The Contactless Limit is the maximum transaction amount allowed for a “Tap to Pay” or NFC (Near Field Communication) transaction that does not require a PIN or signature verification. This limit is set by card schemes and local financial regulators and varies significantly by country (e.g., £100 in the UK, $200 CAD in Canada). Transactions exceeding this limit usually require inserting the card (Chip & PIN) or using a device with biometric authentication like Apple Pay.

FAQs:

  • What happens if a charge exceeds the contactless limit?
    The terminal or app will usually prompt the customer to insert their card or provide a PIN. However, mobile wallets (Apple Pay/Google Pay) often bypass this limit due to biometric security.
  • Can I change the contactless limit for my business?
    No, these limits are set by the banking industry and national regulators, not by individual merchants or payment processors.
  • Does the contactless limit apply to Tap to Pay on iPhone?
    Generally, Tap to Pay on iPhone supports PIN entry on the screen for amounts over the limit, allowing for higher value transactions.

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