Getting a SIM Card in China: A Guide for Foreign Residents and Visitors

A Chinese mobile number makes everyday life much easier. You may need it for SMS verification, payments, delivery apps, transport services, banking, housing, and communication with your employer or landlord.

Getting a SIM card is usually straightforward, but treat the number as an important long-term account. Choose an official sales channel, complete real-name registration carefully, and protect the number after activation.

1. Check your phone before arrival

Before traveling, confirm that your phone is unlocked and can accept another carrier’s SIM card. Ask your current carrier if you are unsure.

Also check whether your phone supports the mobile bands and SIM format you need. If you use a physical SIM, identify whether your device takes a Nano, Micro, or standard SIM card.

Do not assume that an overseas eSIM or roaming plan replaces the need for a Chinese mobile number. Roaming can provide internet access, but a local number is often more useful for long-term daily services.

2. Choose a telecom provider

China’s three major telecom operators are:

• China Mobile (中国移动);
• China Unicom (中国联通); and
• China Telecom (中国电信).

The Ministry of Commerce’s guide for business expatriates states that foreigners can bring a passport or Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card to telecom operator service offices to apply for a SIM card and activate mobile services.

Compare:

• monthly price;
• included mobile data;
• call minutes;
• SMS allowance;
• coverage where you live and work;
• international support;
• contract duration; and
• cancellation or plan-change rules.

For a longer stay, ask which plan fits your expected data use. Video calls, navigation, translation apps, and hotspot use can consume data quickly.

3. Visit an official service hall

An official operator service hall is the simplest starting point. In Chinese, a service hall is commonly called 营业厅 (yíngyè tīng).

Bring your original valid passport. Chinese mobile numbers require real-name registration. Staff will help you choose a plan, select the SIM size, register the account, and activate the number.

The Shanghai government portal’s mobile service guide describes the in-person process:

1. Visit an operator store.
2. Choose a package.
3. Show your passport.
4. Confirm the SIM card size.
5. Purchase and register the SIM card.

If a small branch cannot process a foreign passport, ask for the nearest company-operated service hall with international-customer support.

4. Test the number before leaving

Do not leave the store immediately after activation. Test:

• a phone call;
• an incoming SMS message;
• mobile data;
• the remaining-balance inquiry method;
• the operator’s official app or mini program if available; and
• whether your phone displays the correct new number.

Receiving SMS messages matters because many Chinese services use verification codes.

5. Save your operator support number

The standard operator service hotlines are:

Save the hotline and your operator’s official app before you need help. Language support and local dialing details can vary, so confirm the best support channel when you activate the number.

6. Top up and monitor your data

Mobile plans often include a limited data allowance. Ask how overage charges work and whether the plan renews automatically.

The Shanghai government portal notes that users can usually top up:

• online through Alipay or Weixin Pay;
• through the official operator app or mini program; or
• offline at operator shops or supported payment terminals.

If you are still setting up mobile payments, ask the store how to make the first top-up and keep enough balance to avoid service interruption.

7. Connect daily services carefully

Once the number works reliably, connect your essential services one at a time:

1. mobile payments;
2. banking where applicable;
3. delivery and shopping;
4. transport;
5. employer accounts; and
6. housing or utility services.

Keep a record of which important accounts use the number. This makes it easier to update them if you later change providers or numbers.

8. Treat your phone number as a security credential

Your Chinese mobile number may become a recovery channel for important accounts. Protect it as carefully as an email account.

If your phone is lost:

1. call your number to check whether someone found the phone;
2. contact your operator promptly to report the loss;
3. contact your bank if banking services may be exposed;
4. change important passwords;
5. warn contacts about possible fraudulent messages; and
6. report theft to the police where appropriate.

Never share SMS verification codes with another person.

City-specific options

Service locations and short-term products can vary by city.

Shanghai

Shanghai’s official English portal provides a guide to setting up mobile services. It also reports short-term SIM products for international travelers in Shanghai with seven-, 15-, or 30-day validity periods. These short-term plans may be useful while you arrange a longer-term number.

Beijing

Beijing’s official English portal publishes SIM-card application guidance and lists official service halls plus airport service counters as application locations.

Practical activation checklist

• My phone is unlocked.
• I brought my original valid passport.
• I chose an official operator service hall.
• I understand the monthly plan, data limit, and overage charges.
• I tested calls, SMS, and mobile data.
• I saved the operator support hotline.
• I know how to top up my balance.
• I will protect SMS verification codes.

Official sources

• Ministry of Commerce: SIM Card guidance for business expatriates
• Shanghai Government: A guide to setting up mobile services
• Beijing Government: A Guide for Purchasing SIM Cards in Beijing