Foreign-issued bank cards do not work in Russia. After you cross the Russian border, the convenience you are used to disappears: you cannot simply pay for coffee, order a taxi, or get admission to a museum. You are forced to look for a currency exchange bureau, carry cash with you, and avoid unplanned spending.

The answer to this problem is PayInRussia. This payment service enables visitors from other countries to pay for goods and services in Russia through their smartphones. https://payinrussia.com You can manage without cash or visit a bank branch.

Which purchases and services can you pay for?

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• cab rides and courier deliveries;
  
• hotel stays and plane tickets;
  
• coffee shops and restaurants;
  
• shops and shopping centers;
  
• tickets to museums and events;
  
• orders placed with Russian online retailers and marketplaces.
  

How can you use it?

Create your account before traveling while you are still at home. To complete the registration:

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• use your phone to scan your passport;
  
• take a photo of yourself;
  
• 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 an eligible payment platform operating in a supported country before you arrive in Russia.

Pay for your purchases:

• 
  
• At physical points of sale: scan the checkout QR code. A connection to the internet via Wi-Fi or a mobile network is required.
  
• For online payments: pay for orders in e-commerce stores and make hotel reservations and buy tickets right in the application.
  

Why is it convenient?

PayInRussia has been created with overseas visitors in mind:

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• you do not have to become a Russian resident;
  
• you do not have to set up an account at a Russian bank;
  
• you do not have to visit bank branches or currency exchange offices;
  
• you can create an account and add funds before you travel;
  
• you can make convenient payments using your smartphone;
  
• the service is ideal for short visits as well as longer stays.
  

What do you need to do to begin? Just follow three simple steps:

1. 
   
2. Get the mobile app on your mobile phone.
   
3. Top up your balance using an international bank card.
   
4. Use the service to pay for purchases while in Russia: start the mobile app, press the QR payment icon, and scan the checkout QR code. The money will be debited from your account right away.