TL;DR
Yes, EMV (Europay, Mastercard, Visa) contact and contactless cards have time constraints for completing transactions. These limits are in place to protect against certain types of fraud, particularly related to replay attacks or denial-of-service scenarios. The exact timings vary depending on the card issuer, payment network, and terminal capabilities, but typical limits range from a few seconds to around 30 seconds. If a transaction takes too long, it will likely be declined.
Understanding EMV Transaction Timeouts
EMV transactions aren’t instant. They involve communication between the card, the terminal, and the acquiring bank (through the payment network). Several factors can cause delays, including:
- Slow processing by the issuing bank
- Network connectivity issues
- Complex card configurations
- Terminal performance
To prevent problems caused by these delays, EMV standards define maximum transaction times.
Contactless Transaction Time Limits
- Initial Contact: When you tap your contactless card, the terminal initiates a communication session. This usually has a very short timeout – typically under 5 seconds. If no data is exchanged within this time, the transaction fails.
- Data Exchange & Processing: Once contact is established, there’s a longer window for the actual exchange of transaction details and authorisation. This is generally around 10-20 seconds.
- Final Response: The terminal waits for a response from the issuing bank. A typical timeout here is 30 seconds or less.
If any stage exceeds its time limit, the transaction will be rejected. Terminals often display messages like ‘Transaction timed out’ or similar.
Contact EMV Transaction Time Limits
- Card Insertion: Once inserted, the card and terminal begin communication.
- Application Selection: The terminal presents a list of applications (credit, debit, etc.). This step has a short timeout – usually under 10 seconds.
- Data Exchange & Processing: Similar to contactless, this phase allows for the exchange of transaction data and authorisation requests. Expect around 20-30 seconds.
- Final Response: Waiting for bank approval. Again, a maximum of 30 seconds is common.
Contact transactions generally allow slightly longer processing times than contactless due to the more secure communication method.
What Causes Timeouts?
- Poor Network Connection: A weak Wi-Fi or mobile signal can significantly slow down transaction processing.
- Terminal Issues: Older or poorly maintained terminals may have slower processors or software glitches.
- Issuer Bank Delays: Sometimes, the issuing bank is simply busy and takes longer to respond.
- Complex Card Configurations: Some cards have more complex security features that require additional processing time.
Troubleshooting Timeouts
- Check Network Connection: Ensure the terminal has a stable network connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
- Restart Terminal: A simple restart can often resolve temporary software issues.
- Contact Your Payment Provider: If timeouts are frequent, contact your payment provider to investigate potential problems with your terminal configuration or acquiring bank connectivity. They may need to update the terminal software or check their network links.
- Try a Different Terminal: If possible, try processing the transaction on another terminal to see if the issue persists. This helps determine if the problem is specific to one device.
While you can’t directly change the EMV time limits yourself (they are set by card issuers and payment networks), addressing these common causes can significantly reduce timeout occurrences.