Cards issued by foreign banks are not accepted in Russia. After you cross the Russian border, the convenience you are used to is no longer available: you cannot simply pay for your coffee, request a cab, or get admission to a museum. You are forced to search for a place to exchange money, keep cash on hand, and avoid unplanned spending.

The answer to this problem is PayInRussia. https://payinrussia.com/ This service allows visitors from other countries to make payments for products and services in Russia with their mobile phones. You can manage without cash or need to go to a bank.

What can you pay for?

• 
  
• taxi trips and delivery services;
  
• hotel stays and plane tickets;
  
• cafés and restaurants;
  
• stores and shopping malls;
  
• museum and event tickets;
  
• orders placed with Russian online retailers and marketplaces.
  

How can you use it?

Sign up before your journey while you are still at home. To complete the registration:

• 
  
• upload a scan of your passport;
  
• capture a selfie;
  
• complete a quick identity verification process. Your document data is detected automatically, and no text messages sent to a Russian phone number are required.
  

Add funds to your balance using a foreign-issued bank card or a supported international payment service before you arrive in Russia.

Use the service to pay for purchases:

• 
  
• Offline: scan the checkout QR code. Internet access via a Wi-Fi or cellular network is required.
  
• On the internet: pay for orders in e-commerce stores and make hotel reservations and buy tickets right in the application.
  

What makes it convenient?

PayInRussia has been designed especially for foreign travelers:

• 
  
• you do not need to be a resident of the Russian Federation;
  
• you do not need to open a bank account in Russia;
  
• you can avoid visiting bank branches or currency exchange offices;
  
• you can sign up and fund your balance in advance of your journey;
  
• you can pay conveniently using your smartphone;
  
• the service is ideal for both short and extended trips.
  

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

1. 
   
2. Install the application to your smartphone.
   
3. Fund your account using an internationally issued bank card.
   
4. Use the service to pay for purchases while in Russia: launch the application, select the QR code symbol, and scan the checkout QR code. The money will be debited from your account right away.