How to Top Up Alipay from Ukraine and Other Countries

Alipay is a Chinese payment system and e-wallet developed by Ant Group, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group. This online service is used for various payments, including shopping, transfers between users in China, and utility payments.

But how can you fund Alipay to make transactions safely and commission-free on Chinese marketplaces? Today, DiFFreight experts explain how to create and top up your wallet and whether foreigners can even use Alipay without a Chinese bank account.

How to Top Up Alipay Wallet — Step-by-Step Guide

First, register:

• Download the Alipay app from AppStore/Google Play.
• Agree to the terms. Select your country, and enter your mobile number. Wait for an SMS with a code and enter it in the field.
• Go to Account >> Profile Settings >> Security Settings >> Add Email.
• Wait for the code to be sent to your email and enter it into the app.
• You will receive another SMS to confirm the email link.

Your Alipay account is now ready.

Video tutorial by DiFFreight:

Cargo delivery from China to Ukraine is a profitable direction for business. Topping Up Alipay Balance (Depositing Funds to Seller) can be done via QR code, phone number, or email. However, topping up your own Alipay is problematic for Ukrainian cardholders.

Main Issues and Their Solutions

The main problems with topping up your Alipay account are related to the unavailability of the service in some countries and the lack of support for Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, and Discover cards.

Good news for UnionPay cardholders: as of November 2024, you will be able to link these cards to the service.

What Issues May Arise:

• No SMS code received. This may take longer than usual. If you do not receive anything, try linking another number.
• Account blocked. The service may have concerns about security. Try registering another number or email address.
• Access to your account is limited. You may have exceeded the payment limits, or the bank may be verifying you. Sometimes, access is restored within 5–7 days, but occasionally, the police block the account.
• Unable to link your card. This means your card is not supported, or the service is unavailable in your region.
• The transfer of money is not going through. Even if you manage to bypass the system, the money will not reach the seller, as the service is unavailable in your region or for your bank.

To get the "right" card, you need a Chinese bank account, and to get one, you must work or study in China on a visa. Therefore, it’s rare for foreigners to successfully use Alipay.

Procurement of Goods from China

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Currently, it’s impossible to link a Ukrainian card to Alipay.

Three Solutions:

• Open a foreign bank account in USD and link that card to Alipay. You will lose money on commissions and currency conversion.
• Use third-party exchange services/exchanges. This involves many extra steps and unfavorable conditions.
• Agent services that will pay for your order in China. You pay a one-time fee. Be cautious: you might fall for scammers, and your funds may get blocked.

How DiFFreight Can Help

Our company provides not only international logistics services but also offers purchases in China and payment even on local marketplaces.

DiFFreight Services:

• Direct top-up of your Alipay account.
• "Payment via a friend." We will make the payment for you to the card of an individual or the account details of a legal entity (supplier) in yuan.

We offer transparent terms of cooperation. The "payment via a friend" method occurs without additional agents. We guarantee the security of your funds and sign a contract specifying fixed commissions.