Online payments with Visa and Mastercard in Russia may fail as NSPK switches to new security certificates

Russian users who still pay online with Visa and Mastercard issued by local banks risk facing payment rejections. The National Payment Card System has warned that the transition to Russian security certificates for websites and payment services could cause disruptions in transactions made with these cards.

The issue stems from foreign web browsers not fully recognizing the new domestic certificates yet. Meanwhile, cards of the Mir payment system continue to operate without any restrictions. In light of this, NSPK recommends that holders of older cards switch to Mir to avoid potential troubles when shopping online.

It is worth recalling that after international payment systems left Russia in 2022, NSPK took over processing transactions for their cards. However, the full use of Visa and Mastercard within the country has since lost its purpose: they still cannot be used to pay for purchases in foreign services. Cards continued to work only for settlements within Russia, and this allowance let those who were in no hurry to replace their cards keep using them as before.

Now even this limited functionality may be under threat. Visa and Mastercard retain practical value only if they are issued by banks in other countries, such as Armenia or Kazakhstan. Such cards remain a convenient tool for traveling abroad, while their Russian counterparts are unsuitable for these purposes.

Thus, NSPK's recommendation to switch to Mir looks like a logical step for those who want to keep paying for online purchases without interruptions. Replacing the card will eliminate potential issues related to incompatible security certificates and ensure stable operation of payment services.