Rospatent has decided to extend the validity of the Visa trademark in Russia until December 2035, despite the payment system's suspension of operations in the country in 2022.
The extension will allow the Visa brand to continue to be used in Russia, but it does not change the fact that Visa and Mastercard cards issued after the payment system left the country currently only work within Russia, as their security certificates expired on January 1, 2025.
Earlier, Alla Bakina, Director of the National Payment System Department of the Bank of Russia, reported that there would be no abrupt steps to disable Visa and Mastercard cards issued in Russia with extended validity.
This means that over time, the cards will still be withdrawn from circulation and replaced with cards from the national payment system "Mir" or UnionPay, but this process will be gradual, without abruptly disabling existing cards.
Earlier, www1.ru wrote that the cards would be withdrawn from circulation, as Visa and Mastercard security certificates have expired.