Contactless Payments with Visa

Contactless payments use short-range wireless technology to securely complete payments between a contactless card or payment-enabled device and a contactless-enabled checkout terminal. A contactless Visa card is a chip card that has a near-field communication (NFC) antenna which enables close-range payments. When you tap your contactless Visa card or payment-enabled device at the contactless-enabled checkout terminal (near the Contactless Symbol ), your payment is sent for authorisation.

When shown on a card, the EMVCo Contactless Indicator* means the card has the capability to make contactless payments.

When shown at a merchant, the Contactless Indicator   means a merchant accepts contactless payments.

The EMVCo Contactless Symbol*  is where you tap your contactless card or payment-enabled device on the checkout terminal to make a contactless payment.

Look for the Contactless Indicator  on your card to know if your card has the technology to make contactless payments.

Your card or device just needs to be within 2.5-5 cm of the Contactless Symbol  on the terminal.

The terminal reads the antenna best when your contactless card or payment-enabled device is flat over the Contactless Symbol, versus at an angle.

No. You do not have to physically tap the card or device to the checkout terminal; however, your card or device should be close (within 2.5-5 cm) to the Contactless Symbol .

Once you are prompted to pay (by the cashier, a light on the machine, etc.), simply tap your card or device to the terminal where you see the Contactless Symbol .

You should hold your card or device to the terminal for 1-2 seconds.

Contactless payments are fast and convenient to use in places where you need to pay on the go, such as fast food restaurants, supermarkets, corner shops and more.

Contactless payments are secure because just like a chip card, each transaction is accompanied by a one-time code that protects your payment information.

Unlike with cash, you can keep better records of your purchases with your contactless Visa card or payment-enabled device. You can still do everything you would do with another Visa card, including adding a tip, getting cash back (where available), and more.

Contactless payments use the same NFC (Near Field Communication) technology as mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.

You can tap to pay where you see the Contactless Symbol  at checkout. Millions of merchants around the world accept contactless payments, including fast food restaurants, greengrocers, chemists, and more.

Yes. Contactless payments are accepted at contactless checkout terminals displaying the Contactless Symbol . If you don’t see the Contactless Symbol, you can still use your contactless card at an EMV chip terminal by inserting your card, or at a magnetic stripe terminal by swiping your card.

Yes. You can use your contactless Visa card at millions of merchants around the world that accept contactless payments by tapping it at a contactless checkout terminal where you see the Contactless Symbol , inserting it into an EMV chip terminal, or swiping it at a magnetic stripe terminal. In fact, many countries have already adopted contactless payments: for example, in Australia, Canada, the UK, and France, over half of retailers currently accept contactless payments.

Yes. Your contactless card or payment-enabled device is safe for a number of reasons:

• Just like with a chip card, each transaction is accompanied by a one-time code that securely protects your payment information.
• You can’t pay accidentally – your card or device must be within 2.5-5 cm of the terminal for the transaction to occur (and you won’t be billed twice, even if you accidentally tap twice).

The card transmits information including the account number, expiration date, and a unique one-time code that changes for every in-person transaction and encrypts your payment information. The unique code is different than the one encoded on the magnetic stripe of a Visa card.

For every contactless transaction, a transaction-specific, one-time code is created that secures the cardholder’s payment information. The code cannot be re-used by fraudsters even if they were somehow able to get it. The information would be useless to them.

No. Contactless technology requires the merchant to first initiate the payment, and the contactless card or payment enabled device must be held in close proximity (2.5-5 cm) to the terminal for a transaction to take place.

No. Contactless terminals will only communicate with one card at a time. If you have more than one contactless card in your wallet, you should tap the individual card you want to use, rather than tap your whole wallet.

If your card is lost or stolen, or you believe there has been unauthorised activity on your account, contact your issuing bank immediately. If you don’t have that contact information readily available, contact Visa and we will be able to assist you.

Call us toll-free (freephone) 

*The Contactless Symbol and Contactless Indicator are trademarks owned and used with permission of EMVCo, LLC.