Safety elements on Visa cards

1. Logo.

Since June 1, 2006, Visa Electron cards of two designs are in circulation.

Till June 30, 2011, new design cards must fully substitute old design cards. The logo is always placed on the face of the card in its top or bottom right corner.

The logo is always placed on the face of the card, higher or lower that the hologram.  

2. Card number.

All Visa cards numbers start from 4. The letters must be pressed accurately, observing general size and interval. The card number on the face side must coincide with the 16-digit (13-digit) number printed on the signature band. On the Visa Electron card, the number id is mainly not pressed (embossed), as on other Visa cards, but is printed and may not be indicated on the signature band. The Visa Electron number may contain only the first 4 or the first 4 and last 4 digits. The card number must coincide with the number printed on the cheque.

3. Customer name and surname.

The customer name and surname must coincide with the name and surname printed on the cheque. On some cards, the name and surname may be omitted.

4. Stylized letter.

On cards issued before June 2006, the stylized asymmetric letter must be present, located on the same level with the card validity term. On cards issued after June 2006, the presence of the stylized letter is not required. On Visa Electron cards, this letter shall not be present.

5. Card validity term.

The dates of card entering into force and expiration are located below the number. The validity term is defined as starting date and ending date, e.g., 03/04, 03/05 (month/year). This means that the card is valid from 00:01 March 1, 2004 to 24:00 March 31, 2005. Sometimes the validity term may contain an expiration date only. The validity term of such card must coincide with the one printed on the cheque. The card may be accepted for service only during its validity term.

6. Signature band.

The signature band on the reverse side of the card contains the slanted word Visa (on Visa Electron cards - "Visa" or "Visa Electron"), repeated after the 16-digit (13-digit) number the 3-digit reverse slanted card verification code (CVV) is placed, which serves for goods and services payment without the physical presence of the card. On the new design cards, the signature band looks like the following:

The card verification code exceeds the signature panel. On Visa Electron cards, this code is absent, the presence of the code on the signature band is not obligatory. The signature band is erasure-sensitive. If it was scratched or erased, the word VOID appears on it. This card cannot be accepted for payment.

7. Digits printed on the card.

Four digits typographically printed on the card above or below the card number must coincide with the first four digits of the card number.

8. All cards must be signed before use.

After receiving your card please put your signature on the reverse side on the special panel. Please keep in mind that during settlements in a trade outlet, the signature on your card will be compared with the signature on the cheque. If the card is not signed, you will be asked to present a passport to compare name and surname. If there are no name and surname on the card, you will be asked to present a passport for your signature identification. An unsigned card will not be accepted for payment.

9. Presence of chip.

Some Visa cards have a chip. The presence or absence of a chip on two cards with the same design does not mean that the card is fake.

10. Hologram.

A hologram is present on all Visa cards, except for Visa Electron. The dove image on the card must be tridimensional and move when you change the position of the card. The last four digits of the number should be placed on the hologram.

11. Please check the card in ultraviolet, if possible.

In the center of Visa cards (except for Visa Electron), the dove image, similar to the one on the hologram, appears in ultraviolet rays.