Flat illustration of getting a Chinese SIM card with a smartphone, SIM tray, passport and mobile shop counter

How to Get a Chinese SIM Card (2026 Guide for Foreigners)

Where and how to buy a Chinese SIM card as a foreigner: major carriers, documents, eSIM, plans, and top-ups.

A local Chinese SIM card is one of the first things you should sort out after arriving — almost every app you will rely on, from maps and ride-hailing to Alipay and WeChat Pay, needs a working Chinese phone number. This guide covers where to buy a SIM, what documents to bring, eSIM options, and how to top up.

At a glance

  • Buy from an official carrier store — China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom. Passport real-name registration is mandatory and only licensed counters can complete it.
  • Budget plans start around ¥30–50/month for 10–30 GB; large-data plans run ¥80–150/month.
  • A travel eSIM is fine for the first day or two, but you still need a mainland number for Alipay, WeChat Pay, delivery and most app logins.
  • Have the staff insert the card, activate data and test it before you leave the counter.
  • Your number is later needed for bank accounts, delivery apps and police registration — sort it out in the first 48 hours.

Quick answer

Buy your SIM from an official carrier store — China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom — rather than a street kiosk. Real-name registration with your passport is mandatory and only licensed counters can complete it. Have the staff insert the card, activate data and test it before you leave the counter. A travel eSIM is fine for the first day or two, but you still need a mainland number for Alipay, WeChat Pay, delivery and most app logins.

Check the official source before you act

This guide reflects rules and prices as published by Chinese authorities and providers, and was last reviewed in September 2026. Rules, fees, platform features and deadlines change, and city offices and branches apply them differently. Confirm the current position with the carrier’s official store or hotline (China Mobile 10086, China Unicom 10010, China Telecom 10000) before you rely on any figure below.

Last reviewed: September 2026 · Part of our Arrival & Settling In guide series.

International student buying a Chinese SIM card at a carrier store
Student activating a Chinese eSIM on a phone

Why You Need a Local SIM

  • App verification — WeChat, Alipay, banking, and many services require a Chinese mobile number for SMS codes.
  • Maps & transport — our transportation guide explains how much you will depend on homegrown map apps, which need data.
  • Cheap data — international roaming is expensive; a local plan is a fraction of the cost.
  • Emergency contact — your university and landlord can reach you directly.

The Three Major Carriers

China’s big three all offer foreigner-friendly plans:

  • China Mobile (中国移动) — the largest network with the best coverage, including rural areas and the metro. A safe default.
  • China Unicom (中国联通) — strong in cities, popular with foreigners, and often the easiest for international roaming add-ons and English support.
  • China Telecom (中国电信) — excellent coverage in southern China; good value data packages.

Any of the three works fine in major university cities. Pick based on a friend’s recommendation or which has a branch near campus.

Where to Buy a Chinese SIM Card

  • Airport kiosks — convenient on landing; see our airport arrival guide. Prices are slightly higher but staff speak some English.
  • Official carrier stores (营业厅) — the cheapest and most reliable; bring your passport. Use maps to find the nearest flagship store.
  • Authorized retailers inside phone shops or convenience stores — fine, but confirm it is an official reseller.

Avoid street vendors and unofficial stalls offering ‘no documents needed’ deals — they can be scams or resell recycled numbers.

Documents You Need

  • Your passport (must be valid).
  • Your visa or residence permit — usually the passport is enough, but carry it.
  • Temporary residence registration (police registration certificate) — some carriers ask for it, especially outside big cities. Get it first via our accommodation guide.
  • A little cash or Alipay to pay the first month and a small SIM fee.

eSIM Option

If your phone supports eSIM (most recent iPhones and many Android flagships), some carriers — notably China Unicom — offer eSIM profiles for foreigners. The upside is no physical card swap. Real-name registration is still mandatory, so you still register with your passport at a store or through the carrier’s app. Check compatibility with your device maker before relying on this.

Plans & Costs

About these prices: plan prices, data allowances and eSIM availability change often and differ by province and by store. Treat the numbers below as typical ranges and check the current packages in the carrier’s app or at an official store.

  • Budget plans start around ¥30–50/month for ~10–30 GB of data.
  • Unlimited-ish or large-data plans run ¥80–150/month.
  • You can choose monthly or commit to a year for a discount.
  • Ask the clerk to set the menu and app to English if available.

Topping Up

Recharge through the carrier’s own app, or more easily via Alipay or WeChat Pay (search the carrier name in the app). You can also top up at any carrier store or convenience store kiosk. Set a calendar reminder so you never run out of data before a trip.

Setup Tips

  • APN settings are usually sent automatically; if data doesn’t work, ask the clerk to configure it.
  • Enable data roaming only when traveling outside mainland China.
  • Keep the SIM packaging with the number written down.
  • Once you have the number, link it to WeChat and your bank account (next step in our first-month checklist).

If Your SIM Stops Working

A Chinese SIM card can be suspended if it is unused for several months, if the real-name registration details do not match your passport, or after a lost-phone report. If your card suddenly shows no service, visit any company-owned branch of your carrier with your passport — they can reactivate the number on the spot in most cases, which matters because your WeChat, bank and Alipay accounts are all linked to that phone number. For a short trip, a China Unicom or China Telecom prepaid travel SIM with a set validity period avoids the problem entirely: it simply expires instead of being suspended, and you buy a fresh one next visit.

Official resources: China Unicom Global — official English site with prepaid SIM and eSIM plans for visitors.

Free resource

China Arrival Checklist

Land, register and settle in without forgetting the one form that matters. A one-page checklist covering airport arrival, police registration, SIM card, bank account and housing paperwork, in the order you actually need to do them.

Download the free China arrival checklist

Related guides

Using Two SIMs (Home Number + China Number)

Most phones sold outside China take one physical SIM plus an eSIM, and Asia-market models often take two physical SIMs. Keeping your home number active means you still receive bank codes and two-factor logins from home — but roaming charges add up fast, so switch data over to your China SIM and turn roaming off on the other line.

Keep the China number alive even during long holidays. Banks, delivery apps and police registration all send verification codes to it, and recovering a cancelled number means a trip back to a carrier store with your passport.

Next step

Your new number is what unlocks payments — here is how to set up WeChat Pay with a passport.

Set up WeChat Pay as a foreigner

Sources

Disclaimer: Rules, prices and platform features in China change frequently and can vary by city, institution and individual circumstances. Always confirm with the relevant authority or provider before making arrangements.