Visa Rules and policies | support & guidelines | Visa
Visa Rules and Policy
Visa connects consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and fintechs through a secure, global network. Visa Rules and Policy governs safe and reliable commerce for all stakeholders.
Overview
Visa Inc. is committed to providing our partners and interested parties with greater insight into Visa’s operations.
As part of our effort, we are pleased to provide access to the latest edition of the Visa Core Rules and Visa Product and Service Rules, which govern the participation of our financial institution clients in the Visa system.
To protect cardholders and merchants and maintain the integrity of the Visa system, we have omitted proprietary and competitive information, as well as certain details from the rules relating to the security of the network.
Any regional or country-specific rules within the Visa Core Rules and Visa Product and Service Rules apply to transactions, Merchants, Issuers, and Acquirers in their Region/Country and any rules marked with the name of a region(s) or country(ies) are applicable to financial institutions operating in that region(s) or country(ies) only. The Interlink Core Rules and Interlink Product and Service Rules apply to financial institutions operating in the U.S. and Canada.
Visa Core Rules and Visa Product and Service Rules
Visa’s Core Rules and the specifics for how products and services work
Merchant Data Standards Manual
Requirements for merchant classification and data formatting
Interlink Core Rules and Interlink Product and Service Rules
Rules governing electronic funds transfer at point of sale
Contact the Visa Rules team
Report a purchase issue
Use this online form to report any issues experienced while using your Visa card. To report issues like merchant disputes or unauthorized charges, please contact your card issuer at the number on the back of your card.
Inquire on Visa Rules
Make an inquiry regarding the Visa Core Rules and Visa Product and Service Rules or the Interlink Operating Regulations.
FAQs for merchants
For additional requirements, refer to the Visa acceptance agreement between you and your acquirer.
Can I require a minimum purchase amount for a Visa card transaction?
In general, a merchant is not permitted to establish a minimum or maximum amount for a Visa transaction. However, exceptions apply in the U.S. and U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. In those locations and only for credit cards, a merchant may require a minimum transaction amount of U.S. $10 and government agencies and education merchants may establish any maximum transaction amount.
When do I need to provide a receipt for a Visa transaction?
In general, a merchant must provide a receipt for all Visa transactions. However, if the transaction is below a certain amount, the merchant is only required to provide a receipt upon the cardholder’s request. In addition, the merchant is not required to provide a receipt for a low-value transaction at an unattended terminal, such as a vending machine. For more information, please contact your Visa acquirer.
Can I add a surcharge to the purchase amount when accepting a Visa card?
In general, no. A Merchant must not add any amount over the advertised or normal price to a Transaction, unless applicable laws or regulations expressly require that a Merchant be permitted to impose a surcharge. In the U.S., surcharging is permitted on credit cards in most States but merchants are required to follow the requirements outlined in the Merchant Surcharging Q & A.
Can I charge a convenience fee for accepting a Visa card?
In certain countries, for example Russia, the U.S., and some countries in Asia, a merchant is permitted to charge a convenience fee to the customer. The fee must be a flat fee (not a percentage of the transaction amount), clearly disclosed, and represent payment for the convenience of paying through an alternate payment channel (such as online) that is different than the merchant’s normal payment channel (for example sending a check through the mail or paying in person).
Can I charge a service fee for accepting a Visa card?
Certain merchants (for example, government, education) in Canada, Egypt, Russia, and the U.S. are permitted to assess fixed or variable service fees on Visa Card transactions.
Can I give cash to the customer as part of a Visa transaction?
In certain countries (Australia, Canada, India, South Africa, U.S.) a merchant is permitted to provide cash-back as part of a Visa transaction, under specific circumstances and on certain card types (for example, debit cards). Cash-back is only permitted when the Visa card was issued in the same country as the merchant location. For more information, please contact your Visa acquirer.
Can I use a Visa card to guarantee the return of rental items such as equipment, videos, or other items?
Generally, Visa is a method of payment and not a method of collection or enforcement of a contract. However, under specific conditions, certain merchant types (lodging, rental [vehicle, bicycle, boat, equipment, motor home, motorcycle, truck/trailer] and trailer parks/campgrounds) may accept a guaranteed reservation (where the cardholder provides a Visa account number but no payment at the time of the reservation to ensure that accommodation, merchandise, or services will be available as reserved and agreed with the merchant). For more information, please contact your Visa acquirer.
What do I do if the chip on a Visa card cannot be read?
You should attempt to read the magnetic stripe on the card. If the magnetic stripe cannot be read, you can decline to accept the card or manually key-enter the account number into the terminal. Note, however that you may be subject to a chargeback on a manually-keyed transaction.
FAQs for consumers
If you encounter a situation that may involve a violation of the Visa Rules, please complete and submit an inquiry form. If you have a question about a specific Visa transaction that was posted to your account, you should notify your Visa card issuer using the customer support number appearing on your Visa statement or the back of your Visa card for assistance.
Why can't I use my Visa Card in U.S.-sanctioned countries?
As a U.S. company, Visa Inc. and its affiliates must comply with U.S. law, including trade sanctions administered and enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). OFAC prohibits or restricts transactions with certain countries, organizations, and individuals. For example, there are countrywide prohibitions for Iran, North Korea, and Syria. More information about OFAC can be found on the U.S. Treasury Department’s website.
In addition, Visa issuers outside of the U.S. may also be required to comply with their country’s designated sanctions list as well.
My Visa card issuer told me that I cannot use my card outside my country. Is this allowed?
In general, no. The Visa brand promise of “everywhere you want to be” means that you should be able to use your card anywhere Visa is accepted. An issuer is not permitted to block all transactions from a specific location or merchant type. However, there are some exceptions permitted, for example, if local regulations require the issuer to block certain transactions or Visa has allowed the issuer to temporarily decline transactions based on an immediate fraud threat. Note that Visa cards issued in countries with laws that limit international use will have a “Valid Only in (Country)” legend printed on the card.
When I was traveling, a merchant converted a transaction to my card’s billing/statement currency without my permission. What should I do?
Visa has strict rules about currency conversion when using your Visa card outside the country where it was issued. You must be given the opportunity to have the transaction processed in the local currency. If the merchant did not do so, please notify your Visa card issuer.
A merchant required a minimum purchase amount in order for me to use my Visa card. Is this allowed?
In general, a merchant is not permitted to establish a minimum or maximum amount for a Visa transaction. However, exceptions apply in the U.S. and U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. In those locations and only for credit cards, a merchant may require a minimum transaction amount of US $10 and government agencies and education merchants may establish a maximum transaction amount. If a merchant refused to accept your Visa card on the basis that the merchant requires a minimum or maximum amount on a Visa debit card, or the amount on a credit card is greater than U.S. $10, please notify your Visa card issuer.
Can a merchant ask me to provide identification to use my Visa card?
In general, a merchant is permitted to ask for identification but cannot require it as a condition of Visa card acceptance. However, there are exceptions, for example, if Visa has granted the merchant permission to require identification under certain circumstances for fraud control.
Is a merchant required to give me a receipt for my Visa transaction?
In most cases, yes, however if the transaction is under a certain amount, the merchant is only required to provide a receipt if you ask for it. In addition, the merchant is not required to provide a receipt for a low-value transaction at an unattended terminal, such as a vending machine.
Is a merchant allowed to add a surcharge to the purchase amount for using a Visa card?
In general, no. A Merchant must not add any amount over the advertised or normal price to a Transaction, unless applicable laws or regulations expressly require that a Merchant be permitted to impose a surcharge. In the U.S., surcharging is permitted on credit cards in most States but merchants are required to follow the requirements outlined in the Merchant Surcharging Q & A.
I wanted to pay a bill online, but the biller wants to charge a fee. Is that allowed?
In certain countries, for example Russia, the U.S., and some countries in Asia, a merchant is permitted to charge a convenience fee to the customer. The fee must be a flat fee (not a percentage of the transaction amount), clearly disclosed, and represent payment for the convenience of paying through an alternate payment channel (such as online) that is different than the merchant’s normal payment channel (for example sending a check through the mail or paying in person).
Certain merchants (for example, government, education) in Canada, Egypt, Russia, and the U.S. are permitted to assess service fees on Visa Card transactions.
Why are there different prices for paying with cash vs. with my Visa card?
A merchant is permitted to offer discounts for paying in cash, however, the discount must be given as a reduction from the standard price.
Can a merchant give me cash as part of a Visa transaction?
In certain countries (Australia, Canada, India, South Africa, U.S.) a merchant is permitted to provide cash-back as part of a Visa transaction, under specific circumstances and on certain card types (for example, debit cards). Cash-back is only permitted when the Visa card was issued in the same country as the merchant location.