In which countries does the Mir card work

We understand that the 'card' question before a trip is a real headache right now. You have to think about where to withdraw cash if needed, and whether you can pay with a card in foreign stores. We have gathered all the up-to-date information for you on countries that continue to accept Mir cards. 

In which countries does the Mir card work

Armenia

In Armenia, everything is fine with Mir. The Russian payment system is integrated into the country's major payment system. You can easily withdraw cash at ATMs with the ArCa or Armenian Card system. You can also just pay for purchases in stores: cards are accepted almost everywhere. But still, periodically check the stickers at the checkout — all active payment systems are indicated there.

Here is a list of verified ATMs where you can definitely withdraw money: Inecobank, Ardshinbank, Converse Bank, and Armenia Bank. You can bother to Google all banks that support the ArCa payment system. If you are in Yerevan, you will 100% be able to pay with Mir. 

Abkhazia

Here too, everything is great with Mir. Russian cards are accepted in any store or cafe, and cash can be withdrawn at ATMs of Universal Bank, Kibit Bank, Sberbank of Abkhazia, and most other banks in the country.

But keep in mind that cashless payments are not popular in Abkhazia. Of course, in tourist cities like Sukhumi or Gagra, you can easily pay with a card, but if you plan to travel to other places in this country, it's better to have cash with you. And another life hack: it's better to take small denominations, because sellers often don't have change. Or they might just want to take more money from you. 

Belarus

The Mir card payment system is integrated into all banks in Belarus, so you can pay and withdraw cash at any ATM just like in Russia. 

South Ossetia

In Tskhinvali, Mir is accepted without problems, but not yet in other cities of South Ossetia. It is best to withdraw cash at the ATMs of the National Bank. 

Kyrgyzstan

In Kyrgyzstan, some banks have stopped working with Mir, but enough banks still continue to accept Russian cards. You can withdraw cash and pay in any banks that support the Elkart payment system — it is integrated into almost all cafes and stores. You can withdraw money at Keremet Bank, RSK Bank, Kyrgyz-Swiss Bank, and Kyrgyzkommertsbank. 

Kazakhstan

Previously, Mir worked almost everywhere in Kazakhstan, and there was even its own Sberbank. But now everything is a little different: one of the major banks, Halyk Bank, has stopped servicing Russian cards, and the local Sberbank is suspending its operations and being renamed.

Only VTB and CenterCredit Bank remain. Their ATMs and terminals are almost everywhere — Mir will be accepted without problems. You can withdraw cash at VTB Kazakhstan and CenterCredit ATMs.

Vietnam

And Vietnam is doing great! The country is actively integrating Mir cards. Now you can easily withdraw cash at VRB ATMs: they are available in major tourist areas. Before paying in a store or establishment, check for VRB stickers at the checkout — even if there are no stickers, cards are likely accepted.

Please note: you can withdraw no more than 5,000,000 dong at a time (about 20,000 rubles). But the limit is very easy to bypass: withdraw cash, take out the card, insert it again — boom, you can easily withdraw another 5,000,000 dong.

Tajikistan

In Tajikistan, Mir is accepted, but tourists report problems with cash withdrawals. The card support itself says that everything is normal, the payment system continues to work.

Unfortunately, recently in Tajikistan, major banks Dushanbe City, as well as Halyk Bank and Eskhat, have suspended support for Mir. But in ATMs of other banks, everything should be fine. For example, Amonatbonk says it continues to cooperate with Russian payment systems. 

Where Mir cards have stopped working

In 2022, Mir cards stopped working in Turkey: DenizBank, Ziraat Bank, Halkbank, Is Bankasi, VakifBank refused to service the cards.

It is also now more difficult to use Mir in Kazakhstan. Previously, there was Sberbank, where Russians could easily withdraw money and even issue a card. But in 2022, the bank changed ownership, was renamed, and stopped cooperating with Russia, so cards are no longer accepted. It was also possible to withdraw money at Halyk Bank, but now it also does not accept Mir. 

In autumn, Mir cards stopped working in Uzbekistan and partially in Kyrgyzstan.

Finally, here's some good news: Iran, Indonesia, Myanmar, Egypt, Thailand, India, Venezuela, Mauritius, Nigeria, and Ethiopia want to connect to Mir. 

Tips for tourists

1. Before your trip, still take a Mir card with you — it might come in handy. You can get one at almost any Russian bank, often quickly and for free. 
2. If an ATM accepts Mir, withdrawing cash is quite simple. However, pay attention to limits: some ATMs do not allow withdrawing more than a certain amount. 
3. If an ATM does not accept Mir, it will issue a technical error. Don't be alarmed — just take your card and try to withdraw money at an ATM of another bank. 
4. Pay attention to the conversion rate. Sometimes it's more profitable to withdraw cash from a Mir card at an ATM than to pay with the card in a store. It's easy to check the rate: pay for a small purchase and see how much was debited in rubles. Then withdraw the same amount at an ATM. 
5. Keep cash with you. Even if you are used to the fact that almost any card is accepted anywhere in Russia, the situation in other countries can be completely different. Therefore, it is very important to have a supply of cash so that you can always pay. 
6. Think in advance about how you will transfer money in case of an unforeseen situation. Some can pay with cryptocurrency, but not everyone understands it. One good way to transfer is 'Zolotaya Korona'. Download the app in advance and check which countries it works in. The last option is money changers, but you need to be ve-e-ery careful with them. Ask in chats, they should know reliable people. 

We understand that traveling abroad with Mir is not as comfortable now as it used to be. Unfortunately, there's nothing to be done about it. If you travel frequently, try to get a Kazakhstan bank card — it will work in any country without restrictions. And if that's not for you, take cash with you — it will never let you down.

By the way, some accommodation search apps continue to accept Mir cards. Download them — they will definitely come in handy. 

We wish you great travels without financial restrictions!