Contactless payments use short-range wireless technology to securely complete payments between a contactless-enabled card or payment-enabled device and a contactless-enabled checkout terminal. A contactless card is an EMV chip card with an antenna embedded for proximity payments. When cardholders tap their contactless card at a contactless-enabled checkout terminal (near the Contactless Symbol ), their payment is sent for authorization. 

When shown on a card, the EMVCo Contactless Indicator* means the card has the capability to make contactless payments. When shown at a merchant, it means they accept contactless payments. The EMVCo Contactless Symbol* shows the cardholder where to tap their contactless card on the checkout terminal to make a contactless payment. 

No. They do not have to physically tap the card to the terminal. However, their card should be close (within 1-2inches, about 4cm.) to the Contactless Symbol. 

The checkout terminal reads the antenna best when the contactless card is flat over the Contactless Symbol, not at an angle. 

They should hold their contactless card to the terminal for 1-2 seconds. 

Contactless payments are easy. They are also fast and convenient to use in places where customers need to pay on the go. Just like transactions made with a chip card, each contactless card transaction is accompanied by a one-time code that protects the payment information. Contactless payments are also secure. 

Unlike cash, contactless payments let cardholders keep better records of their purchases. They can still do everything they would do with another Visa card, including adding a tip, getting cash back (if available), and more. 

They can tap to pay wherever they see the Contactless Symbol at checkout. Millions of merchants around the world accept contactless payments, including fast food restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies, and more. 

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

Yes, they can use their contactless Visa card wherever Visa is accepted, by:

1. Tapping it at a contactless-enabled checkout terminal
2. Inserting the card into an EMV chip terminal
3. Swiping at a magnetic stripe terminal.

Yes, contactless Visa cards are safe for several reasons:

1. Each transaction is accompanied by a one-time code that securely protects your payment information, just like with a chip card.
2. Cardholders cannot pay accidentally. Their card or device must be within 1-2inches (about 4cm.) of the contactless enabled checkout terminal for the transaction to occur (and they won’t be billed twice, even if they accidentally tap twice). Contactless cards are designed so that merely walking by or standing near a contactless enabled terminal with a contactless card in one’s wallet will not result in the card being charged.

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 hold of it. This information would be useless to them.