Understanding domestic, international, and European Economic Area (EEA) credit cards

This page provides a comprehensive overview of different types of credit cards: domestic, international, and EEA. It explains that domestic cards are issued and used within the same country as the business, while international cards originate from a different country. Additionally, the page details EEA cards, which although issued in various EEA countries, are treated similarly to domestic cards and includes lists of supported countries and regions for each category.

Domestic cards

Domestic cards are credit cards that are issued and used in the same country or region of your business. This means that the financial institution that issued the credit card is in the same country or region that your business is in.

For example, your business is located in Japan, and a customer makes a purchase using a credit card from Japan. This is a domestic credit card purchase.

International cards

International cards are credit cards that are issued and used in a different country or region than your business. This means that the financial institution that issued the credit card is in a different country than your business.

For example, your business is located in Germany, and a customer makes a purchase using a credit card in the United States. This is an international credit card purchase, because the customer's credit card is from a country or region that is different from where your business is located.

European Economic Area (EEA) cards

EEA cards are credit cards that are issued and used in specific countries and regions in Europe. This means that the financial institution that issued the credit card might be in a different country or region than your business. EEA cards are treated the same way that domestic cards are treated.

For example, your business is located in The Netherlands, and a customer makes a purchase using a credit card in Ireland. This is an EEA credit card purchase. Your customer's credit card is an EEA credit card, because it was issued in a supported EEA country or region.

The following tables include a list of countries and regions that are supported as EEA cards.

Northern Europe country codes

Southern Europe country codes

Eastern Europe country codes

Western Europe country codes

Saint Pierre and Miquelon (PM)

This region is a French territory in North America. The country code for Saint Pierre and Miquelon is PM.