Which Countries Accept Mir Cards? Where to Travel Without Payment Hassles

Winter travel has its own special charm. The long New Year holidays are a great opportunity to travel abroad, but the list of destinations where you can enjoy a hassle-free break has been shrinking over time. 

What makes travel difficult for Russian tourists

Visas are an obvious issue. European countries have tightened their Schengen visa requirements. Applications are now more expensive and take longer to process, making spontaneous trips more difficult. But these are not the only challenges Russian travellers may face.

Another sensitive issue is payments. International Visa and MasterCard systems do not process cards issued by banks subject to Western sanctions. The domestic Mir payment system is not accepted in every country. Until recently, cards issued through the Russian payment system could be used in many friendly destinations. However, the Mir website now only lists acceptance within Russia and does not name other countries. 

There is no need to worry too much: Mir cards can still be used in some countries. Fortunately, these destinations remain popular with Russian travellers.   

Which countries no longer accept Mir cards  

Over recent months, three countries have stopped processing transactions using cards from the Russian payment system. 

1. Turkey.
2. South Korea.
3. Uzbekistan.

Turkish banks have stopped accepting Russian cards without exception. Previously, tourists could use them freely without any problems. However, a few hotels still accept payments with Russian cards from any payment system, including upscale properties such as Papillon Belvil and Nirvana. 

Efforts may soon be made to make payments easier for tourists in Turkey. According to insiders, two Russian banks have announced plans to install their own terminals in popular tourist areas. These devices will most likely allow users to withdraw cash, transfer funds to another account or pay for services.   

In Uzbekistan, only co-badged Uzcard-Mir cards issued by local banks are accepted. Please note that these cards cannot be used abroad.

The situation in South Korea is more complicated. On the one hand, banks have not officially stopped accepting Mir cards. On the other, tourists report that they cannot withdraw cash or pay for purchases in shops. Using these cards in South Korea was difficult even before the sanctions. 

Where Mir cards can be used 

Travellers visiting Belarus should not encounter major payment issues. Belarus is part of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, so Mir cards are accepted almost everywhere. 

Please note that disruptions can also occur in Belarus’s banking sector. Experts recommend using Mir cards issued by institutions that are not subject to Western restrictions. This is considered more reliable. Well-known banks in this category include:

• «Rosbank»;
• «Tinkoff»;
• «UniCredit Bank»;
• «DOM.RF»; 
• «Raiffeisenbank»;
• «Bank Saint Petersburg». 

Before applying for a card, make sure the issuing bank is not subject to Western sanctions. Mir cards can also be used in Tajikistan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Abkhazia, Vietnam, South Ossetia and Kazakhstan. Keep in mind that acceptance terms vary from country to country. In some destinations, the cards can be used without restrictions, while elsewhere only certain functions are available. 

How to use cards in different countries

In Belarus, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, travellers generally have few difficulties withdrawing cash and paying for goods and services. However, it is worth checking transaction terms and limits in advance. Many banks charge fees for cash withdrawals, currency conversion and other transactions. 

Local shops in Abkhazia do not always have card terminals, so it is best to carry rubles as well. Russian currency is accepted there.

Travellers heading to other countries should check which banks accept Mir cards and under what conditions they provide services.

Tajikistan

At present, only the state-owned Amonatbank works with Russian cards. Purchases can only be paid for in shops served by this financial institution. Its ATMs allow users to withdraw funds and carry out other transactions.   

Kyrgyzstan

Many institutions have already stopped accepting Mir cards. However, they are still serviced by:

• «Kyrgyzkommertsbank»; 
• «EcoIslamicBank»;

• «Tolubay»;
• «Keremet Bank»; 
• «FinanceCreditBank».   

Previously, the press office of «RSK Bank» reported that it might soon stop accepting cards from the Russian payment system. For now, however, tourists can still use cards issued in Russia.  

Vietnam

Withdrawing cash can be difficult for tourists. Only VRB works with Russian cards.

Kazakhstan

Travellers with Russian cards may face inconvenient restrictions. At VTB and Bereke Bank, cash withdrawals are possible, but a fee applies. Check the amount with the bank’s staff. Payments at card terminals are not available.

The situation is the opposite at CenterCredit. Russian cards can be used to pay for purchases at retail terminals, but cash withdrawals from ATMs are not possible.  

How to avoid card-related problems

The solution is simple: obtain a co-badged card. This is a financial product supported by two payment systems at once. 

Russia has offered three types of co-badged cards. 

1. «Mir»-Maestro. This card was also supported by MasterCard, but it is no longer a practical option for international payments.
2. «Mir»-UnionPay. This product is supported by the Russian and Chinese payment systems. Availability and international acceptance should be confirmed with the issuing bank. It has been offered by «Rosselkhozbank».
3. «Mir»-JCB. This card was supported by the Russian and Japanese national payment systems. Its availability and international acceptance should be confirmed with the issuing bank. In Russia, it was issued by «Gazprombank».

The issuing bank will explain the terms of use. There is no need to deal with currencies yourself: conversion is processed automatically, although exchange rates and fees depend on the bank and payment system. 

Co-badged cards may be available free of charge to salary-account holders, pensioners and students. For other customers, issuance and service fees depend on the features offered by the card.

As a result, fewer and fewer countries now accept Russian cards. Co-badged cards can provide an alternative, but their acceptance should always be checked before travelling.