Visa contactless uses an embedded computer chip to send payment information to a secure reader at the point of sale. Users may wave their card or device within 1-2 inches of the reader to make payments up to £100.
Open the door to seamless payments
visa contactless market 1920
The Visa contactless experience
How it works
Visa contactless payment technology lets users pay with just a wave of their card or device.
One wave
No swiping, signing or PIN needed.
Seamless capture
The secure reader receives payment information through radio frequency or Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology.
Efficiency can result in shorter lines
Faster checkout can support greater transaction volume.
Upgrade your POS terminals to accept Visa contactless transactions from leading mobile payment solutions.
Samsung Pay
A simple, secure way to make everyday purchases with your Visa on compatible Samsung devices.
1 Source: Visa Payment Panel Study (2Q11 – 1Q12). Visa Payment Panel Study was commissioned by Visa and has been conducted continuously since 1991 by independent research firm TNS among 20,000 respondents annually, aged 18+, and who own at least one payment card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want to know more? Select any of the questions below for more detail.
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Visa contactless is a payment feature that lets customers use their enabled Visa cards or mobile device at the point of sale (POS). The customer simply waves his card or mobile device in front of the secure reader at checkout, instead of swiping it or handing it to a cashier.
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Visa contactless will help support future advances in mobile-based payments. Your customers won’t need to fumble for cash and coins, which can increase checkout speed and reduce lines. Additionally, most transactions under £100 at participating merchants do not require a PIN number entry, speeding up the payment process.
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Visa contactless offers the same security protection that you have today with traditional Visa payment products.
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Yes. Visa contactless utilises multiple layers of security to protect transactions, including cryptography and secure network processing. Customers also benefit from Zero Liability for all unauthorised purchases made with their Visa contactless card or mobile device. Additionally, the card never leaves the customer’s hand during checkout, which provides added cardholder control and security at the point of sale.
Visa’s Zero Liability policy does not apply to certain commercial card and anonymous prepaid card transactions or transactions not processed by Visa. Cardholders must use care in protecting their card and notify their issuing financial institution immediately of any unauthorised use. Contact your issuer for further details.
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Cards with Visa contactless need to be waved within 2.5 cm (1 in) of the secure reader and correctly oriented in order to be read. Only the secure readers at authorised merchants can process the information on Visa cards and devices with Visa contactless.
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Yes. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express will all offer solutions that support the same standard for Radio Frequency (RF) cards-ISO 14443 A/B. Note that full specifications will differ across payment brands. To learn more about Visa contactless specifications, please contact your Account Executive or your acquirer.
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To deploy peripheral contactless readers (PCRs) that plug into your existing conventional POS terminals, the payment application in your existing terminal must be modified to interface with the PCR. To learn more about specialty terminals, contact your Account Executive or acquirer.