Payment Methods for Goods and Services Abroad in 2023
We'll tell you where and how to open a foreign bank card on the best terms.
16.05.2025
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In March 2022, after MasterCard and Visa payment systems suspended their operations in Russia, holders of bank cards issued in the RF became unable to pay for goods and services outside the country. In this article, we'll tell you how you can make payments abroad today.
So, today there are only three ways:
- opening a card of a foreign bank;
- payment with cards of some Russian banks of the UnionPay payment system;
- cryptocurrency.
Foreign bank cards.
Let's start with a more universal method – payment with foreign bank cards! This method will allow you to make payments around the world without restrictions. Today, banks in such countries as the following open cards most easily for residents of the RF:
Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan.
Belarus.
So, let's describe in detail the fastest and cheapest option – obtaining a Belarusian card.
Compared to other countries – you will buy the cheapest air or train tickets to Minsk, and if you have a trusted person in the country, you can arrange everything remotely.
Which Belarusian bank should I open an account with?
At Alfa-Bank, you can remotely open a bank card by power of attorney. To do this, you need to draw up a notarized document for the right to open bank accounts in the territory of the Republic of Belarus. The cost of such a document averages 2,000 rubles at any notary's office. It must be issued in the name of your intermediary / trusted person (a citizen of the Russian Federation can also act as an intermediary) and the document must be transferred to the Republic of Belarus.
Another advantage in favor of Alfa-Bank is that you do not necessarily need a local phone number. RF numbers are accepted during registration.
Thus, for opening a nominal package, which includes three separate bank cards linked to accounts in separate currencies (BYN - Belarusian rubles, US dollars or euros), as a non-resident you must pay 250 BYN, which is approximately 7,500 rubles today. Maintenance is free under minimum conditions or from 5 BYN (150 rubles) per month.
Transfer from card to card is carried out without commission at the bank's internal exchange rate.
There are Classic, Gold and Platinum packages, which differ in maintenance cost, limits and other options. Details can be found on the website.
Cost of issuing cards to non-residents:
270 BYN - Visa Classic (8,100 rubles);
290 BYN - Visa Gold (8,700 rubles);
350 BYN - Visa Gold + Belkart - a local payment system, which, by the way, is integrated with the MIR payment system (10,500 rubles).
Here, it will not be possible to issue cards by power of attorney. You will also need to purchase a local phone number.
Priorbank (Raiffeisen Bank).
For each account with card issuance, a guarantee deposit must be opened, the amount of which is 20,000 BYN (600,000 rubles) + 300 USD/EUR for cards in US dollars or euros. There are no multi-currency accounts, so you will need to open a separate account in each currency.
Here, too, you can carry out all operations by power of attorney, but only for a Belarusian phone number.
Cost of issuing a Visa Gold card for non-residents:
135 BYN (for cards in Belarusian rubles) – 4,200 rubles;
187 BYN (for cards in US dollars or euros) – 5,700 rubles.
Today, the MTBank website has a note about suspending the issuance of these cards to non-residents.
The first product to be opened for a non-resident at a bank office must be an account in the local currency. Opening such an account for non-residents costs 250 BYN (7,800 rubles), and by power of attorney – possibly for 350 BYN (10,800 rubles). The first account is opened only at a bank office. The second and subsequent current accounts can be opened in the mobile application for free. The cost of the card depends on its type.
Also, to open a card, you must have an active number of a Belarusian telecom operator.
At the moment, you can issue a MasterCard or Visa Gold status card. The currencies for issuing these cards are BYN, USD, EUR, RUB. The cost of issuing for all cards is 330 BYN (10,150 rubles) one-time, for the entire validity period of the card. No additional payments, commissions, or mandatory deposits are provided.
Using a Russian phone number for registration is allowed, and the bank will also accept a notarized power of attorney.
The card issuance times at all banks are approximately the same – 3-10 days. At some banks, you can pay extra for urgent issuance and receive the card on the same or next day.
You can also easily get a local SIM card at any mobile operator office. When traveling, keep your Russian and foreign passports with you.
Important note: some banks in the Republic of Belarus are also under sanctions like Russian ones, so if you have difficulties with payment, the reason may be both sanctions and the API, if it does not match the country of card issuance. If an error occurs, try first to make a payment with the API of the country where the card was issued; if the problem persists, it is most likely due to sanctions.
How to top up a Belarusian card?
We have found an excellent article for you on how to profitably top up RB cards from Russia using brokerage accounts at virtually the exchange rate.
Uzbekistan.
Non-residents can also open cards in Uzbekistan, but the process of opening bank accounts in this country is a bit more complicated, and given the impossibility of using a power of attorney, the trip to Tashkent (most banks open accounts for non-residents only in Tashkent offices) will cost you more, as will the cost of living amid the influx of tourists over the past six months.
A local mobile number is a necessary requirement for opening accounts in Uzbekistan. To get a SIM card at a mobile operator office, you will need a foreign passport and temporary residence registration (proof of registration can be obtained at the hotel reception). When applying, specify what you need the SIM card for, as tourist ones stop working after some time. You will also need to register your IMEI (international mobile equipment identity) at the communication office; banks may ask for it as well.
In addition, you will need a PINFL (personal identification number of an individual), which can be obtained by contacting state service centers or migration and citizenship registration departments of the Interior Affairs bodies at the place of your temporary registration in Tashkent. You will need your passport and proof of registration. Processing takes up to 12 hours.
Which banks in Uzbekistan are ready to open accounts for non-residents?
One of the banks that serves non-residents only at its head office in Tashkent.
In addition to cards in major currencies — US dollars and euros — you can also get a card in the local currency of the local payment system — Uzcard; you can transfer money to this card from Russian cards.
The opening fee ranges from 5 to 7 BRV. BRV in Uzbekistan is the basic calculation value, currently 300,000 UZS (Uzbek sums). In ruble terms, that is approximately 10,000 rubles for 5 BRV and 14,000 rubles for 7 BRV.
Among the special conditions for non-residents, there is also an insurance deposit. It depends on the type of card you choose and amounts, for example, to:
10 USD for a regular VISA Start;
500 USD for a VISA Infinite;
50 USD for a contactless UnionPay GOLD card.
Required documents include a Russian and foreign passport, proof of temporary residence registration, a local SIM card, and a PINFL.
Required documents for opening plastic cards for non-resident individuals: passport, temporary residence registration certificate, and PINFL.
Conditions for opening a Visa Platinum Pay Wave (contactless):
Fee – 500,000 UZS (3,350 rubles);
Insurance deposit – 100 USD;
Annual service fee – 50 USD;
Initial deposit – 100 USD.
Kapitalbank and Hamkorbank.
In September last year, the banks introduced additional restrictions for non-residents. Service is now available only to those who arrived in the country at least 15 calendar days before applying to the bank and who have all the necessary documents: registration, PINFL, and a local SIM card. Not the cheapest or fastest option.
Kazakhstan.
To open an account in a Kazakhstani bank, a non-resident will need a local IIN (individual identification number) and a SIM card from a Kazakhstani telecom operator. It is better to prepare a notarized translation of your Russian passport in advance. You can obtain an IIN today at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Russia by submitting an application in person, or apply for it on the spot at the PSC (Public Service Center) in Kazakhstan.
Banks in Kazakhstan available to non-residents.
The distinctive advantage of this bank is that there is no mandatory requirement to obtain a local SIM card. You will only need a foreign passport and the aforementioned IIN.
Non-residents are offered a multi-currency card. Accounts in Kazakhstani tenge, US dollars, euros, and rubles are linked to the card. Maintenance is free.
You will pay 30 000 KZT (Kazakhstani tenge) for card issuance — approximately 5 000 rubles.
Today, the bank opens accounts for non-residents only in the local currency.
The list of documents for registration is standard: passport, IIN, SIM card, as well as an additional document confirming the right to stay in Kazakhstan, for example, a stamp on crossing the border of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a certificate of temporary registration, and so on.
Issuance and maintenance of the Kaspi Gold bank card are free for the first year, and 1 995 KZT per year (350 rubles) for the second and subsequent years.
Halyk Bank and ForteBank.
These banks also open accounts for non-residents, but in addition to the basic package you will need to provide one of the documents confirming activity in the country, for example, a document from an educational organization or an employment contract with a legal entity in Kazakhstan.
Armenia.
In Armenia, opening a bank account and card for a non-resident is even more difficult than in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. This can only be done with an in-person visit to the office, and in most banks you will be asked to provide a lease agreement (minimum for three months), a residence permit, an employment contract with a local company, and other documents. A local operator's phone number is also mandatory.
We will not not quickly write off the banks of Armenia.
What banks serve non-residents in the Republic of Armenia?
Unibank Armenia is rightfully considered an exception to the rules regarding mandatory document requirements. To open a multi-currency VISA card, you will only need a foreign passport.
There is no fee for issuing the card, but for its annual maintenance from the moment of use you must pay 100 000 AMD (Armenian drams), which is approximately 20 000 rubles. You can open the card on the day of application by paying an additional approximately 25 000 AMD (5 000 rubles) for urgency. You can also get a GOLD package for 200 000 AMD (40 000 rubles) with increased account limits).
In this case, for simplicity and speed you have to pay double or even triple.
To open an account in this bank, in addition to your passport you will need to provide a lease agreement or registration at the place of stay, a RA SIM card.
The cost of opening an Ardshinbank card in one currency will be 15 000 AMD + 400 AMD annual maintenance. In total approximately 3 000 rubles.
The same package of documents as with Ardshinbank.
Here you only pay for annual card maintenance: 20 000 AMD (4 000 rubles).
In all other banks in Armenia, you cannot do without an employment contract and additional documents.
Kyrgyzstan.
The standard set of requirements includes a Russian passport, a foreign passport with an entry stamp for the country, and temporary registration. A local SIM card is also required at some banks.
Which banks in Kyrgyzstan open accounts for non-residents of the country?
KICB.
Opening a multi-currency KGS/USD or KGS/EUR card will cost you 600 KGS (Kyrgyz som) for Visa Classic. That’s 500 rubles. And for Visa Gold it’s 1 500 KGS (1 300 rubles).
The main card is issued free of charge; each additional card in a separate currency costs 250 KGS (230 rubles), and urgent issuance will cost you 1 000 KGS (900 rubles).
Issuing cards from these banks is free.
Annual maintenance for Visa Classic cards is 300 KGS (250 rubles), for Visa Gold — 1 000 KGS (900 rubles). Urgent card issuance is also 300 and 1 000 KGS respectively for Visa Classic and Gold.
Issuing a Visa card at this bank for non-residents of the country will cost 2 000 KGS (1 800 rubles), and you must also keep a minimum balance of 500 KGS (450 rubles) on the account.
When opening cards at foreign banks of the MasterCard and Visa payment systems, keep in mind that you will not be able to use them on the territory of the Russian Federation. Also, when visiting a branch, make sure to confirm whether online payments are available, as this option is sometimes not enabled by default. We recommend inserting all physical plastic cards into an ATM in the country of receipt. Sometimes cards will not work without this step.
Russian bank cards of the UnionPay payment system.
Today in Russia, there are still banks that are not under sanctions and that issue UnionPay payment system cards as a replacement for Visa and MasterCard. But in practice, everything turned out not to be so simple. Cardholders experience difficulties when paying for online purchases abroad. As it later became clear, the issue is that UnionPay is represented quite weakly outside its home country. The share of the payment system's operations outside China is only 2%. So whether to get such a card or not — by the way, now at sky-high prices — is up to you.
We will tell you about how to pay for goods and services abroad using cryptocurrency in the next article.
