In which countries can you get bank cards
Let's start with the bad news: global payments are still difficult for Russians. Now for the good news: we've compiled a list of countries you can quickly reach to open an overseas account. After all, we love travel primarily for freedom. The freedom to choose a great hotel for your honeymoon or pay for purchases at Zara.
Anyway, let's go!
Kazakhstan
An option that has been consistently available for several years: travel to Kazakhstan to open an account there. Here's the easiest scheme to follow to get your desired card upon arrival:
- keep in mind that bureaucracy is everything. This means you'll need to "stock up" on more time for your trip to wait for all necessary documents to be processed;
- don't forget to bring your international passport to later make a notarized and apostilled copy for Kazakhstan;
- get a couple of bank statements to confirm a stable source of income;
- rent accommodation and don't forget the rental agreement. If you're staying in a hotel, they might confirm your legal entry into the country there. Otherwise, you'll need to contact the migration service;
- register a local SIM card. Both a physical card issued in Kazakhstan and a registered virtual number will work;
- obtain an IIN (Individual Identification Number) at a Kazakh PSC (Public Service Center). It's usually created in one day, but sometimes the process can take longer (see point #1);
- register as an individual entrepreneur (if you haven't already) and confirm your individual entrepreneurship with a coupon;
- contact banks like Kaspi, Freedom Bank, Bank RBK. In the latter, by the way, card issuance will be paid and will cost an amount starting from 5,000 tenge;
- be prepared for the fact that since the beginning of the year, non-residents have been issued cards with a "lifespan" of 12 months.
Belarus
Russia and Belarus are brothers forever. Therefore, you can always go there to open an overseas account, but you will need to pay a fee for non-residents of the country. But first things first. So, what do you need to do if you decide to get a card in Belarus.
- take your regular internal passport with you;
- get a local SIM card. Yes, both a physical card (which can even be obtained in Moscow, but at a higher price than locally) and an e-SIM are suitable;
- go to a bank. You can open an account at Alfa-Bank, MTBank, BNB-Bank, Priorbank, StatusBank, Zepter;
- notify the Russian Federal Tax Service that you have opened an account abroad. We don't want fines, right?
- Done! You are amazing!
Kyrgyzstan
Let's start with loyalty again: in Kyrgyzstan, they will be very happy to open your account in a local bank. Therefore, you are unlikely to have problems with obtaining a local card. What do you need? Just go to the bank. To be more precise, you will need the following documents:
- international passport with an entry stamp. Or a Russian passport with proof of entry, for example, via a boarding pass;
- mobile phone number. You don't have to "bother" with a local number — a Russian one will also work;
- actual residential address;
- registration address in Kyrgyzstan. You can also register at a hotel. This is not a mandatory point for all banks, but it's better to get registered in advance and not worry;
- exchange cash for Soms to pay for card issuance at a local bank;
- go to BakaiBank or DemirBank. We recommend looking into the first one, as with an additional Elcard opened for your account, you can transfer money from a MIR card by phone number;
- wait about 10 days. But if you really want to, you can pay for an expedited procedure and "get it done" in a couple of days.
Uzbekistan
Many Russians have started traveling to Uzbekistan to open an account in a foreign bank and get a card, as Kazakhstan has introduced stricter rules for issuance. Overall, upon arrival in Uzbekistan to get a local card, you need to:
- plan a trip for at least 15 days, as this is a mandatory requirement for most banks before opening an account;
- bring your international passport;
- register at your place of stay. The hotel will always be happy to help you with this;
- get a SIM card to receive bank notifications and register it in the IMEI database. It's easiest (and most cost-effective) to do this upon arrival.
- obtain a PINFL (Personal Identification Number for Individuals). This can be done at the nearest Public Services Center, which is similar to the local equivalent of the Russian MFC. The service is paid, so stock up on Uzbek Soms in advance.
- choose a bank. Russians most often open accounts at Kapitalbank, Asia Alliance Bank, Octobank, and Anor Bank.
Turkey
If you decide to get a card in Turkey, you will literally have to go on a tour. A tour of local bank branches, as officially, accounts are only opened here for individuals with a residence permit. Sometimes it happens that one bank branch refuses to open an account, while another welcomes you with open arms.
If a forced march is not an issue for you, add the following points to your to-do list:
- study the opening conditions of two banks: VakıfBank and Ziraat Bank. They are most often accommodating to Russians when issuing cards;
- check if your international passport is valid and take it with you on your exciting Turkish journey;
- bring your internal passport. It must contain registration details;
- obtain a local TIN. An important nuance for obtaining it: your international passport must be registered in the Turkish system, which means you will definitely need to fly to the country. The TIN consists of ten digits, which you can obtain by filling out a form on ivd.gib.gov.tr. If all goes well, you will be sent a PDF file with the TIN number.
- get a local SIM card and register the IMEI. This is not an entirely mandatory requirement, because the numbers of some Russian operators can be linked to a Turkish account. But it's better to be safe than sorry, so your efforts don't go to waste later;
- visit a bank and don't give up. If one branch refuses, go to another or try a different bank.
Done. All that's left is to choose which country you'll embark on your "card" tour to!
