What payment methods can Russian tourists use abroad?

In Russia, which has been subject to numerous sanctions, especially in the banking sector, due to the Russia-Ukraine war, it was investigated which payment methods tourists going abroad can use in which countries.

The Izvestiya newspaper claimed that Russian tourists have eight different payment methods to pay with cards abroad.

According to the news in TürkRus, the newspaper, which drew attention to the fact that alternative methods have gained more importance after the end of the international use of Visa and Mastercard cards, listed options such as cash payment, UnionPay cards, Mir cards, QR code payment and cryptocurrency among these methods.

Mir cards can be used in friendly countries such as Abkhazia, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. However, the areas of use of these cards are generally limited to certain banks. Experts hope that this payment method will be more accepted in countries such as Egypt, Iran and Turkey in 2025.

UnionPay cards are supported by only two Russian banks. Although these cards are valid in more than 160 countries, their use is becoming increasingly difficult due to international sanctions. Alternatively, Russian citizens can obtain cards from foreign banks, and this method is especially common in countries such as Kazakhstan and Belarus. Other methods include cryptocurrency payments. In particular, stablecoins have become a popular option for use abroad. However, experts emphasize that high commission rates and price fluctuations should be taken into account when making transactions with this method.