1. Short answer: passport is enough — get the SIM first
The first tip for expats landing in China: get a mainland real-name mobile number before anything else. It is the key to almost everything after — opening a bank account, full Alipay/WeChat KYC, and registering local apps (Meituan/Didi/12306) all hinge on a "physical carrier number".
The threshold is low: with a valid foreign passport or Foreign Permanent Resident ID, in person at a carrier's own business hall, you can get it done — most provinces have bundled it into the "foreign nationals' phone-card one-stop" service with instant processing.
2. The "one-stop" service: documents, channel, timing
Documents: a valid foreign passport (remaining validity ideally >6 months, with a valid entry visa/stamp) or a Foreign Permanent Resident ID. Channel: the carrier's own business hall (China Telecom 10000 / China Mobile 10086 / China Unicom 10010 / China Broadcasting Network 10099); use the hotline or official App to find a nearby eligible outlet. Timing: instant processing.
Limits: no more than 5 active mobile cards per user at the same carrier nationwide; once your industry-wide total hits 10+, you can only apply via a carrier's own hall and staff account. Device: the phone must support 5G or VoLTE; mismatches can be fixed with a card/device swap at the hall.
3. Prepaid vs postpaid: pick prepaid the first time
Prepaid: passport only, no bank account needed, typically RMB 30–80/month for 20–50GB — flexible and ideal for short visitors and the just-arrived. Postpaid: better for long stays with a stable local payment method; it can unlock family plans or bundled broadband but may need credit checks or a linked local bank card/credit card.
Practical advice: most foreigners should start on prepaid, then switch to postpaid once they have a Chinese bank account and a settled long stay.
4. Why the SIM is the key to banking and payments
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs guide states the order plainly: get a SIM first → then open a bank account at a commercial bank (needs a domestic number) → then activate mobile payment. The PBOC payment guide also lists "register/log in with a phone number" as step one of four for mobile pay.
In practice, most banks require a domestic real-name number to open an account (a few, like Fubon Bank, accept some countries' home numbers plus a passport appointment); full Alipay/WeChat KYC and binding local apps also depend on a physical SIM for verification codes. Without it, many local services stall.
5. Can a foreign phone number substitute?
Partially. Since July 2023, Alipay and WeChat Pay accept foreign phone registration and binding of foreign cards (Visa/Mastercard etc.); small amounts are exempt from identity verification, larger ones need verification plus a passport photo upload. That solves the "scan on arrival" pain for short visitors.
But a foreign number cannot be fully verified: no red packets, transfers, wealth management or cash withdrawal, and it cannot register local apps like Meituan/Didi/12306 that require a physical number; many users also report not receiving verification codes. For any longer stay, get a physical SIM.
6. eSIM / roaming / travel cards: the trade-offs
International eSIMs (e.g. Airalo, Holafly) activate before departure, keep your home number and can reach some international sites, but give no Chinese number (can't register local apps) and are usually data-only, no voice. Roaming is full-feature but pricey (~USD 10/day) and still rides the mainland network.
Short visitors can start with a foreign card linked to Alipay/WeChat and get a physical SIM after landing; for longer stays the physical SIM is irreplaceable. Note: a physical SIM connects to the mainland network, where some overseas sites/apps you rely on are restricted — arrange your needed comms and info channels before you land.
7. Common rejections and pitfalls
1) No proxy: you must apply in person with valid ID — no delegating to others. 2) Device standard: older phones without 5G/VoLTE may fail or underperform; the hall can swap card/device. 3) Extra docs: some halls may ask for accommodation registration or employment proof — call ahead. 4) Quantity caps: ≤5 per carrier, and ≥10 industry-wide only via own-staff accounts. 5) PR convenience: some provinces (e.g. Yunnan Telecom) already allow PR-ID online applications.
8. Suggested landing order: SIM → bank → payments → residence
Best rhythm: enter → accommodation registration within 24h if required → get a physical SIM (prepaid) at a hall → open a Class-I bank account with passport + domestic number → link Alipay/WeChat (foreign or local card) → obtain the work/study residence permit per your case (see our "Long-Term Residence & PR" guide).
Treat "SIM → account → payments → residence" as one chain where each step unlocks the next. With a number first, account opening, QR payments, ride-hailing and ticketing all flow; without it, everything snags.
FAQ
Can I get a SIM with just a passport, no residence permit?
Yes. The baseline is a valid foreign passport (with a valid entry visa/stamp) or a Foreign Permanent Resident ID — it is independent of holding a residence permit. Short-term visitors can get a prepaid card on a passport alone.
Can I apply online or via a proxy?
In person at a hall only — no proxy. Only a few cases (e.g. Yunnan Telecom) allow PR-ID online; an ordinary passport still needs to be done offline.
Must I visit the hall in person? Any phone requirement?
In person with ID. The phone must support 5G or VoLTE; if mismatched, ask at the hall or swap card/device. Bring a reasonably recent phone.
Prepaid or postpaid — which to choose?
First time or short stay: prepaid — passport only, no bank account, RMB 30–80/month for 20–50GB, flexible. Postpaid suits long stays with a local payment method and may need credit checks or a linked local card.
Is registering Alipay/WeChat with a foreign number enough?
For short stays, yes: you can link a foreign card and scan, with small amounts exempt from verification. But a foreign number cannot be fully verified — no red packets/transfers/wealth/cash-out, no local-app registration (Meituan/Didi/12306), and codes may not arrive. Longer stays still need a physical SIM.
How many SIMs can one passport hold?
No more than 5 active cards per carrier nationwide; once your industry-wide total reaches 10+, you can only apply via the carrier's own hall and staff account.
How does the SIM relate to banking and residence?
The SIM is the prerequisite key: most banks require a domestic real-name number to open an account, and full Alipay/WeChat KYC plus local-app binding rely on the physical SIM for codes. It is the first link in the "SIM → bank → payments → residence" chain.
