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"offline transactions"

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Diagram explaining how an offline chip card transaction is approved without contacting the bank

Merchant & POS

What Is an Offline Transaction?

When a chip card transaction is made at a POS, it may be approved by the card and the POS alone, without reaching any system (issuer or acquirer). When do the issuer and acquirer find out about it?

Diagram illustrating how a contactless offline transaction is processed

Merchant & POS

Can a Contactless Offline Transaction Occur?

A contactless offline transaction can occur. If the amount is lower than the floor limit defined on the POS and the card also allows offline authorization, the transaction can be completed offline. Offline transactions are periodically sent by the POS to the acquiring bank.

Diagram showing how offline transactions are relayed from the POS to the card bank

Merchant & POS

How Do Offline Transactions Reach the Card and POS Bank?

In chip transactions made with a credit card via POS, the transaction amount is approved by the card and POS based on parameters on the card and POS, without going to the card bank or POS bank. These are called offline transactions.

POS terminal device used for processing card transactions

Online & Authorization

Response Codes That Can Be Received in Offline Transactions

Below are the possible response code values for offline transactions and their explanations: Response Code / Explanation - Y1: Approved offline, Z1: Declined offline, Y2: Approved after referral, and more.

Table of merchant sectors where offline transactions are restricted

Merchant & POS

In Which Sectors Can Offline Transactions Not Be Performed?

An offline transaction is one approved by the card and the POS themselves, without going to any system (the card's bank or the POS's bank), when a chip card transaction is made at a POS. For this reason, some sectors considered risky are restricted.

Contactless payment card being tapped on a POS terminal

Merchant & POS

Can a contact/contactless transaction be processed offline?

An offline transaction is one in which the card and POS terminal approve the transaction based on their own parameters, without contacting their banks. Whether contact or contactless, the device decides whether the transaction is processed offline.

EMV upper consecutive offline limit

Merchant & POS

What Is the Upper Consecutive Offline Limit?

The Upper Consecutive Offline Limit is the maximum number of consecutive offline transactions allowed by the issuer's chip card application on a terminal that cannot go online. It is held in tag 9F23.

Comparison of online and offline token verification in payment transactions

HCE

What Are Transaction-Based (Online/Offline) Token Types?

Token types vary depending on the verification method used in a transaction. In offline transactions, general checks are performed by the mobile app and card reader without any verification in the card system. In online transactions, token verification is sent to and verified by the issuer.

Diagram illustrating how a POS terminal's floor limit determines offline transaction approval

Merchant & POS

What Is a Floor Limit?

The floor limit is the value held on the POS that determines the maximum amount for which an offline transaction can be approved. It is managed per terminal and can be updated at any time through the POS parameter management system.

Diagram illustrating the Store and Forward (SAF) offline transaction process

Payment Systems

What is Store and Forward (SAF)?

Store and Forward (SAF) describes offline transaction processing. It was originally developed when modems were introduced and connections were not always stable, letting terminals store transactions and forward them once connectivity is restored.