Can Egyptian cards pay foreign merchants?
Yes, but with limits. Banks cap foreign currency spending on credit cards, and some have suspended it on debit cards. HSBC Egypt, for example, caps non-cash foreign currency purchases at EGP 100,000 a month on most credit cards. Local acquiring or local methods reduce declines.
In detail
Yes, but with limits. Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued in Egypt work abroad, but banks still set their own caps on foreign currency spending. The Central Bank of Egypt told banks in March 2024 to reopen foreign currency limits on credit cards, yet each bank decides the amount.
HSBC Egypt, for example, limits non-cash foreign currency purchases to EGP 100,000 per month on most credit cards, and has suspended foreign currency transactions on its debit cards since October 2023. Domestic Meeza cards are built for local use.
What it means for cross-border sales
Merchants selling to Egypt from abroad should expect declines on Egyptian cards once a shopper reaches their bank's cap, or when the card does not allow foreign currency at all. The decline is not about fraud or funds, which makes it frustrating for shoppers.
- Local acquiring turns the payment into a domestic one.
- Local methods such as Fawry codes, wallets or InstaPay avoid the card cap.
What it means for payment operators
For PSPs and PayFacs serving merchants with Egyptian customers, connecting a local acquirer and local methods next to international cards reduces avoidable declines. Routing rules can then send Egyptian cards to the local route when it is available.