Women holding mobile phone, entering furniture store

Visa chip technology for consumers

Easy to use for many of the ways you pay

Introduction

Visa chip cards are not only secure, they are also simple to use. Chip cards and terminals work together to protect in-store payments. A unique one-time code, generated behind-the-scenes, is needed for the transaction to be approved—a feature that is extremely effective in reducing counterfeit fraud.

See how easy it is to use

Simple, secure, smart

Step 1

Insert the chip end of your card into the terminal (instead of swiping).

Step 2

Keep your card in the terminal until approved and prompted to remove the card.

Step 3

Don't forget to take your card with you when you leave.

Things to keep in mind

Visa chip technology adoption.

Merchants are deploying chip-activated terminals, but if you run across a merchant without a chip-activated terminal, you can still swipe your chip-enabled card using the magnetic stripe on the back of the card. When you swipe your chip-enabled card at a chip-activated terminal, the terminal will prompt you to insert the card into the chip slot instead.

You can use your card for payment whether you’re shopping online or over-the-phone. Regardless of whether you insert, swipe or enter your card information online, you’re protected from unauthorized transactions with Visa’s Zero Liability Policy.^*

^*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 unauthorized use. Contact your issuer for more detail.

Accepted in many locations

You can use your chip card at the same places where you use a magnetic stripe. Plus, the chip card offers additional benefits.

Customer using credit card reader at clothing shop counter, while man behind shop counter holds bag of her purchases.

Additionally, you can use your chip card when you travel internationally with merchants that accept chip cards. Visa chip technology is also helping pave the way for innovations like mobile commerce and helping to ensure that future payments, wherever and however you chose to pay, are secure and convenient.

Enhanced security

In addition to creating unique codes for every transaction, Visa also provides security by:

Visa protects you from fraud losses with Visa’s Zero Liability Policy^*, which requires your issuer to provide provisional credit to your account within 5 days of when the fraud occurs, ensuring quick access to your money.

^* 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 unauthorized use. Contact your issuer for more detail.

Q + A

Have questions about Visa chip technology? Find answers below for your frequently asked questions.

Card overview

: Chip cards are regular plastic credit or debit cards with an embedded microchip. The chip protects in-store payments because it generates a unique, one-time code that is needed for each transaction to be approved. It is extremely effective in reducing counterfeit fraud and providing greater security and peace of mind when used in-store. A chip card also has a magnetic stripe on the back of the card and may include Visa contactless technology for contactless payments. Look for the Contactless Indicator on the front or back of the card.

The Contactless Symbol and Contactless Indicator are trademarks owned by and used with permission of EMVCo LLC.
: In most cases, you’ll sign for credit purchases and either sign or enter your PIN for debit purchases. You may not be required to do either for certain types of transactions involving relatively small purchase amounts.
: Yes, you can still make purchases as you always have—by entering the card number online or swiping your card at merchant locations that do not yet have chip readers. You can also continue to use your card at ATMs.

Card usage

: You can use your chip card around the world. You can swipe your card just like you do today using the magnetic stripe on the back of the card, if a chip-activated terminal is not yet available. The terminal or the cashier will prompt you to insert and leave the card in the terminal until the transaction is complete if it’s activated for chip.
: Of course, just swipe your card using the magnetic stripe the way you always have. You’re still protected from unauthorized transactions with Visa’s Zero Liability Policy.
: Absolutely. Your card will work over the phone and online just like it always has.
: Some merchants may have chip terminals, but they may not yet be activated to accept chip cards. If you are unable to insert your chip card into a chip terminal, you can always swipe your card to complete the transaction. Most often, merchants that haven’t activated their terminals will block the chip slot.
: Until the technology is available everywhere, chip card acceptance may vary by type of payment card at some merchants. During this transition, you can always swipe your card to complete the purchase. And rest assured, you’re protected with Visa’s Zero Liability Policy.
: If the terminal is chip-activated, a prompt on the screen will advise you to insert your card and follow the instructions.
: If the terminal isn’t chip-activated, a prompt on the screen will advise you to swipe your card using the magnetic stripe on the back as you do today.
: Your card will always work either by swipe or insertion. The terminal or the cashier will prompt you to insert the card into the terminal if it’s activated for chip technology. If the terminal is not yet chip-activated, you can always swipe your card to complete the purchase.

Card security

: All Visa cards offer protection from unauthorized use of your card or account information. Visa chip technology offers another layer of security when used at a chip-activated terminal, because it generates a unique, one-time code that is needed for each transaction to be approved.
: All Visa cards offer protection from unauthorized use of your card or account information. While Visa chip technology generates a one-time use code that’s difficult to counterfeit, the account information may still be subject to compromise. Notify your financial institution immediately of any unauthorized use and know you are protected with Visa's Zero Liability^* Policy.

^* 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 unauthorized use. Contact your issuer for more detail.