Kartli: Virtual Visa, Fees, and Top-Ups via SBP
Type
Payment system
Kartli
Kartli issues virtual Visa cards denominated in U.S. dollars that can be loaded with rubles via the Single Payment System (SPS). The card is issued remotely, and the card details become available after the first deposit. The service is designed for international subscriptions, online purchases, and smartphone payments while traveling.
Kartli is operated by Mercury Strategies Limited, a company registered in Hong Kong. The cards are issued through a foreign partner issuer.
As of November 2026, three plans are available:
- “For Subscriptions” – 990 rubles;
- “For Travel” – 2,990 rubles;
- Premium — 9,990 rubles.
The “For Subscriptions” card is valid for 12 months. It is primarily designed for online payments:
- issue fee: 990 rubles;
- Currency: USD;
- transaction fee for successful purchases — 0.25 USD;
- purchase limit: up to 10,000 USD per month;
- Apple Pay and Google Pay are not supported;
- service fee: 1 USD per month;
- If there are no purchases in a calendar month, the total fee increases to 2 USD.
The “Travel” card is valid for 3 years:
- Issuance fee: 2,990 rubles;
- purchase fee: 0.25 USD;
- Apple Pay and Google Pay;
- purchase limit—up to 50,000 USD per month;
- service fee—0 with active use;
- 1 USD per month with no transactions.
The Premium plan is also valid for 3 years:
- Issuance fee: 9,990 rubles;
- Transaction fee for successful purchases: 0 USD;
- Apple Pay and Google Pay;
- purchase limit—up to 200,000 USD per month;
- service fee—0;
- Dedicated support line.
Top-ups are made in rubles via the SBP. There is no separate transfer fee. The user sees the exchange rate and the credited amount in USD before confirming the transaction. The minimum ruble top-up starts at the equivalent of approximately 1,500 rubles; the exact amount depends on the current exchange rate and terms.
When paying in dollars on the two lower-tier plans, a fee of 0.25 USD is charged per successful transaction. On the Premium plan, the fee for a standard successful purchase is 0 USD. The basic card is valid for 12 months, while the two higher-tier plans are valid for 3 years.
If a purchase is made in a different currency, an additional currency conversion fee applies. When paying in a different currency, a surcharge of 0.50 USD + 1.1% is added to the plan’s base fee.
A fee of 0.50 USD may be charged for a declined transaction. The merchant’s card verification during registration may also cost 0.25 USD on standard plans. Therefore, multiple retries following an unsuccessful registration attempt increase costs.
“Travel” and Premium cards support contactless payments via Apple Pay and Google Pay. This allows you to use a virtual card at regular stores abroad, provided the terminal accepts the corresponding digital wallet.
Kartli can be used to pay for ChatGPT, Claude, Apple ID, Google Play, Steam, Booking, and other services, provided that the specific BIN is accepted. Whether a payment goes through depends not only on the card but also on the account’s region and the specific merchant’s policies.
The issuance fee is refunded within the first three days if you are unable to make a payment for a compatible service and the refund conditions are met. This is a useful safeguard for users, but you should review the refund policy before applying.
Kartli’s terms and conditions distinguish between the fee for linking a card and the fee for an unsuccessful charge. A merchant’s card verification may cost 0.25 USD; with the Premium plan, this fee is waived. A declined transaction costs 0.50 USD regardless of the plan. Top-up limits via the Quick Pay system: up to 200,000 rubles per day and up to 600,000 rubles per month per card. Cash withdrawals are not allowed. With the “For Travel” plan, free service is available if you make at least one successful purchase per calendar month: a month without purchases costs 1 USD. Therefore, “free” should be understood as a condition of activity, not a permanent absence of fees.
Questions and Answers
How much does the Kartli “For Subscriptions” card cost?
As of November 2026, the “For Subscriptions” plan costs 990 rubles.
Which cards support Apple Pay and Google Pay?
The “For Travel” and Premium plans. The Basic plan does not include mobile wallets.
Is there a fee for reloading via the Secure Payment System (SPS)?
There is no separate fee for the transfer. The final exchange rate and amount in dollars are displayed before confirmation.
How long is the card valid?
The “For Subscriptions” plan is valid for 12 months; the “For Travel” and Premium plans are valid for 3 years each.
Editor’s Opinion
Kartli offers three straightforward plans that differ in price, fees, validity period, and monthly limits. The basic plan for 990 rubles is suitable for subscriptions if the user is willing to pay 1 USD per month and 0.25 USD for each purchase. For travel, the second plan with mobile wallets makes more sense. The Premium plan becomes attractive for users with a high volume of transactions due to its zero purchase fee, but the high issuance fee requires a significant transaction volume. A separate advantage is the ability to top up via the SBP system and view the exchange rate before confirmation. When comparing plans, the ruble/USD exchange rate and the surcharge for payments in currencies other than the dollar are particularly important.
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