If you are paying with Alipay from China, you might have questions about document verification, payment limits, or why Alipay might not be appearing as an option. Please review the frequently asked questions below for guidance.
How should I fill in the student's name for my Alipay payment?
Please enter the student's First Name (名) and Last Name (姓) in Pinyin. You can leave the Middle Name blank. The name you enter must match the official school document you plan to upload. This letter shows your Pinyin name and serves as a necessary supporting document. The student's name must be written in Pinyin. Otherwise, Alipay may flag the student as a non-Mainland China resident. If the payment document only contains an English name, alipay will request a document that shows both Pinyin and English names for verification (e.g., an offer letter).
Why is Alipay missing from my payment options?
Alipay will not appear in the following scenarios:
- Your payment request is under $350 USD (or equivalent).
- You are paying an institution in an unsupported currency, such as Malaysian Ringgit (MYR).
For these transactions, please select a different available payment method.
Why do I need to upload a document for my Alipay payment, and what is accepted?
To comply with local regulations, we require an official document to verify the transfer's purpose. You must provide a clear photo or screenshot of your Tuition Invoice or Payment Notice. If you are a new student, an Admission Letter is accepted.
Note: Please upload this file first. Once successfully uploaded, the QR code will unlock so you can complete the transaction.
Who can make an Alipay payment on behalf of the student?
Alipay requires the payer to be a direct family member. This is strictly limited to: Self, Parents, Grandparents, Spouse, or Siblings.
Friends, extended relatives (like aunts or uncles), or education agents cannot use this platform to pay on your behalf. If someone outside the approved list is paying, please choose UnionPay, Visa, or Mastercard instead.
What are the Alipay payment limits, and what if my tuition is higher?
The maximum limit per Alipay payment is 300,000 CNY. However, your actual transaction limit depends on your Alipay Balance (余额/余额宝) or your linked bank cards. You can check Alipay's official guides for Debit Cards and Credit Cards to understand your specific restrictions. If your tuition exceeds your personal limit, you can easily split the total by creating multiple smaller payment requests on Flywire. Alternatively, you can cancel the current request and choose "Domestic Bank Transfer in CNY" for larger amounts. To increase your balance limits, call Alipay Support at 95188.
I see a "调试错误" (Debugging error) on my phone during my Alipay Payment. What should I do?
Errors like ILLEGAL_SIGN or ILLEGAL_EXTERFACE usually occur when you open the Alipay payment link inside WeChat or a built-in mobile browser. These browsers can block the necessary interface connections. To fix this, please switch to a desktop computer. Log in to Flywire using a standard browser like Google Chrome, and open the payment page from there.
I completed my Alipay payment. Why haven't I received a confirmation yet?
After your Alipay payment is completed, we typically need 3 to 4 hours (excluding weekends and public holidays) to complete the verification.
If your verification is approved:
You will receive an email, and your payment status will update. Funds will be delivered to your institution within 2 to 3 business days.If your verification is not approved:
Your payment will be placed on hold. We will email you with instructions to update your information. Please follow the instructions as soon as possible to avoid delays.