Would you like to shop online on international e-commerce sites and pay using your M-PESA balance? M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card can help you do just that. In this article, you will learn how to register and use the service to pay for goods and services on international sites with the money in your M-PESA account.
On June 2nd, 2022, M-PESA and Visa Card teamed up to introduce the M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card. This innovative solution enables M-PESA users to make seamless online payments to international merchants that accept Visa Card payments, like Amazon, Netflix, eBay, AliExpress, Spotify, Uber, and many more. To use the card, all you need to do is register, either using the M-PESA app or the USSD code *334#.
The card differs in various ways from the normal Visa card. First, it is a virtual card and not a physical one. The card has a 16-digit card number, an expiry date, and a security code (CVV). However, with each transaction, a new CVV is generated, ensuring enhanced security. Also, unlike the normal Visa card, the M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card is connected to your mobile wallet (M-PESA) and not your bank account.
Benefits of M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card
There are various benefits of using the M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card. They include:
- You don’t need a bank account or a credit history to get the card; you can easily register and activate the card via the M-PESA App or USSD in minutes.
- You can pay with your M-PESA balance without sharing your personal or financial information with the merchant.
- A unique CVV is generated for each transaction, making it secure.
- You avoid currency conversion costs and enjoy competitive exchange rates when paying with the card.
- You can use the card on any site that accepts Visa cards.
- You can manage the card, set budgets, view transaction history and access customer support via the M-PESA App or USSD.
How to Register for M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card
The M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card registration is a straightforward process. However, you need to meet the following requirements:
- You must be an active M-PESA customer with a registered SIM card
- You need to have an updated version of the M-PESA App on your smartphone or access to USSD service on any phone
- You must agree to the terms and conditions of the service
How to Register using the M-PESA App:
- Download the M-PESA App from Google Play Store or Apple App Store
- Log in to your M-PESA App account
- Select the Grow tab
- Select the GlobalPay service
- Select your card colour
- You will receive your card details which include your card number, expiry date, and CVV
How to register using USSD:
To register for the card via USSD, follow these steps:
- Dial *334#
- Select option 6 for “Lipa Na M-PESA”
- Select option 5 for “M-PESA GlobalPay”
- Follow the prompts to activate the service and receive your card details
As mentioned before, this is a virtual card, not a physical one. Therefore, you will not be issued with a physical card, but you can access its details via the M-PESA app or USSD. Also, you can register for only one card per ID.
How to make payments using the M-PESA GlobalPay virtual Visa card
To use the M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card for online payments, you need to ensure your M-PESA account has enough balance to buy the product or service. The card is linked to your M-PESA account, so when you make a payment, the amount is deducted automatically from your M-PESA account. Here is how to make payments using the card on international websites:
- Visit the online site you want to shop from and select the items you want to buy
- Proceed to checkout and select Visa as your payment method
- Enter your card details (PAN, expiry date, CVV) and confirm the payment
- You will receive an SMS notification from M-PESA confirming the transaction
Please note that you cannot receive money on the M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card. You can only use it to make online international payments.
You can access the card details using your M-PESA app or USSD code (*334#). For every transaction, you will receive a new CVV that is valid for 30 minutes; you must use it before it expires. The minimum amount you can pay with the card is Ksh 1, and the maximum is Ksh 150,000 per transaction and Ksh 300,000 per day.
Conclusion
M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card is a convenient and secure way to shop from global merchants online using your M-PESA wallet. It offers the flexibility and control of a prepaid card with no physical card or bank account. You can register and use the card on your phone via the M-PESA app or USSD. You can also enjoy the benefits of Visa’s global network and M-PESA’s reliability and affordability. For more information about the service, visit www.safaricom.co.ke/mpesaglobalpay.
