Prerequisites for Tourists
Cards
1. Types of Cards Accepted in Bhutan:
- All MasterCard cards
- All Visa cards
- All American Express cards
- All Japan Credit Bureau cards
- All Union Pay cards
- All Rupay cards
- Apple pay wallets linked to cards – on POS
- Google pay wallets linked to cards – on POS only
2. Overview of Card Payment options in Bhutan
| Terminal Type | Accepted Card Type | Supported Transactions | Coverage | Transaction Limits | Velocity Limits | Charges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATM | ✓ EMV chip cards ✓ Magnetic stripe cards | ✓ Cash Withdrawal ✓ Balance enquiry ✓ PIN mandatory | 85 machines in strategic locations across Bhutan | Nu. 15,000 per withdrawal | Unlimited withdrawals | Nu. 300 per withdrawal |
| POS | ✓Contactless cards ✓ EMV chip cards ✓ Magnetic stripe cards | ✓ Card charged for purchases only. ✓ PIN not required | 600+ terminals at key merchants (hotels, restaurants, government agencies, etc.) | Nu. 1,000,000 per purchase | Unlimited purchases | 3% of transaction amount charged to merchant |
| Online payment gateway | Online payments with 3D security ver 2.2 and below | ✓ Online payments ✓ 3D security validation if available | 200+ merchants (Department of Immigration, airlines, hotels, etc.) | No transaction limit | Unlimited transactions | 3.5% of transaction amount charged to merchant |
3. Important information for international cardholders:
a. Decline Scenario 1: Your transaction was declined by your card issuer Bank’s Fraud Risk Systems.
| Card Issuer Bank Response | Standard Definitions | Probable Causes | Proposed Remedy/Prevention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspected Fraud | The transaction failed a fraud rule in your issuer bank’s fraud detection system or Visa Real Time Decisioning (RTD)/Visa Risk Manager (VRM). | ✓ Frequent transactions in quick succession ✓ Deviations from your usual spending patterns ✓ High transaction value ✓ Unfamiliar merchant name ✓ Transaction from an unexpected country or region ✓ Others Fraud risk rules set by your issuer bank specific to your card or card type. | ✓ Contact Your Issuer Bank: • Inform your bank to anticipate transactions from Bhutan. • Verify the transaction and provide details if already declined. ✓ Update Fraud Rules: • Adjust and update fraud detection settings to anticipate transactions from Bhutan. ✓ Check International Settings: • Confirm your card is activated for international use. • Request activation if needed and inform the bank of any travel plans. |
| Do Not Honor | Payment refused by your card issuer bank for un-defined reasons | ||
| Invalid transaction | Transaction is temporarily or permanently restricted by your issuer bank. | ||
| Issuer Blocked due to security reasons | Your card issuer suspects this payment to be fraudulent. |
b. Decline Scenario 2 – your transaction was declined by your bank for business reasons:
| Card Issuer Bank Response | Standard Definitions | Possible Causes | Proposed Remedy/Prevention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transaction not permitted to terminal | The transaction is not permitted to the cardholder due to a condition set by the card issuer Bank | ✓ Customer cannot use credit card for this transaction. ✓ Transaction does not meet conditions set by issuer bank | ✓ Contact your card issuer bank and verify your card usage rules. ✓ Request for immediate assistance |
| Exceed amount Limit | Defined amount activity limit for the account is exceeded. | ✓ The issuer or acquirer settlement risk exposure cap has been exceeded. ✓ The issuer defined velocity/amount limit for Original Credit Transaction (OCT) has been exceeded | Contact your card issuer bank and request for an enhancement. |
| Invalid CVV2 | Declined for CVV2 failure. | Wrong CVV2 entered by customer for online transactions | Ensure the correct CVV2 number is used. |
| Invalid PIN | Declined for PIN verification failure | Wrong PIN entered for ATM withdrawals or POS transactions. | Ensure the correct PIN is used. |
| Trace Number not found | ✓ Used when the following conditions occur: • A card has been issued but not yet activated (may trigger alert to cardholder), or • The account is temporarily blocked for all transactions due a special condition (e.g., delinquency or cardholder request | ✓Deactivated Card ✓ Temporary authorization hold on card | Contact your card issuer bank to activate your card or remove the restrictions on your card. |
| Insufficient balance | Insufficient balance in card account | Insufficient credit or debit balance in your card | Ensure that your card has adequate limits for your transaction. |
| Expired card | Expired card used | Card is expired | Use a valid card |
| Pick up | Pick up card (no fraud) | The card account has been closed | Use an active card |
c. Alternative offered to Direct Card Payments
• SWIFT/ Wire Transfers
goBoB – The Digital Wallet
goBoB is a virtual wallet powered by Bank of Bhutan Limited. Tourists visiting Bhutan with a Bhutanese mobile number can sign up for goBoB. Users can store money for online transactions, such as phone recharges and merchant payments.
You can download the goBoB app from authorized stores like the Play Store and App Store. Just type “goBoB” in the search bar to download and register instantly. Alternatively, you can visit the nearest BoB branch office to register for the service.
Features
With the goBoB, you can do the followings:
- Pass Book – Balance Enquiry
- Generate Statement
- Add Money from Cards
- Send Money to any BoB Accounts
- Pay Money through your Contacts
- Pay Money via Beneficiary
- Request and Send Money
- Make QR payment to any Bank’s merchants
- Top up your BT numbers
- Split Bills
- Refer goBoB to your friend and get rewards
Transaction Limit
| Sl.no. | Particular | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Minimal KYC – Right after the registration, customer falls under Minimal KYC. | Daily – Nu. 2000.00 Monthly – Nu. 5000.00 Yearly – Nu.10,000.00 |
| 2. | Full KYC – Therefore customer should apply for limit enhancement to be full KYC customers through app with the clear picture of passport copy. | Daily – Nu.100,000.00 Monthly – Nu. 200,000 Yearly – Nu. 500,000 |
Charges For Using goBoB
Registration is free. There are no charges for other services except for adding money from cards and transfer to bank accounts. A convenience fee of 3.5% will be charged while loading your wallet using cards and 2% will be charged while sending money to your bank accounts.
Security
goBoB is very secure service. In fact, mobile wallets are much safer than carrying around your wallet. goBoB has multiple security such as fingerprint or M-Pin to login and T-Pin to authorize any transactions.