Your Relay Visa® Debit Card and Relay Visa® Credit Card are automatically declined at merchants processing in the countries and territories listed below due to Visa's international transaction policies.
Why are these countries restricted?
The restriction is set by Visa, not by Relay. Visa's internal policies block card transactions from being processed at merchants in specific countries, and Relay is required to honor those rules for every card issued on the Visa network.
Which countries are fully restricted for Relay card transactions?
Card transactions are declined at merchants processing in the following countries and territories:
Afghanistan
Albania
Barbados
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Burkina Faso
Burma (Myanmar)
Burundi
Cambodia
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Congo, Democratic Republic of the (Congo-Kinshasa)
Congo, Republic of the (Congo-Brazzaville)
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Cuba
Cyprus
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gibraltar
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Haiti
Hong Kong
Iran
Iraq
Jamaica
Jordan
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania
Macao
Madagascar
Mali
Malta
Morocco
Mozambique
Nicaragua
Nigeria
North Korea
Pakistan
Panama
Philippines
Russia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Syria
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zimbabwe
What happens with United Arab Emirates card purchases?
The United Arab Emirates is a partial restriction, not a full block. Card purchases of $1,000 USD or more may be declined, while purchases under $1,000 USD may still be approved. If you need to make a larger UAE purchase, splitting it into transactions under $1,000 USD or using an alternate payment method typically works.
Does the restriction apply to where I am or where the merchant processes?
The block is based on where the merchant processes the transaction, not where you are physically located. A merchant registered to process payments in a restricted country will be declined even if you are using your card elsewhere, and a merchant in an allowed country will typically be approved even if you are traveling in a restricted one.
What should I do if my transaction is declined in one of these countries?
You have two options:
Split the purchase into smaller amounts (relevant for the United Arab Emirates $1,000 USD limit)
Use an alternate payment method, such as an international wire from your Relay Account
For any decline outside of this list, see Why did my card decline? for the full range of possible reasons.
How often does this list change?
The list is subject to change, so it is worth checking back periodically for updates. Visa updates its country-restriction policies from time to time, and Relay reflects those changes in this article as soon as they take effect.
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