Open PayPal and link it to a US Apple ID

First: this route doesn’t always work

Paying for a US Apple ID with a PayPal account opened in mainland China (linked to a Chinese bank card) works for some people and fails for others when adding it or paying. Neither Apple nor PayPal says publicly whether this combination is supported, and the rules can change anytime.

So:

• have the reliable gift card route ready;
• treat PayPal as an extra — try once, and if it fails switch back to gift cards. Don’t keep retrying, or you may trigger PayPal’s or Apple’s risk controls.

1. Open a PayPal personal account

1. Open paypal.com; if your region is China you’ll see PayPal China’s site. Click “Sign up” and choose a “Personal account”.
2. Enter your email (an address you use, e.g. Gmail) and set a password.
3. Enter your real name (as on your ID, in Chinese characters), phone number (+86) and address.
4. Verify your email and phone as prompted.

2. Link a bank card

1. Log in and go to “Wallet” → “Link a card” (debit or credit).
2. Enter the card number, expiry, security code and billing address (as registered with your bank).
3. Complete verification: a text code, or a small charge whose amount or code you enter to confirm.

• Many users report that UnionPay cards can be linked; Visa or Mastercard credit cards work more widely.
• The card must be enabled for online and overseas payments, or your bank may block the verification or payment.

3. Verify your identity

PayPal China supports personal identity verification with your national ID card. When the account prompts you, follow the steps and upload it; verified accounts are less likely to be restricted.

4. Add PayPal to your US Apple ID on iPhone

1. Make sure the App Store is signed in with your US Apple ID (none yet? see Create a non-China Apple ID).
2. Open Settings → tap your name at the top → “Payment & Shipping”. If the US account is only signed in to the App Store, go to Settings → your name → Media & Purchases → View Account → Manage Payments.
3. Tap “Add Payment Method” → choose PayPal → log in to PayPal and agree.
4. Back on the page, PayPal is listed as a payment method.

5. Try a small purchase

Buy something cheap first, such as Shadowrocket (about $3), to confirm PayPal charges work. Once it does, go on to subscribe to Claude and so on.

If the account also has gift card balance, Apple uses the balance first and charges the rest to PayPal.

Stuck?