Bank cards issued outside Russia cannot be used in Russia. As soon as you enter the country, your usual payment convenience disappears: you are unable to conveniently purchase a cup of coffee, order a taxi, or purchase a ticket to a museum. You are forced to look for a currency exchange bureau, keep cash on hand, and cut back on impulse purchases.

A convenient solution is PayInRussia. https://payinrussia.com/ The platform allows visitors from other countries to pay for goods and services in Russia with their mobile phones. You do not need cash or need to go to a bank.

What can you pay for?

• taxi trips and delivery services;
• accommodation and flight tickets;
• cafés and restaurants;
• shops and shopping centers;
• admission to museums and various events;
• purchases from Russian e-commerce stores and marketplaces.

How does the service work?

Sign up before your journey while you are in your country of residence. To get started:

• upload a scan of your passport;
• take a photo of yourself;
• go through a fast identity verification procedure. Your information is processed automatically, and SMS verification through a Russian phone number is not required.

Top up your balance using a bank card issued outside Russia or a payment service available in a supported country before traveling to Russia.

Use the service to pay for purchases:

• In physical locations: scan the QR code at the checkout. An internet connection via a Wi-Fi or cellular network is required.
• On the internet: make purchases from online shops and book hotels and tickets straight from the mobile app.

Why is the service so useful?

PayInRussia was developed with overseas visitors in mind:

• you are not required to be a Russian resident;
• you are not required to open an account with a Russian bank;
• you are not required to go to bank offices or currency exchange bureaus;
• you can register and top up your balance before you travel;
• you can make convenient payments through your smartphone;
• the service is ideal for both short and extended trips.

How can you start using the service? Just follow three simple steps:

1. Install the application to your smartphone.
2. Fund your account using a bank card issued abroad.
3. Use the service to pay for purchases while in Russia: open the app, tap the QR code icon, and scan the checkout QR code. The money will be debited from your account right away.