How To Make Payments In Russia In 2026
Foreign-issued bank cards are not accepted in Russia. As soon as you enter the country, the convenience you are used to becomes inaccessible: you can no longer easily purchase a cup of coffee, request a cab, or get admission to a museum. You are forced to search for a place to exchange money, carry cash with you, and cut back on impulse purchases.
The solution is PayInRussia. The platform allows visitors from other countries to make payments for products and services in Russia with their mobile phones. You do not have to carry cash or have to visit a bank.
What can you pay for?
taxi trips and delivery services;
hotel stays and plane tickets;
cafés and restaurants;
retail outlets and shopping centers;
museum and event tickets;
purchases from Russian e-commerce stores and marketplaces.
How can you use it?
Sign up before your journey while you are still in your home country. To do this:
scan your passport;
take a selfie;
complete a brief identity check. Your document data is detected automatically, and SMS verification through a Russian phone number is not required.
Top up your balance using a foreign-issued bank card or a payment service available in a supported country prior to your arrival in Russia.
Pay for your purchases:
Offline: use your phone to scan the QR code at the checkout. A connection to the internet via Wi-Fi or mobile data must be available.
Online: pay in online stores and make hotel reservations and buy tickets straight from the mobile app.
Why is the service so useful?
PayInRussia has been created especially for foreign travelers:
you do not have to become a resident of Russia;
you do not need to open a bank account in Russia;
you do not have to visit banks or foreign exchange offices;
you can register and top up your balance before your trip;
you can pay conveniently through your smartphone;
the service is suitable for both brief and long-term journeys.
What do you need to do to begin? Get started in three easy steps:
Download the app to your smartphone.
Fund your account using an international bank card.
Pay for purchases in Russia: launch the application, tap the QR code icon, and scan the code at the checkout. The money will be deducted from your balance immediately.