NFC
NFC (Near Field Communication) is a short-range wireless transmission technology that enables contactless payment with cards, smartphones and wearables.
NFC (Near Field Communication)
NFC (Near Field Communication) is a wireless technology that transmits data over a distance of a few centimetres. In payment transactions, NFC enables contactless payment: cardholders hold their card, smartphone or smartwatch to an NFC-enabled terminal, and the payment is processed in a fraction of a second.
NFC is used in both physical cards (contactless Visa/Mastercard debit cards) and mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay). With Tap to Pay, merchants can even use their NFC-enabled smartphone as a card terminal — without any additional hardware.
In Switzerland, contactless payment via NFC is widely used. For amounts under CHF 80, no PIN entry is usually required (contactless payment without authentication). For higher amounts or after a certain number of contactless transactions, a PIN or biometric confirmation is required.
NFC examples
A customer holds her contactless debit card to the terminal in the supermarket. The payment of CHF 45 is processed in under one second — without a PIN.
A food truck operator activates Tap to Pay on his iPhone and accepts card payments directly via his smartphone — without a separate terminal.
A customer pays with Apple Pay by holding his iPhone to the terminal and confirming the payment via Face ID.
NFC FAQ
What is NFC when paying?
NFC (Near Field Communication) is a wireless technology that enables contactless payment. You hold your card, smartphone or smartwatch to an NFC-enabled terminal, and the payment is processed in a fraction of a second.
Is contactless payment via NFC secure?
Yes. NFC payments are protected by encryption and tokenization. The actual card details are never transmitted. For higher amounts, a PIN or biometric confirmation is also required.
Up to what amount can you pay contactlessly without a PIN in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, the limit for contactless payment without a PIN is CHF 80. For higher amounts or after several consecutive contactless payments, a PIN or biometric confirmation is required.
What is Tap to Pay?
Tap to Pay allows merchants to use an NFC-enabled smartphone as a card terminal. Customers hold their card or smartphone close to the merchant's smartphone, and the payment is processed — without any additional hardware.
Do you need a special NFC terminal?
Modern card terminals support NFC by default. Alternatively, with Tap to Pay you can use your NFC-enabled iPhone or Android smartphone as a terminal.
