Recognising valid Visa cards
Ensuring you and your staff know when a Visa
card is valid can help minimise the risk of card fraud.
The instructions below will help you and your staff recognise
the following existing and new Visa cards:
Visa cards
V PAY cards
Visa Prepaid cards
Visa cards
The background designs on Visa cards vary, but every Visa card
has a Visa logo, square dove hologram and 3 digit security
code.
- Chip
Not all cards have a chip but you must still accept them using the
magnetic stripe or manual imprint machine
- Cardholder name
May appear as a person’s name, company name, generic identifier
(gift card, travel card, airline passenger) or be left
blankEmbossed numbers feel raised while printed numbers feel flat.
Account numbers are up to 16 digits, begin with a 4 and are grouped
in four groups of four numbers. Printed cards may have a partial
account number.
- Account number
May be embossed or flat printed
- Ultraviolet feature
Appears as a "V" under ultraviolet light
- Visa logo
• Appears on the front of the card – position may vary
• Colour may vary for visibility against the card background
• Product names or descriptors, such as GOLD or PLATINUM, may also
appear together with the Visa logo
- Square dove hologram
• May appear on the front of the card (middle right)
• Alternatively may appear on the back of the card
• Is optional on Visa Electron cards
- Contactless indicator
Optional indicator to denote contactless functionality
- 3 digit security feature
Always appears on the back of the card either on the signature
panel or to the side
V PAY
cards
V PAY is a debit card created especially for merchants,
consumers and banks in Europe. As it works with chip and PIN, V PAY
is easy for you to accept and safe for consumers to use.
The background designs on V PAY cards vary. But every V PAY card
has a chip, a V PAY logo and feels flat.
- Chip
• Always appears on the front of the
card
• The customer must enter a PIN to make a purchase
- Flat card
The details on the front of the
card always feel flat
- Ultraviolet feature
Appears as a "V"
under ultraviolet light
- V PAY logo
• Always appears on the front of the card
• Location may vary
- Contactless indicator
Optional indicator to denote contactless functionality
Visa Prepaid cards
Accept Visa Prepaid cards in your electronic terminal in the
same way as for other cards. Simply process the card in the
terminal and follow the prompts on the screen.
Visa Prepaid cards contain funds loaded on to them in advance,
similar to pay-as-you-go mobile phones. The funds are loaded by the
cardholder, their family, friends or company. Sometimes the
cardholder may win a prepaid card as a prize.
The background designs on Visa Prepaid cards vary. But every
Visa Prepaid card has a Visa logo, square dove hologram and 3 digit
security code.
- Chip
Not all cards have a chip but you must still accept them in your
terminal
- Cardholder name
May appear as a person’s name, company name, generic identifier
(gift card, travel card, airline passenger) or be left blank
- Flat card
The details on the front of the card usually feel flat
- Ultraviolet feature
Appears as a "V" under ultraviolet light
- Visa logo
• Appears on the front of the card – position may vary
• Colour may vary for visibility against the card background
• Product names or descriptors, such as ELECTRON, may also appear
together with the Visa logo
- Contactless indicator
Optional indicator to denote contactless functionality
- Square dove hologram
• May appear on the back of the card
• Alternatively may appear on the front of the card (middle
right)
• Is optional on Visa Electron cards
- 3 digit security feature
Always appears on the back of the card either on the signature
panel or to the side
More information
Contact your acquiring bank for more information on how to
accept Visa cards, training and educational material.