration at a carrier store, so a true +86 number needs a store visit inside China. What you can get from abroad is a data-only travel eSIM (see our eSIM for China guide) — useful for maps and messaging on arrival, but it won't receive Chinese SMS verification codes. For that specific OTP problem, the workarounds that do exist from abroad (HK carrier add-on numbers, passport-registered virtual numbers) are covered in our Chinese phone number for verification guide.
What does a Chinese phone number look like?
Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits starting with 1 (13x, 15x, 17x, 18x, 19x…), written like 138 0013 8000. The country code is +86, so the international format is +86 138 0013 8000 — the 11 digits stay the same after +86. Landlines use area codes instead (Beijing 010, Shanghai 021, Wuhan 027) plus 7–8 local digits; in international format the leading 0 is dropped, e.g. +86 27 8888 8888 for Wuhan. When a Chinese app asks for your number, enter just the 11 digits without the +86.
Do I need a Chinese phone number for DiDi, Taobao, or Meituan?
DiDi — no: the international DiDi app registers with your home number and takes foreign cards. Taobao — no for registration: overseas numbers work, and you pay through Alipay with an international card. Meituan is the exception: the standalone app effectively wants +86 (the country-code picker is undocumented and unreliable), so use the Meituan mini-program inside WeChat or Alipay instead — no separate registration needed. Full comparison in Which apps need a Chinese number.
How do I receive Chinese SMS verification codes when I'm outside China?
Three options, best first: roam on your +86 SIM (enable international roaming before leaving; receiving texts abroad is free or near-free on most plans — keep the SIM topped up), add an eSIM with a +86 number (HK carriers like CUniq or 3HK, around HK$19/month, fully online), or use a virtual-number service (works, but pool numbers get recycled and WeChat officially flags virtual registrations — receiving-only, never for main accounts). Compared in Receiving SMS overseas.
Quick Summary: A Chinese phone number (registered SIM card) is the foundation of daily life in China. You need it to verify WeChat, Alipay, bank accounts, delivery apps, and almost every Chinese service. Get one at any carrier store with your passport — takes 20-30 minutes and costs ¥50-150 (~$7-21) for a starter plan.
Your +86 number is the identity key for nearly everything online in China — the Chinese Internet Survival Guide explains how it connects to eSIMs, wallets, and app verification.
Why You Need a Chinese Phone Number
A Chinese number matters because SIM cards in China are registered to a verified real identity — which makes your number the identity anchor for almost everything else online. The full system (and what your passport unlocks at each tier) is covered in Real-Name Verification in China.
A Chinese phone number isn’t just for calls. It’s the verification backbone for nearly every app and service in China — but “requires a Chinese number” is true for far fewer apps than most guides claim. Registration rules loosened across 2023-2025: your home number, your passport, and one international card now cover most of the daily stack, while a +86 number remains genuinely necessary for bank accounts, the standalone Meituan app, and anything where you need to receive money or verification codes long-term. The app-by-app verdict is the decision table right below. (Stuck on a verification code right now, with no way to get one? We have a dedicated guide to receiving Chinese SMS verification codes (OTP) without a +86 SIM.)
Which Apps Need a Chinese Number? (Decision Table)
| App | Register with your home number? | What passport + international card gets you | Where +86 genuinely matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| ✅ Yes — any country code registers | WeChat Pay with a linked Visa/Mastercard (¥5,000 per transaction, ¥50,000 per year) | Receiving transfers from locals, some mini-programs, in-country account recovery — full detail in the WeChat guide | |
| Alipay | ✅ Yes — overseas numbers register normally | Full QR payments after passport verification; foreign Visa/Mastercard/Amex/JCB accepted | Wallet features tied to a mainland bank account — Alipay guide |
| DiDi (ride-hailing) | ✅ Yes — via the international DiDi app | Foreign cards accepted in-app: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Discover | Rarely — the Chinese-language app assumes +86, but you don’t need it — DiDi guide |
| Taobao | ✅ Yes — pick your country code at sign-up | Checkout runs through Alipay with your linked international card | Not for registration; a +86 number mainly helps with delivery calls — Taobao guide |
| Meituan (food delivery) | ⚠️ Hit-or-miss — the country-code picker exists, but SMS delivery is inconsistent and undocumented | Pay through the WeChat Pay/Alipay wallet inside Meituan | Effectively yes for the standalone app — or skip Meituan registration entirely via the WeChat/Alipay mini-program — Meituan guide |
| 12306 (train tickets) | ✅ Yes — the English site and app are built for overseas users | A passport is the only ID document you need; pay with an international card | Never — the +86 assumption lives only in the Chinese-language app — train tickets without a +86 number |
The one row missing from that table is the hard requirement: Chinese bank accounts, and anything that rides on a mainland wallet at full functionality, still anchor to a +86 number registered to your passport (see Phone first, then bank below).
Rule of thumb: on a short trip, your home number + passport + one international card covers roughly 90% of daily use. Living in China, get the SIM — banking, standalone Meituan, and reliable long-term verification all assume it.
The Three Main Carriers
| Carrier | Chinese Name | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| China Mobile | 中国移动 | Largest network, best rural coverage |
| China Unicom | 中国联通 | Good 5G, popular in cities, some English support |
| China Telecom | 中国电信 | Strong in southern China, competitive data plans |
For most foreigners in major cities, any carrier works fine. China Unicom tends to have slightly more English-friendly service.
Official China Mobile logo: look for the blue emblem and “China Mobile” branding.
Official China Unicom logo: look for the red Chinese knot emblem and “China unicom” branding.
Official China Telecom logo: look for the blue emblem and “CHINA TELECOM” branding.
What You Need
- Passport (original, not a copy)
- No visa needed — official guides (gov.cn, MIIT local bureaus) list the passport or permanent-resident ID as the only accepted documents, so visa-free entries and 240-hour transit visitors register a SIM the same way as visa holders
- Cash or WeChat/Alipay for payment
- Your phone (to test the SIM immediately)
Note: Some carriers may also ask for a photo. Stores have cameras on-site if needed.
Step-by-Step: Getting Your SIM
Step 1: Find a Carrier Store
Go to an official carrier store (营业厅, yíngyètīng) — not a third-party phone shop. Official stores are required to register foreign passports.
- Look for the carrier’s logo (China Mobile is blue, Unicom is red, Telecom is blue/green)
- Located in shopping malls, main streets, and near train stations
- Avoid small phone accessory shops — they often can’t register foreign passports
Find your nearest official store online: China Mobile runs an official English-language store locator, Chinamobile Nearbyshop — search by province, city, and keyword; results list each business hall’s English address, opening hours, and phone number (a Chinese-language version is also available). China Mobile also publishes an official bilingual SIM card guide for foreigners with a store finder and online appointment booking. China Unicom and China Telecom have no public web store locator — search 营业厅 (carrier store) in Amap or Baidu Maps, or call Unicom (10010) / Telecom (10000) for the nearest branch.
Step 2: Tell Them What You Need
Say: “我要办一张手机卡” (Wǒ yào bàn yī zhāng shǒujī kǎ) — “I want to get a SIM card”
Or simply show them your passport and say “foreigner SIM.”
Step 3: Choose a Plan
Common starter plans for foreigners:
| Plan Type | Data | Calls | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist / short-term | 10-30GB | Limited | ¥50-100/month |
| Standard monthly | 30-100GB | Included | ¥79-129/month |
| Long-term (12 months) | 100GB+ | Included | ¥49-99/month |
Ask for a plan with at least 30GB data if you’ll use maps, WeChat, and streaming regularly.
Step 4: Register with Your Passport
The staff will:
- Scan your passport
- Take a photo of you (facial recognition registration)
- Enter your details into their system
- Activate the SIM
This is a legal requirement in China — all SIM cards must be registered to a real identity.
Step 5: Test It
Before leaving the store:
- Make sure you have signal
- Send a test SMS
- Confirm data is working (open a browser)
- Note your new phone number (ask staff to write it down)
Chinese Phone Number for WeChat: What You Need and Which Type to Get
This is the question people actually search for — and the honest answer has two layers: WeChat itself does not require a Chinese number at all, but several things around WeChat work much better with one. Here’s the full decision, verified against WeChat’s official help center (September 2026).
What WeChat Actually Requires: Registration vs Full Features
| Layer | What already works | What a +86 number adds |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Any country’s mobile number — WeChat’s official sign-up flow has you “select your country/region code, enter your mobile number.” One catch: the code may arrive as an automated voice call, so make sure international calls aren’t blocked on your phone | Domestic-registered accounts get some mini-programs and domestic features more easily |
| WeChat Pay (basic) | Works with a foreign number plus an international Visa/Mastercard since 2023 (card limits ¥5,000 per transaction, ¥50,000 per year) | Higher limits and wallet features tied to a Chinese bank account |
| Full domestic experience | — | Receiving transfers from locals, some mini-programs, smoother account recovery inside China |
So if you only need WeChat for chatting on a short trip, your home number is genuinely enough — register before you fly with our step-by-step WeChat registration walkthrough. If you’ll live, work, receive money, or rely on mini-programs in China, a +86 number earns its keep.
Two Real-Name Rules, Clarified (Your SIM ≠ Your WeChat)
People confuse these constantly, and number sellers exploit the confusion:
- Rule 1 — SIM real-name registration. Every Chinese SIM (physical, or the +86 add-ons below) must be registered to a real identity — for foreigners, your passport at a carrier store, the process this guide walks through. This is what makes the number legal.
- Rule 2 — WeChat Pay real-name authentication. WeChat runs its own, separate identity check. Per WeChat’s official help center, “WeChat Pay requires real-name authentication for all users” — foreigners verify with a passport (name exactly as printed), plus phone number, address, occupation, an ID photo and a face photo. Until you complete it, payments stay frozen.
The practical takeaway: a “real-name registered” number does not verify your WeChat account. A number rented from a provider’s “compliant real-SIM pool” satisfies Rule 1 for the seller’s SIM card — it does nothing for Rule 2, which only your own passport can satisfy. And in the other direction: completing WeChat’s identity check doesn’t require your number to be +86 at all.
Four Ways to Have a “Chinese Number” for WeChat, Compared
| Number type | Register/bind WeChat? | WeChat Pay impact | Ban & recycling risk | Account recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical +86 SIM (passport, bought in China) | ✅ Unambiguous | Full domestic stack, including bank-linked wallet | Lowest — you hold the real-name registration; number is recycled only after ~3 months with no top-up (see keeping it active) | Strong: any carrier store reissues the SIM against your passport |
| HK-carrier eSIM with +86 add-on (CUniq, 3HK) | ✅ Genuine carrier line | Codes and Pay work, but official terms say acceptance by banks and apps “depends on the respective service providers” | Low-medium — a real carrier number, but mainland real-name approval isn’t guaranteed and availability has shifted over time | Medium — tied to your HK carrier account staying active |
| Virtual +86 number (real-SIM pools, rented) | ⚠️ Hit-or-miss for registration | Codes arrive, but no identity value — no number unlocks Pay features without WeChat’s own verification | Highest — WeChat’s official block-reasons page lists “using a virtual phone number to register” (Skype In, Google Voice, Nexmo…), and pool numbers get burned and recycled | Blocked by design — virtual-operator numbers “cannot be used for unblocking WeChat accounts” |
| Your home-country number | ✅ Officially supported | International-card wallet since 2023 | None from WeChat itself — the risk is losing the SIM | Strong if you keep the SIM: unblocking requires a number with the same country code you registered with |
The recycling column is not theoretical. Chinese carriers freeze a canceled number for about 90 days, then re-release it to a new user — and Shanghai’s government portal explicitly warns that the new owner can reach “Alipay, WeChat, and even bank accounts” through your old SMS codes. One r/chinalife user came back to a WeChat notice reading: “The mobile number +86… has been linked to another Weixin account and unlinked from your current account.” If you ever cancel a number, unbind it from WeChat first (Me → Settings → Account Security); your carrier’s service center can tell you which platforms still have it on file.
For receiving verification codes without any +86 SIM — the HK add-ons and passport-registered virtual numbers compared in depth — see our guide to receiving Chinese SMS verification codes (OTP) without a +86 SIM. For the eSIM route specifically (3HK at HK$19/month, CUniq terms and catches), see China eSIM with Phone Number.
Which Number Should You Get? (By Situation)
- Overseas, just chatting on WeChat before a trip → your home number. Register before departure, keep that SIM active for two-factor codes, done.
- You need to send and receive money in WeChat → plan for +86. Before arrival, a China eSIM with Phone Number add-on gets you a genuine carrier number you can manage fully online; once in China, upgrade to the physical SIM below.
- Already in China → get the passport-registered physical SIM (steps above — it’s the only option with zero acceptance ambiguity), then bind it in five steps:
Bind Your Number to WeChat (5 Steps)
- Open WeChat → Me → Settings → Account Security
- Tap Phone Number → Change Phone Number
- Enter your new Chinese number
- Verify via SMS code
- Done — your account is now linked to a Chinese number
Why this matters: a Chinese number on WeChat unlocks receiving money transfers, full access to mini-programs, higher WeChat Pay limits, and in-country account recovery. Keep it alive with a retention plan (¥8-29/month) when you leave — or unbind it before the number gets recycled.
Linking Your Number to Alipay
- Open Alipay → Me → Settings → Account & Security
- Tap Phone Number → Change
- Enter your Chinese number
- Verify via SMS
- Done
Keeping Your Number Active
Chinese SIM cards are deactivated if unused for too long:
| Carrier | Inactivity Deactivation Period |
|---|---|
| China Mobile | 3 months no top-up |
| China Unicom | 3 months no top-up |
| China Telecom | 3 months no top-up |
If you leave China temporarily:
- Keep a small monthly plan active (¥8-29/month minimum plans exist)
- Top up remotely via Alipay or carrier apps
- Or accept that you’ll need a new number when you return
Receiving SMS Verification Codes When You’re Outside China
Whether you need a +86 number at all is the decision table above; this section is the mirror problem — you already have a Chinese number, you’ve left China, and WeChat, Alipay, or your bank keeps sending login codes to it. Three ways to keep receiving them:
| Option | How it works | Typical cost | Reliability | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roaming on your +86 SIM | Enable international roaming before you leave (carrier app, or 10086/10010/10000), keep the SIM in your phone — run data on a travel eSIM in the other slot | Receiving SMS is free or near-free on most carrier plans; roaming calls and data cost extra — verify your plan before departure | Highest — texts arrive to your real number like normal | The number dies silently if you forget top-ups — see keeping it active |
| eSIM with a +86 number add-on (CUniq, 3HK) | A genuine carrier number managed entirely online; codes arrive over data, no physical SIM in your phone | Around HK$19/month for 3HK’s add-on; CUniq pricing varies | High for SMS — it’s a real carrier line | Official terms note that acceptance by banks and apps “depends on the respective service providers”; availability has shifted over time |
| Virtual number services | Receive codes through a web/app service that owns SIMs in a pool — no SIM of your own | Roughly US$3-10/month, varies widely by provider | Medium — works until the pool number gets burned and recycled | Highest: WeChat’s block-reasons page lists virtual-number registration, and recycled numbers expose your accounts to takeover |
How to choose: still hold an active +86 SIM → use roaming, and switch it on before you fly (activating from abroad without the SIM in hand is the classic trap). Leaving long-term, or the SIM is heading for deactivation → move your number to an HK-carrier eSIM add-on before canceling anything. Virtual numbers → receiving-only, throwaway accounts at most; never bind a main WeChat or bank login to one.
For the deep versions of the two workarounds — passport-registered virtual numbers compared provider by provider, and the HK eSIM add-ons with their catches — see receiving Chinese SMS verification codes without a +86 SIM and China eSIM with phone number.
Porting Your Number
If you want to switch carriers but keep your number (号码携带, hàomǎ xiédài):
- Check eligibility: must have had the number for 90+ days
- Visit your new carrier’s store
- Bring passport and current SIM
- Process takes 1-3 business days
Troubleshooting
Store Refuses to Register Foreign Passport
- Try a different branch of the same carrier
- Try a different carrier
- Some smaller towns have less experience with foreign passports — larger city stores are more reliable
SIM Not Activating
- Wait 30-60 minutes after registration
- Restart your phone
- Contact carrier customer service: China Mobile 10086, Unicom 10010, Telecom 10000
Lost Your Number
If you lose your SIM or forget your number:
- Visit any carrier store with your passport
- They can look up your registered number and issue a replacement SIM
New Arrival? Phone First, Then Bank
If you’ve just arrived and are working through setup paperwork, the order matters: get your SIM first, then open a bank account.
- Your Chinese number is the dependency for everything else — bank accounts require a local mobile number for SMS verification and alerts, WeChat Pay binds to it, and delivery/ride apps assume one.
- SIM registration itself only needs your passport (that’s the real-name requirement — no Chinese address or residence permit needed for standard prepaid plans). A few branches may ask for additional proof for certain contract plans, but prepaid tourist-and-student plans are passport-only. Real-name rules for phone subscriptions are set by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (miit.gov.cn) — carriers implement them at the point of sale.
- Note this is separate from police accommodation registration (住宿登记) — that’s a residence requirement tied to where you stay, handled by your hotel automatically or by you at the local police station within 24 hours of settling into a rental. Your SIM doesn’t require it, but your bank might ask about it later.
For the full arrival sequence — SIM, registration, banking, payments — see the First Week Checklist.
Related Guides
- SIM Card for Foreigners in China — Comparing SIM vs eSIM options
- WeChat for Foreigners — Setup, verification, and WeChat Pay
- How to Pay in China — Set up WeChat Pay and Alipay
- First Week Checklist — Everything to do when you arrive