Bank cards issued outside Russia are not accepted in Russia. After you cross the Russian border, your usual payment convenience disappears: you can no longer easily purchase a cup of coffee, book a taxi, or get admission to a museum. You need to search for a place to exchange money, bring physical money with you, and avoid unplanned spending.

The answer to this problem is PayInRussia. The platform helps visitors from other countries to pay for goods and services in Russia through their smartphones. https://payinrussia.com/ You do not need cash or have to visit a bank.

What can be paid for?

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• cab rides and courier deliveries;
  
• hotels and airline tickets;
  
• cafés and restaurants;
  
• stores and shopping malls;
  
• tickets to museums and events;
  
• orders from Russian online stores and marketplaces.
  

How can you use it?

Sign up before your journey while you are in your country of residence. To complete the registration:

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• use your phone to scan your passport;
  
• take a selfie;
  
• go through a fast identity verification procedure. Your personal details is recognized automatically, and SMS verification through a Russian phone number is not required.
  

Deposit money into your account using a card issued by a foreign bank or a payment service available in a supported country before traveling to Russia.

Make payments for your purchases:

• 
  
• At physical points of sale: scan the QR code at the checkout. A connection to the internet via Wi-Fi or mobile data is required.
  
• On the internet: pay for orders in e-commerce stores and reserve accommodation and purchase tickets directly through the app.
  

What makes it convenient?

PayInRussia was developed especially for foreign travelers:

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• you do not have to become a Russian resident;
  
• you are not required to open an account with a Russian bank;
  
• you do not have to visit bank offices or currency exchange bureaus;
  
• you can sign up and fund your balance before you travel;
  
• you can make convenient payments with your mobile phone;
  
• the service is ideal for both brief and long-term journeys.
  

How do you get started? It only takes three straightforward steps:

1. 
   
2. Get the mobile app to your smartphone.
   
3. Fund your account using an internationally issued bank card.
   
4. Pay for purchases in Russia: launch the application, select the QR code symbol, and scan the code at the checkout. The money will be withdrawn from your balance instantly.