Cross-border payments: what Asian travellers should know before visiting Russia
In this article (10)
Russia is opening its doors wider to Asian tourists. Chinese citizens gained visa-free entry in late 2025, and from 15 October 2026 Vietnamese passport holders can stay for up to 30 days without a visa. Paying for the trip, however, remains complicated. Since 2022 the country has been largely cut off from global card networks, and payment tools that work in Shanghai, Hanoi or Bangkok often fail in Moscow. Before booking, it is worth checking which payment methods still work in Russia.
International cards: largely unusable
Visa and Mastercard cards issued abroad do not work in Russia: not in shops, not on Russian websites and apps, and not at cash machines. Apple Pay and Google Pay linked to such cards are unavailable as well. This also affects local bookings, from hotels to train tickets and taxis.
UnionPay, the obvious alternative for many Asian travellers, is unreliable. To avoid secondary sanctions, the network has restricted the servicing of foreign-issued cards at terminals and ATMs of sanctioned Russian banks. Some merchants still accept them, but declined payments are common, and a card that worked yesterday may not work today.
Mobile wallets: a niche option
Alipay and WeChat Pay are accepted only at a limited number of shops and venues popular with Chinese tourists. They can help in a large department store, but are of little use for a taxi, a cafe or public transport.
“Amounts above the equivalent of 10,000 US dollars per person must be declared at customs.”
Cash: the dependable fallback
Cash remains the one method that almost always works. Travellers can bring US dollars, euros or Chinese yuan and exchange them at a bank or licensed exchange office in major cities. Amounts above the equivalent of 10,000 US dollars per person must be declared at customs. Some services, including certain Moscow buses and vending machines, no longer take cash, so a cashless backup is still useful.
Cards for non-residents
Visitors staying longer can apply for a Mir card, Russia’s national payment card, at a local bank with a passport, although requirements vary. For shorter trips, several services offer virtual prepaid cards that can be issued online before departure, topped up from abroad and used via a smartphone. PayInRussia is one such service. Fees, exchange rates and limits differ, so it pays to compare before choosing.
Before you go
- Do not count on Visa, Mastercard or foreign-issued UnionPay cards.
- Treat Alipay and WeChat Pay as a bonus, not a plan.
- Bring enough dollars, euros or yuan, and declare amounts above the customs threshold.
- Arrange a cashless backup, such as a virtual card for non-residents.
- Check in advance how your hotel accepts payment from foreign guests.
Entry rules for Asian visitors are easing, but the payment landscape remains fragmented. A little preparation before departure can save a great deal of inconvenience on arrival.
Questions & Answers
Q.Can foreign Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay cards be used in Russia?
Can foreign Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay cards be used in Russia?
Foreign-issued Visa and Mastercard cards, alongside linked mobile services, do not function at all across Russia. UnionPay cards issued abroad are unreliable because the network restricts transactions at terminals and cash machines operated by sanctioned Russian banks to avoid secondary sanctions.
Q.What rules apply to bringing and exchanging foreign cash?
What rules apply to bringing and exchanging foreign cash?
Travellers can bring US dollars, euros or Chinese yuan to exchange at banks and licensed exchange offices in major cities. Any cash exceeding the equivalent of 10,000 US dollars per person must be formally declared at customs upon arrival.
Q.How can short-term visitors arrange a cashless payment backup?
How can short-term visitors arrange a cashless payment backup?
Visitors on shorter trips can obtain virtual prepaid cards online before departure from services such as PayInRussia. These accounts can be topped up from abroad and used via smartphone, though travellers should compare fees, exchange rates and transaction limits beforehand.
Q.Are mobile wallets such as Alipay and WeChat Pay widely accepted across Russia?
Are mobile wallets such as Alipay and WeChat Pay widely accepted across Russia?
Alipay and WeChat Pay are accepted only in a limited selection of shops and venues frequented by Chinese tourists. They are of little use for everyday expenses such as taxis, local cafes and public transport, meaning visitors cannot rely on them as primary payment methods.
Reader pulse
Will payment barriers deter Asian travellers from visiting Russia?
20,221 votes so far