Approved Countries

To ensure compliance with international laws and prevent illicit activities such as money laundering (AML) and the financing of terrorism (CFT), financial institutions and service providers carefully evaluate countries for transaction eligibility.

Certain countries may be classified as restricted due to factors such as:
– Sanctions: Imposed by international bodies like the United Nations, European Union, or specific countries.
– High Money Laundering Risks: Jurisdictions identified by organizations like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as having inadequate anti-money laundering controls.
– Weak Regulatory Environments: Countries with insufficient oversight or poor enforcement of financial regulations.
– Political Instability or Corruption: Regions where political or economic instability poses heightened financial risks.

By adhering to these guidelines, financial systems uphold security, transparency, and compliance with global standards. Please refer to our detailed list of approved and restricted countries to ensure your transactions are compliant.
This document outlines the countries approved for participation in the Mastercard program. Transactions and services are only permitted in jurisdictions that comply with Mastercard’s regulatory, security, and compliance standards. The list reflects adherence to international guidelines, including anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) measures.

Blacklisted Countries

This reflects OFAC’s sanctions programs that may restrict financial dealings — including banking and payment processing — without a license or authorization

Cuba,
Iran,
North Korea, Russia (wide range of sanctions)
Burma (Myanmar) — sanctions apply to many individuals and entities,
Belarus,
Libya,
Central African Republic,
Iraq,
Somalia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Nicaragua,
Other regions under specific programs (e.g., Ukraine conflict areas)

Examples of Situations Where Cards Don’t Work

In addition to the sanctioned countries above, some networks or local issuers may also restrict use or operations in certain regions because of regulatory decisions or local banking restrictions. For example:

Visa and Mastercard ceased typical operations in Russia in 2022 after sanctions, meaning cards issued there often do not work as usual on the global networks.
Other local or issuer-specific restrictions may affect service in countries experiencing political instability or high fraud risk.

Important Notes

These lists are not exhaustive and can change quickly as governments impose or lift sanctions.
Not all cards issued by Visa/Mastercard will work even in permitted countries — banks and card issuers sometimes impose additional geographical restrictions for security.

Important (Compliance Perspective)

The card network does not independently determine “approved countries.” Approval depends on:

International sanctions (OFAC, EU, UK, UN)
The issuing bank’s risk policy
AML/KYC regulations
FATF high-risk jurisdiction classifications