Which countries accept UnionPay and where it doesn't work

[CarderPlanet]

UnionPay bank cards allow Russians to make purchases abroad. Including in foreign online stores. Visa and Mastercard cards issued in Russia are no longer suitable for such operations. These payment platforms have restricted the payment option. Today, you can pay with UnionPay cards in 157 foreign countries. On the territory of the CIS and in non-CIS countries.

Content

1. What is UnionPay?
2. Where does UnionPay work?
3. List of countries where UnionPay operates
4. Asia
5. Europe
6. America
7. Oceania
8. Africa
9. Which countries don't have UnionPay ATMs and retail outlets
10. Can I use UnionPay to make purchases in online stores
11. Can I add a UnionPay bank card to Apple Pay or Google Pay
12. How does currency conversion work?
13. Should I apply for a UnionPay card

What is UnionPay?​

This is a Chinese payment platform that has been operating since 2002. The idea of creating this system belongs to the State Council and the People's Bank of China. UnionPay was widely used in the domestic market in 2016. It was then that the first co-branded cards were actively offered to customers. Such a banking product works on the basis of MIR and UnionPay simultaneously.

On the territory of the Russian Federation, UnionPay bank cards are practically irrelevant. They are more needed for those who are going abroad. Or they buy goods in foreign online stores. After leaving Russia for Visa and Mastercard, the Chinese payment system became an alternative option. And the UnionPay card is now called the international plastic for Russians.

You can apply for a UnionPay card in several Russian banks:

• RSHB;
• Solidarity;
• Gazprombank;
• Promsvyazbank;
• Yandex. Mail Bank.

Customers can issue physical or co-branded cards. Some banks offer to open virtual plastic. The advantage of such a product is that you do not need to pay for production and maintenance. At the same time, you can make purchases from the banking app on your phone using a QR code.

Banking institutions that have been sanctioned cannot issue UnionPay plastics. This list includes Sberbank, VTB, Sovcombank, etc.

Where does UnionPay work?​

Initially, the payment platform was created for the domestic Chinese market. However, after a while, UnionPay began to actively grow around the world. This was due to the request of Chinese citizens who visited abroad. The payment system has started actively cooperating with many foreign countries.

What popular countries does UnionPay work in for Russian tourists?:

• Greece;
• Egypt;
• Turkey;
• United Arab Emirates;
• Cyprus;
• Thailand;
• Italy;
• Spain.

In 2023, the list of countries where you can pay with a UnionPay card includes 157 countries. This list can be viewed on the official website of the payment platform. The site promises that the list will expand over time.

List of countries where UnionPay operates​

UnionPay cardholders can pay for purchases or services on any mainland. However, each region has its own list of countries available for working with the Chinese payment platform. There are also restrictions on the number of ATMs and POS terminals that work with UnionPay.

Asia​

Abroad, UnionPay first grew rapidly in Asian countries.

Therefore, bank cards of this payment platform can be used almost everywhere in Asia:

• Afghanistan;
• Azerbaijan;
• Maldives;
• China;
• Bahrain;
• India;
• Turkey;
• Uzbekistan;
• Philippines;
• Cyprus;
• Kazakhstan;
• Lebanon;
• Mongolia;
• Vietnam;
• Hong Kong;
• Georgia;
• Israel;
• Sri Lanka;
• Saudi Arabia;
• Singapore;
• Tadjikistan;
• Thailand;
• Taiwan;
• South Korea;
• Japan;
• UAE, etc.

Payments are made in the national currency of the country where the transfer takes place. There are countries where you can pay in US dollars. For example, in Thailand or Vietnam.

There are ATM machines available in each country that are supported for payment via UnionPay. These terminals have a corresponding label or sticker. POS terminals are not available everywhere. They don't exist in Iraq and Lebanon.

Most of all ATMs for payment, except for China, are represented in Kazakhstan. There are about 1,800 terminals in this country that accept UnionPay cards.

Europe​

The second continent in terms of the number of transactions based on the UnionPay payment platform is Europe. However, the availability of payment varies from country to country. There are states that have a huge number of ATMs and terminals that accept UnionPay cards. But there are also countries that can not boast of this.

List of banks and payment services that work with UnionPay in Europe:

• BBVA;
• World Pay;
• Barclays;
• Card-Service;
• Credit Agricole;
• Setefi;
• Payment Services;
• Trionis;
• Societe Generale.

If the payment terminal or ATM is operated by the specified organizations, then you can pay with a UnionPay card.

What European countries does UnionPay work in?:

• Belgium;
• Bulgaria;
• Sweden;
• Estonia;
• Vatican City;
• Great Britain;
• Austria;
• Belarus;
• Denmark;
• Irish;
• Netherlands;
• Norway;
• Finland;
• Portugal;
• Russia;
• Serbia;
• France;
• Latvia, etc.

America​

UnionPay bank cards are not so common in this region. The number of banks and payment systems that cooperate with the Chinese platform is limited.

• in North America – PayPal, Interac, Global Payments;
• In South America-Interbank, Itau Unibanco.

List of countries where you can use UnionPay bank cards:

• Uruguay;
• Ecuador;
• USA;
• Argentina;
• The Bahamas;
• Mexico;
• Canada;
• Brazil;
• Colombia, etc.

Payments are made using the country's internal currency. Brazil and Canada have the largest number of payment terminals and ATMs for making payments.

Oceania​

On this continent, the Chinese payment system is poorly represented. Some countries from Oceania do not cooperate with this platform at all.

What countries in Oceania does UnionPay work in?:

• Fiji;
• Solomon Islands;
• New Zealand;
• Australia;
• New Guinea, etc.

Many of the countries represented have ATMs and POS terminals for payment.

Africa​

List of countries available for payment:

• Algeria;
• Djibouti;
• Egypt;
• Kenya;
• Seychelles;
• Zambia;
• Zimbabwe;
• CAR;
• Morocco;
• South Africa, etc.

Which countries don't have UnionPay ATMs and retail outlets​

Many of the countries listed above have ATMs and retail outlets for UnionPay payments. However, there are places where only one thing is available.

What countries don't have ATMs that work with UnionPay?:

1. Sweden.
2. Finland.
3. The Bahamas.
4. Israel.
5. Irish.
6. Luxembourg.
7. Slovakia.
8. Uzbekistan.

Where there are no POS terminals that cooperate with UnionPay:

1. CAR.
2. Venezuela.
3. Lebanon.
4. Saudi Arabia.
5. India.
6. Iraq.
7. Guinea.
8. Argentina.
9. Algeria.

The situation may change in the future.

Can I use UnionPay to make purchases in online stores​

Such operations are available. However, before taking out the UnionPay card, it is better to check the payment option in the online store. Some services do not allow Russian citizens to make a transaction. Or those who have a plastic card opened on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Procedure for paying with a UnionPay card in an online store:

1. Go to the online store under your profile.
2. Select a product and add it to your shopping cart.
3. Go to checkout.
4. Enter your personal data and the address where you want to deliver the product.
5. Choose the payment method – using a UnionPay bank card.
6. Enter the plastic's banking details – phone number, first and last name (in Latin letters), expiration date, and CVC code.
7. We confirm the payment.

If the transfer fails, the system will notify you about it. In this case, please contact the online store's support service. The service may not accept Russian cards based on a Chinese payment platform. Or there are restrictions on the part of the issuing bank.

Can I add a UnionPay bank card to Apple Pay or Google Pay​

You won't be able to attach plastic to the specified wallets. These apps are no longer available for Russian citizens. The reason is Western sanctions.

There is an alternative option – a Huawei Pay wallet. However, this app is not available on all mobile devices.

How to attach UnionPay plastic to Huawei Pay:

1. Go to the Wallet app on your smartphone.
2. We pass authorization – you will need to log in to your personal Huawei account. If you don't have an account, then create one.
3. Click on the plus sign "+".
4. Hold your smartphone's camera up to the map so that it can scan the plastic data. Or enter your banking details manually. Enter your first and last name in English, card number and expiration date, and CVC code. It is indicated on the reverse side.
5. Confirm linking your bank card. Enter the text message code that will be sent to the mobile phone linked to the plastic. You can also choose a different confirmation method. If you can't link your bank card, contact your bank.
6. Set up PIN protection and come up with an answer to the security question. They are needed for wallet security purposes.
7. Set the method that will be used to confirm the payment. For example, a fingerprint or facial scan.

After successfully linking the UnionPay card, payment via Huawei Pay will become available. Before setting it up, be sure to update the Wallet app on your smartphone. This will avoid possible errors during the attachment of plastic.

How do I delete my in Huawei Pei? Open the Wallet app and select the plastic that you want to remove. Next, click on the three dots. They are located at the top right. In the list that appears, tap "Delete Map". After these actions, the plastic will be successfully unlinked fromHuaweiPay.

How does currency conversion work?​

Bank card payments are made at the exchange rate for the current business day. Sometimes the system uses a different conversion method. The currency is exchanged on the settlement date of the transaction.

The exchange rate in UnionPay is updated every business day. If the conversion occurs on weekends or holidays, the rate is taken on the last business day.

The conversion procedure also depends on the issuing bank that issued the plastic. This organization can set its own conditions or limits for exchange operations. Therefore, for more detailed information, it is better to contact such a bank.

Should I apply for a UnionPay card​

It makes sense to order plastic in several cases:

• You are going to fly abroad for work issues. Visa and Mastercard cards opened in Russia no longer work abroad. Plastics with the domestic MIR platform are not available everywhere. Mostly only in the CIS. If you are planning a trip to a foreign country, then the UnionPay card will be an excellent solution. The only thing is to check in advance whether such cards are supported at local ATMs.
• Are you planning a vacation abroad? You can use the UnionPay card to pay for hotel rooms, purchases in bars, cafes, etc. You can also pay for air tickets. The main thing is that the hotel and operator work with a Chinese payment platform.
• You buy goods in foreign online stores. You can use UnionPay cards to make a transfer. However, it is better to specify in advance whether the store will accept such a transaction or not. There are many reviews online where Russian customers complain about canceling operations with UnionPay cards.

If you do not perform any of these operations, then there is no point in issuing a bank card. In addition, the offers of banks can not be called profitable. The average cost of issuing a physical UnionPay bank card is 5,000 rubles. Compared to other banking products, this is a high fee.

It is also important to understand that sanctions against the Russian Federation are getting stronger every time. Against this background, UnionPay may leave the Russian market altogether. Or refuse service abroad for Russian holders. Then there will definitely be no benefit from bank cards.

If you still have questions about the list of countries where UnionPay is available, write in the comments and our expert will definitely answer you.