Questions and answers
Do I need a visa or residence permit?
No. Any international visitor can get a card. The basic card needs only a phone number and holds up to 15 000 ₽. To raise the limit to 600 000 ₽, verify your identity with a passport and a selfie.
Do I need a Russian bank account?
No. PayInRussia issues a virtual card directly. No Russian bank account, no local SIM, no in-person registration. The card lives in your browser or in the app.
Is PayInRussia fully online?
Yes. Sign-up, verification, top-ups and payments all happen online, in the app or in your browser. There are no offices or branches to visit.
Can I withdraw cash?
No. PayInRussia is a virtual card built for payments: QR codes in stores, online checkout and contactless on iOS and Android. ATM withdrawals are not supported.
Can I pay online?
Yes. Many online checkouts — Aeroflot tickets, for example — list the Russian fast payment system among the payment options. Choose Pay in Russia there: the app opens on its own and you confirm the payment with one tap.
What if a QR payment fails?
Check your connection and your balance, refresh the QR code and try again. If it still fails, confirm the store accepts QR payments or contact support on Telegram.
Common questions
What travellers ask before and during a trip — short answers, kept current for 2026
Before you go
Metro, trains and buses
- How do foreigners pay for the Moscow Metro without a Russian card?
- What is the Troika card and how does a tourist buy and top it up?
- Can you pay for the Moscow Metro with cash and no card?
- How do you pay for a bus, tram or the MCC in Russia?
- How do foreigners buy train and Sapsan tickets between Russian cities?
Taxi
Hotels and stays
- How do you pay for a hotel in Russia with a foreign card?
- Which hotel booking sites in Russia accept foreign cards?
- Can you pay for a hotel room at reception in Russia with a foreign card?
- Do hotels in Russia require a deposit, and how do you pay it without a Russian card?
- Can you book a short-term apartment in Russia from abroad?
