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, Comerciantes can even use their NFC-enabled smartphone as a card terminal — without additional hardware.
In Switzerland, contactless payment via NFC is widely used. For amounts under EUR 80, entering a PIN is usually not 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 their contactless debit card to the terminal in the supermarket. The payment of EUR 45 is processed in under a second — without a PIN.
A food truck operator activates Tap to Pay on his iPhone and accepts card payments directly via the smartphone — without a separate terminal.
A customer pays with Apple Pay by holding their iPhone to the terminal and confirming the payment via Face ID.
NFC FAQ
What is NFC in payment?
NFC (Near Field Communication) is a wireless technology that enables contactless payment. Card, smartphone or smartwatch are held against an NFC-enabled terminal, and the payment is processed in fractions 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 I pay contactless without a PIN in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, the limit for contactless payment without a PIN is EUR 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 enables Comerciantes to use an NFC-enabled smartphone as a card terminal. Customers hold their card or their smartphone to the Comerciante smartphone, and the payment is processed — without additional hardware.
Do I need a special NFC terminal?
Modern card terminals support NFC by default. Alternatively, you can use Tap to Pay to turn your NFC-enabled iPhone or Android smartphone into a terminal.
