The international payment systems Visa and MasterCard are temporarily not working on the territory of the Russian Federation, therefore, cross-border transfers using VISA and MasterCard cards issued by Russian banks, can not be made. This applies both for foreign on-line shopping, and cash. Transfers and payments by VISA and MasterCard cards issued by foreign banks are also temporarily impossible in Russia. It is impossible to withdraw cash with these cards in Russia.
Cards issued by Russian banks will continue to work in Russia using its payment system. Holders of these cards in Russia will be able to conduct transactions at ATMs, make payments and make transfers within Russia. Also, you can also use the MIR card or the Fast Payment System of the Bank of Russia in bank applications for Android&iOS.
Possible methods of cross-border money transfers to and from Russia:
1. Using MIR cards for those countries where they are accepted: Turkey, Vietnam, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
2. Using cards of the international payment system UnionPay International (China).
3. Classic bank cross-border transfers in banks other than sub-sanctioned (VTB, Bank Rossiya, FC Otkritie, Sovcombank, Promsvyazbank and Novikombank). Transfers from Russia can only be made to Russia-friendly countries to close relatives in the amount of no more than 5,000 USD per month.
4. Use of money transfer systems, for example, Golden Crown https://koronapay.com or Unistream https://unistream.com (there are restrictions on the amounts and conditions of cross-border money transfers, which must be clarified on the websites or at the bank branches that provide such transfers).
Students are advised to:
1. Open an account in any Russian commercial bank that has not been sanctioned (NOT in Sberbank, VTB, Bank Rossiya, FC Otkritie, Sovcombank, Promsvyazbank and Novikombank). After receiving money to this account it will be converted into rubles and become available for payments a MIR card in Russia.
2. Open a UnionPay International card (China) and send account details to your relatives for the transfer.
3. Contact the Golden Crown payment system https://koronapay.com or Unistream https://unistream.com and find out about the possibility of receiving a money transfer from your home country.