📌 Current information: This article describes the limit as of its publication date. For the current contactless (no-PIN) transaction limit, see: Cardless Contactless Payment Limit Rising to 2,500 TL
Illustration of contactless payment transaction limits

With the introduction of contactless transactions into our lives, new concepts and new structures also came along. This structure, which is much simpler in contact-based transactions, is somewhat more complex in contactless transactions.

The limit concepts used in contactless transactions are listed below.

Contactless Limit: Refers to the upper limit up to which a transaction can be made contactlessly.

Cvm Limit: Refers to the lower limit above which CVM verification is required.

Floor Limit: Refers to the upper limit up to which a transaction can be approved offline.

In contact-based offline transactions, only the “Floor Limit” check is performed. The CVM Limit and Contactless Limit checks are not performed.

For a transaction;

  • Whether it will be Online or Offline
  • If it will be Online, the decision of whether it is performed with CVM verification or without CVM verification is based on the ‘Three Transaction Amount Limit’ hierarchy:

It must be defined as: Contactless Transaction Limit >= CVM Mandatory Limit >= Contactless Floor Limit.

Transactions with an amount equal to or greater than the Contactless Transaction Limit cannot be performed contactlessly; the transaction must be performed with contact.

For transactions with an amount smaller than the Contactless Transaction Limit and equal to or greater than the CVM Limit, the transaction will be performed online with CVM checks. An Online PIN or signature may be requested for the transaction.

Transactions larger than the Contactless Floor Limit and smaller than the CVM Limit are performed Online without CVM checks.

Transactions smaller than the Contactless Floor Limit are performed Offline. These transactions do not require CVM.

Let's examine these 3 limits supported for contactless transactions through an example.
Assuming the limit values are as follows;

Contactless Limit. : 250 TL
Cvm Limit. : 60 TL
Floor Limit : 50 TL

  • Contactless transactions up to 49.99 TL are approved Offline.
  • A contactless transaction between 50.00 – 59.99 TL goes Online without CVM checks.
  • A contactless transaction between 60.00 – 249.99 TL goes Online with CVM checks performed (requests Online PIN or Signature).