Bank card for world travel: how to choose

A card — is a convenient and essential tool in any traveler's pocket. With it, you can easily use online services, pay for purchases online, and much more. Unfortunately, it's not so easy for a Russian citizen to get one now. We tell you about all the cards you can travel the world with, and which bank to choose. 

Mir card: how to get one and where it works

Let's be honest: traveling with a Mir card is difficult. There are only ten countries that support this payment system. And even in these countries, you'll have to go through some hassle to withdraw cash or transfer money.

List of countries where the Mir card is accepted:

– Armenia. You can withdraw cash at ArCa Armenian bank ATMs and pay for purchases. A list of all ATMs that accept Mir cards, can be found on the website.
– Abkhazia. It is possible to pay for purchases and withdraw cash at almost all banks.

– Belarus. You can perform all operations through banks participating in the Belkart payment system.

– Venezuela. Mir cards only work in specific terminals, which you need to find yourself. However, in the future, the country's government plans to increase the number of banks that accept Russian cards.
– Vietnam. VRB Bank continues to accept Mir cards.

– Kazakhstan. VTB Bank (Kazakhstan) continues to accept Mir cards.

– Cuba. For now, you can only withdraw cash at an ATM. 

– Kyrgyzstan. Mir cards are serviced by banks of the Elkart system.
– Tajikistan. Mir cards are serviced by Dushanbe City Bank and Amonatbank.

– South Ossetia. The National Bank of South Ossetia services Mir cards. Look for the payment system logo on ATMs.

Getting a Mir card in Russia is very easy: contact almost any bank branch, and they will issue it to you quite quickly.

Before traveling, make sure you have a Mir card, not old Visa or Mastercard — they will not work abroad. 

How to get a UnionPay card from a Russian bank and where it works

Getting a UnionPay payment system card is much more difficult than a Mir card. Only a few banks issue them: Pochta Bank, VBRR, Rosselkhozbank, Gazprombank, PrimSotsBank, Solidarnost, and Russian Standard. It's also an expensive pleasure: issuance costs from 3,000 to 9,000 rubles, annual maintenance — up to 5,000 rubles.

UnionPay cards are accepted in 180 countries, but inconsistently. Tourists who traveled in Europe and America note that they had difficulties with ATMs: cash cannot be withdrawn from every one. In some countries, the card simply does not work, and it's very difficult to understand which ones. For example, in Spain, Japan, and Sweden, UnionPay is accepted, but not in France. So if you plan to travel with this card, it's best to ask expats or professional tripsters in travel chats. 

Co-badged card

Another wonder invention. A co-badged card works with two payment systems, leveraging the advantages of both cards. For example, where Mir doesn't work, UnionPay might work. And vice versa.

As with UnionPay, issuance is not cheap. Such cards are issued by Pochta Bank, Rosselkhozbank, Gazprombank, Russian Standard, PrimSotsBank, and VBRR. It costs several thousand. 

Co-badged cards have the same problems as UnionPay: they are not accepted everywhere, and they don't work even where they supposedly should. 

Where to get a foreign bank card and how to top it up

The best option for a Russian traveler is to get a foreign card Visa or Mastercard. They are accepted worldwide, and you won't have to search for specific ATMs and banks anymore.

In some countries, getting a card is very easy, for example, in Kazakhstan. In others, they might even refuse to issue one. We'll tell you in detail what you'll need to apply for a foreign card and how to minimize potential problems.

But first, a small life hack: there are now special "card tours" — a travel format where you are sent to a country specifically to get a foreign card. They will tell you everything, help you, and explain it clearly. If you don't like unnecessary hassle — this is your option. But if you are ready to plan your unforgettable adventure yourself — read on.

Currently, Russians can apply for foreign cards in several countries: Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. We'll tell you in detail about each option.

Armenia. Here, almost all banks work with Russians. They may require a rental agreement for a period of three months or an employment contract concluded with an Armenian company. Here's a life hack from experienced travelers: contact Unibank or Ardshinbank, they don't require these documents. But you'll have to overpay for a debit card: in regular banks, it costs from 5,000 to 10,000 rubles, while in these, it's up to 26,000 rubles.

Belarus. In this country, there should be no problems: almost all banks work with Russians. But it's important to choose one that hasn't fallen under EU and US sanctions. These include StatusBank, BSB Bank, Reshenie, MTBank. To get a card, you'll need your passport, a local SIM card, and about 9,000 rubles.

Georgia. Let's be clear, cards are not issued to everyone here, and sometimes you might simply be refused without explanation. To get one, you'll need a local SIM card, an international passport, and a KYC (Know Your Customer) form, which you'll be asked to fill out at the bank.

When filling out the KYC form, it's important to be extremely careful. In it, you will describe your financial situation, sources of income, and the purpose of opening an account in Georgia. Additionally, you may be asked for statements from Russian banks. Filling out and reviewing the form costs about 2,000 rubles. Banks usually inform you of their decision within three to five days, but this period can extend up to a month.

Tourists usually apply at Bank of Georgia or TBC Bank. These are the most popular and convenient banks in Georgia.

And here's a life hack for you: there's a bank that issues orders on the day of application and doesn't require KYC completion — Credo. Opening an account costs about 1,500 rubles. The bank's app is inconvenient, and transfers to other accounts take a very long time. But if you need to get a card quickly — this is the best option. 

Kazakhstan. Many tourists wonder, how to open an account in Kazakhstan. In reality, getting a card here is the easiest. To open a bank account, you'll need a passport (preferably an international one, with an entry stamp), a SIM card, and a local IIN. The latter is very easy to get: contact a public service center, and they will issue it to you in a couple of hours. But after getting the IIN, you need to wait a few days for it to be uploaded to the banks' database. After that, you can go to apply. 

Travelers usually apply at Kaspi Bank, one of the most popular in Kazakhstan. It has the most convenient app in the country, with the ability to pay for purchases with a QR code. A personalized card will be printed right in front of you at the bank branch. And a special bonus — free issuance. 

Kazakhstan still remains a country where it's very easy to open an account on favorable terms. And for affordable tickets on the Moscow — Astana route, buy them on Kupi.com. 

Kyrgyzstan. Here, cards are also easily opened for travelers. You'll need an application form, a passport, and proof of legal stay in the country — this could be a hotel certificate or a rental agreement. Processing takes five days. Opening an account will cost you only 500 rubles.

Turkey. In Turkey, you can open a bank account quite quickly, but there's a nuance. DenizBank, VakifBank, and Ziraat Bank issue cards on the day of application. To apply, you'll need an international passport and a Turkish TIN. The latter can be obtained after entering the country on the Turkish tax website. The nuance is this: to open an account, you may be required to make a deposit of up to several thousand dollars. But, fortunately, it all depends on the bank branch and the employee's mood — if these conditions don't suit you, you can always try another office.

Uzbekistan. It's all easy here too. In Uzbekistan, you'll need a passport, a local SIM card, a hotel registration certificate, and a personal identification number (PINFL). The latter can be obtained at the public services center of Uzbekistan. Opening an account usually takes up to five days, but banks can extend the period to 10-15 days. Travelers recommend Anorbank, Aloqabank, Asia Alliance Bank. 

How to top up a card

Unfortunately, in addition to figuring out how to open an account in a foreign bank, you'll also have to figure out how to top it up. There are several simple and relevant ways for travelers.

Cash. There's nothing complicated here. If you brought rubles with you, you can exchange them at an exchange office or bank, and then immediately deposit them onto your card at any ATM. Choose exchange offices wisely: some may offer a good rate, others not so much.

Through transfer services. There are many services that provide transfer services from a Russian card to a foreign one. One of the most popular is "Zolotaya Korona (Golden Crown)." You can receive transfers in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Greece, Korea, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Italy, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, China, Romania.

Transferring money is simple: download the app, enter your details, select the transfer country, and also enter the recipient's details. After the transfer, you can deposit the money directly to your foreign card through the app. However, this is not always possible. For example, in Georgia, Russians are not allowed to transfer money directly to a bank card; you have to go to the office of one of the banks that work with Zolotaya Korona.

Through third parties. In different countries, there are people who can remotely exchange rubles for another currency for you. We strongly advise against this method because you'll have to trust the person at their word. But if you have fellow travelers who have used such exchangers, ask them for a contact. Most often, when transferring through third parties, you will get one of the most favorable rates.

Through cryptocurrency. If you're into crypto — great, there's nothing new for you here. You buy stablecoins, then sell them in another currency and credit them to your card. If you didn't understand anything, it's better to stick to other transfer methods.

Unfortunately, it is now much more difficult for Russians to travel and open foreign accounts. But don't despair: thousands of tourists have already gone through this and received their coveted cards. Why should you be any different?

By the way, not only bank cards will be useful on your trip, but also convenient travel apps.