Mastercard is introducing new requirements for payment cards and terminals in Europe that will allow consumers to make purchases even during power outages or connectivity disruptions. Starting in February 2027, all newly issued Mastercard cards must support offline transactions of up to €200 each.
Mastercard announced plans to expand its offline payment technology across the European market. The new rules are designed to keep payment infrastructure operational during power outages, internet disruptions, and other emergencies. Consumers will be able to pay by card without a terminal connection to the payment network, with transaction data submitted for processing once connectivity is restored.
The transition to the new standards will take place in 2 phases:
Starting in February 2027, all newly issued Mastercard cards in Europe must support offline payments.
Starting in May 2027, the same requirement will apply to all new payment terminals and devices installed to replace existing equipment.
The technology stores predefined transaction limits directly on the payment card’s chip. If connectivity is lost, the terminal will be able to approve transactions independently, provided they remain within the limits set in advance by the issuing bank.
The maximum amount for a single offline transaction will be €200. Once connectivity is restored, transaction data will be transmitted to the payment network for final settlement.
Payments will require a chip-enabled card and PIN entry. Offline transaction capabilities are particularly important for businesses providing essential goods and services, including grocery stores, supermarkets, gas stations, and pharmacies. The technology will also be used in transportation and ticket vending machines.
A major power outage in Spain and Portugal in April 2025 highlighted the vulnerability of Europe’s payment infrastructure. Mastercard estimated that about 55 million people were unable to make digital payments during the disruption.
The company has already deployed offline payment technology in 4 European countries:
Denmark;
Sweden;
Estonia;
Latvia.
Mastercard is working with financial partners, national governments, regulators, and central banks to expand the technology across other European markets.
Brice van de Walle, Mastercard’s Executive Vice President of Core Payments, emphasized that people still need to buy food, fuel, and medicine during power outages or connectivity disruptions. He said experience in European countries demonstrated the effectiveness of offline payments, prompting the company to make the technology available more widely.
The digital euro, a central bank digital currency (CBDC) currently under development, is also expected to support offline payments.
