Cards, money and crypt: how Russians can pay abroad in 2026
According to experts interviewed by Izvestia, cash and foreign bank cards remain the most popular ways for Russians to make payments abroad after our Visa and Mastercard stopped working there. However, in addition to this, there are other options: in some countries, they still accept Mir, in others you can make purchases using QR codes through Russian bank applications or special utilities, in others - using Russian Union Pay. At the same time, you should always keep in mind the limitations and pitfalls. And also that most methods work unstable and it is better to provide several options at once when traveling abroad.
How many dollars in cash can be exported from Russia in 2026
After the departure of Visa and Mastercard from the Russian Federation in 2022, the easiest way to pay for purchases abroad remains cash dollars, euros or currencies of those countries where Russians travel. This is the most popular and widespread payment tool, says financial advisor and founder of Rodin.Capital Alexey Rodin. It may well cover the needs of those who travel abroad once or twice a year.
At the same time, it should be remembered that since March 2022, restrictions have been in place on the export of money abroad: you can take no more than $10 thousand (or another currency, but the equivalent should be the same amount), the expert recalled. Rubles can be exported in any quantity, but if the amount in dollars is more than $ 10,000, then it must be declared. Depending on the country, the rules for importing currency may vary.
There are options that simplify the transfer of money abroad: using transfer services without opening an account, such as, for example, Zolotaya Korona, said Vladimir Krasnikov, head of the IT department at the PRIX Club. They allow you to transfer money to CIS countries, Turkey, Georgia, Israel, Serbia and a number of other destinations, and then receive it after arrival in the country in dollars, euros or local currency.
The main risks are an unobvious conversion rate, commissions, limits on amounts and possible changes to the identification rules, Vladimir Krasnikov said. Izvestia sent a request to the Golden Crown.
In which countries do Russians receive bank cards?
The second most popular payment method for Russians abroad has become the registration of cards from foreign banks. Today, about 15% of Russian citizens have such a tool, Alexey Rodin said. Such "plastic" is used not only by its owners and people traveling with it, but it is also passed on to relatives, acquaintances and friends. So foreign cards are widely used.
— It is interesting to note that 90% opened a foreign card precisely for the purpose of actively using it when traveling. They were less interested in online shopping. However, this is exactly the method that Russians use on the Internet," Alexey Rodin added.
According to him, the average cost of issuing a card is 20-50 thousand rubles. Russians most often make them in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. At the same time, in most countries it is now required to come in person to open an account. Loopholes that were previously widely used by intermediary services are being systematically closed, however, there are still ways to issue a foreign card from your city.
In which countries can I make payments with Mir cards?
Even after being sanctioned by the NSPK, the operator of Mir cards, it is still possible to pay for purchases abroad with Russian plastic. It is available in 14 countries: Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Venezuela, Vietnam, Iran, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Tajikistan and South Ossetia, said Mikhail Khachaturian, Associate Professor of the Department of Strategic and Innovative Development at the Financial University. However, not all functionality is available everywhere: in some countries, you can only withdraw cash, but not make purchases. In others, payments can only be made in certain tourist areas.
"It is important to remember that the use of Mir cards abroad is limited, and even countries friendly to Russia may suspend their use at any time,— Mikhail Khachaturian warned.
In 2026, with a favorable combination of circumstances, the cards of the domestic system can be earned in Egypt and Mauritius, Alexey Rodin expects. Izvestia contacted the NSPK for comment.
Which banks operate Union Pay cards abroad
At the beginning of 2026, the cards of the payment system from Asia y of the RSHB bank are operating abroad, its press service told Izvestia. They clarified that the payment instrument is accepted in Asia, the Middle East and the CIS, including the UAE, China, Turkey, Vietnam, Egypt and Uzbekistan. At the same time, you can link a Chinese payment system card in the Yunshanfu Union Pay app and make purchases using a QR code in China.
— The volume of spending by the bank's customers abroad for 10 months of 2025 on these cards increased by 80% compared to the same period last year. This is due to the development of tourism to China, especially taking into account the introduction of a visa—free regime," the RSHB shared.
Another player with such cards is the Asia-Pacific Bank (ATB), said Mikhail Khachaturian from the Financial University. Izvestia sent a request to the credit institution.
However, it is not possible to use the card of the Chinese payment system in all countries: for example, the system is practically not represented in the USA, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, Germany, France, the expert warned. And even if this payment system is formally in operation in the state, cards may still not be accepted for payment in some stores or it will not be possible to withdraw money from them at some ATMs.
— Outside of Russia, these cards have a limit on cash withdrawals: a maximum of 50 thousand yuan (552 thousand rubles) per day and 500 thousand yuan (5.5 million rubles) per year per card, — Mikhail Khachaturian reminded.
In addition, additional costs can be incurred on conversions, since payments made in non-dollars and non-rubles will be exchanged twice. For example, first in dollars, and then in the currency of the country where the owner of the "plastic" is located.
Is it legal to transfer cryptocurrency abroad
By the beginning of 2026, cryptocurrency in Russia is legal as property and an investment instrument: it can be purchased through regulated services (for example, Whitebird, A7A5 and other licensed exchangers), stored, transferred abroad and used for payments there, including through foreign exchanges, wallets and crypto cards, said Vladislav BitRiver, a financial analyst. Antonov. This means that the crypt can be considered as one of the ways to make purchases abroad.
At the same time, it is still prohibited to pay for goods and services in cryptocurrency within Russia, and fines are imposed for such calculations, so any schemes between residents formally violate the law, he stressed.
— P2P trading (exchanging digital currencies directly, without intermediaries in the form of exchanges) is not prohibited by itself, but it is associated with increased risks of fraud and account blocking. Therefore, "white" exchangers with transparent KYC and documents are considered a safer option," Vladislav Antonov warned.
As a result, the crypt remains a working channel for transferring funds abroad and paying there. However, such payments should also be allowed in the country where the Russian citizen arrives, said Mikhail Nikitin, Head of International Business and Finance Practice, partner at 5D Consulting. For example, this is possible to a certain extent in Germany, Switzerland, Singapore. If, in the state where the payment is made, the crypt is not built into legal circulation, the person still finds himself in the zone of gray bypass structures.
— There is also a more promising trend — the emergence of solutions where a person can have a card of international payment systems linked to a crypto wallet. Replenishment in such models goes through cryptocurrency, and if necessary, you can go back to the crypt, and the cost of operations is about 2% or higher," said Mikhail Nikitin.
How Russians can pay with a QR code abroad
Another payment method abroad is the QR code, which is already familiar in Russia. Payment in this way is available for Russians in Turkey, Vietnam, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, said Mikhail Khachaturian from the Financial University.
The use of QR code payment is possible only for customers of four banks: Sberbank, VTB, Gazprombank and MTS Bank, the expert said. Only these credit institutions have configured the appropriate functionality. Izvestia has sent inquiries to these credit institutions.
— At the same time, in each country, the use of funds from Russian banks has its own restrictions or is carried out intermittently, — said Mikhail Khachaturian.
How Russians can pay in Turkey
Turkey, as one of the most popular destinations for Russians, has become an excellent example of adapting the payment infrastructure to new conditions, according to Vladimir Krasnikov from the PRIX Club. In 2025, payment through the national TR QR system became widespread there: the buyer scans the code at the checkout in the Russian bank's application, and the debit is made in rubles with automatic conversion into lira.
— This has expanded the opportunities for tourists, but its reliability depends on the quality of communication, the correct configuration of the terminal and whether the store is connected to the system, — said Vladimir Krasnikov.
There is another payment option in Turkey, the Letim service, which is specially designed for Russian tourists and authorized by the Turkish Central Bank. The application allows you to issue plastic and virtual cards of the Turkish national payment system Troy and pay for purchases in Turkish online and offline stores, as well as withdraw cash from ATMs, the service's press service said. Funds can be transferred to the application via the SBP. However, according to customers, registration in the system sometimes takes several days, and the use of a virtual card without checking a passport is limited by a small limit.
Another original payment method that works in Turkey is the use of terminals of Russian banks. ATM cards of credit institutions of the Russian Federation, which were brought to Turkey in advance, are installed at tourist points: with the correct settings, payment will be made with any Russian card, as in our country, explained Vladimir Krasnikov.
— Some retail outlets in Turkey use terminals of Russian banks, which allows accepting Russian cards for payment. However, this mechanism is limited in nature and is not considered a universal or guaranteed method," the RSHB also confirmed.
How can I pay for my purchases in China
New digital formats are emerging not only in the Turkish market, but also in the Chinese market, said Vladimir Krasnikov. An example is the launch of payments via AliPay with the participation of Sberbank: first of all, we are talking about paying using a QR code in China at those points where Alipay is accepted, as well as transferring funds to an Alipay wallet.
This tool is designed for tourists who often visit China and for those who regularly pay for goods and services to Chinese contractors, the expert noted. Izvestia turned to Sber for clarifications.
In general, we can say that Russians have adapted to the new conditions, Vladimir Krasnikov summed up: there are payment methods and in most cases they work, but they require flexibility and preliminary preparation.
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