Set by Visa
Interchange rates are determined by Visa and apply equally to all processors and acquirers. No processor can negotiate a lower interchange rate.
Visa Interchange Rates Canada.
Visa is one of the most commonly held and accepted credit cards in Canada and around the world. Below is a full breakdown of Visa's current Canadian interchange rates — the base cost charged by the cardholder's bank on every transaction. At Helcim, we pass these rates directly to you with our transparent Interchange Plus pricing.
Multiple Tiers
Rates vary by card type (Consumer, Infinite, Corporate), how the card is entered (chip, keyed, online), and the merchant category.
Full Transparency
With Interchange Plus, you see the exact interchange cost on your statement. Helcim only adds a small, transparent margin on top.
Canada
Visa Credit Card Interchange Rates
These are the base interchange rates charged by the cardholder's bank on every Visa credit transaction. The rate depends on how the card is presented (swiped, keyed, or online) and the card tier (Consumer, Infinite, Corporate, etc.).
Card Type
Interchange Rate
Card-Present (Chip / Tap / Swipe)
Transactions where the physical card is present at the point of sale — includes chip-insert, contactless tap, and magnetic swipe. These typically have the lowest interchange rates because they carry less fraud risk.
Swipe/Chip Consumer
1.250%
Swipe/Chip Infinite
1.570%
Swipe/Chip Corporate
1.900%
Swipe/Chip Corporate Infinite
2.250%
Swipe/Chip Infinite Privilege
2.080%
Keyed (Card-Not-Present)
The card number is manually keyed into a terminal, POS, or online checkout. These carry slightly higher rates than card-present due to increased fraud risk.
Keyed Consumer
1.400%
Keyed Infinite
1.650%
Keyed Corporate
2.000%
Keyed Corporate Infinite
2.350%
Keyed Infinite Privilege
2.400%
Small Business Rates
Visa offers preferential interchange rates for qualifying small businesses. These rates are typically lower than standard rates and are designed to help smaller merchants compete. Your eligibility depends on your merchant category code (MCC) and processing volume.
Card Type
Interchange Rate
Credit Keyed
Keyed/online transactions processed by qualifying small business merchants.
Keyed Consumer
1.30%
Keyed Infinite
1.55%
Visa Infinite Privilege
2.30%
Credit Card-Present
In-person (chip, tap, swipe) transactions for qualifying small business merchants.
Consumer
0.77%
Infinite
0.99%
Visa Rewards Signature
1.80%
Recurring, Industry-Specific & International Rates
Visa sets different interchange rates for specific transaction types and merchant industries. Recurring billing and restaurant transactions often qualify for adjusted rates, while international transactions carry additional fees.
Card Type
Interchange Rate
Recurring Payments
Applies to subscription and recurring billing transactions where the cardholder has authorized ongoing charges — such as gym memberships, SaaS, or insurance premiums.
Recurring Consumer
1.250%
Recurring Infinite
1.530%
Recurring Corporate
1.850%
Recurring Infinite Privilege
1.950%
"Everyday" Independent Business
Visa's program for qualifying independent businesses in specific merchant categories (restaurants, bakeries, hardware stores, etc.). See the Qualifying Merchant Categories table below for the full list of eligible SIC codes.
Swipe/Chip Consumer
1.100%
Swipe/Chip Infinite
1.200%
Swipe/Chip Infinite Privilege
1.950%
Swipe/Chip Corporate
1.900%
Restaurant
Qualifying restaurant merchants (SIC 5812, 5814) can receive lower card-present interchange rates on everyday consumer cards.
Swipe/Chip Consumer
1.100%
Swipe/Chip Infinite
1.200%
Swipe/Chip Infinite Privilege
1.950%
Swipe/Chip Corporate
1.900%
International
Applied when the cardholder's bank is in a different country than the merchant. International transactions always carry higher rates due to cross-border processing and currency conversion risk.
Swipe/Chip Visa International
1.100%
Visa International Premium
1.850%
Visa International Corporate
2.000%
Visa International Keyed
1.600%
Visa International Super Infinite
1.980%
Emerging Market Rates
Visa defines Emerging Segments (or Emerging Markets) to encourage credit card acceptance in key service, utility, and educational sectors. Qualifying merchants receive reduced interchange rates.
Card Type / Eligible Category
Interchange Rate / MCC
Emerging Market Rates
Reduced rates for transactions at qualifying emerging market merchants.
Consumer
0.980%
Infinite
1.170%
Corporate
1.800%
Infinite Privilege
1.950%
Eligible Categories (By Any Transaction Amount)
The following industries qualify for Emerging Segments pricing on any transaction, regardless of the size of the bill:
Utilities (Electric, Gas, Water, Sanitary)
MCC 4900
Real Estate Agents and Managers (typically used for Rent payments)
MCC 6513
Nursing and Personal Care Facilities
MCC 8050
Charitable and Social Service Organizations
MCC 8398
Tax Payments (Government/Municipalities)
MCC 9311
Eligible Categories (Minimum CA$1,000 Transaction)
Because tuition and childcare are large-ticket items, Visa includes these educational sectors in the Emerging Segments tier only if the individual transaction amount is equal to or greater than CA$1,000:
Elementary and Secondary Schools
MCC 8211
Colleges, Universities, Professional Schools, and Junior Colleges
MCC 8220
Child Care Services
MCC 8351
Visa Debit Interchange Rates
Visa Debit cards have a separate, generally lower interchange schedule than credit cards. These rates apply to Visa-branded debit transactions processed over the Visa network (not Interac).
Card Type
Interchange Rate
Card-Present
Debit transactions where the physical card is present at the terminal.
Debit Retail
0.250% + 5¢
Debit Grocery
0.150% + 5¢
Debit Gas Station
0.150% + 5¢
Keyed
Debit transactions where the card number is entered manually or online.
Debit Keyed
1.150%
Debit Utilities
0.000% + 10¢
Recurring Payments
Debit cards used for recurring or subscription billing.
Debit Recurring
0.600%
Assessments & Association Fees
In addition to interchange, Visa charges network-level fees (assessments) on every transaction. These fees are set by Visa and apply uniformly to all payment processors. They cover the cost of operating the Visa network, fraud prevention programs, and cross-border settlement.
Fee Name
Amount
Visa Card-Brand
0.10170%
Visa CVC2 Fee
$0.00280
Visa Commercial Solutions Fee (Commercial Cards)
0.01130%
Visa International Cross-Border — CNP / Keyed
0.6780%
Visa International Cross-Border — Keyed (CAD)
1.1300%
Visa International Cross-Border (USD)
1.1300%
Transaction Verification ($0) Domestic
$0.01130
Transaction Verification ($0) International
$0.02260
Annual Integrity Risk Program Fee ¹
$100/year
Visa Canada "Everyday" Independent Businesses — Qualifying Merchant Categories
The following Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes qualify for Visa's reduced "Everyday" Independent Business interchange rates. If your business falls into one of these categories, you may benefit from lower interchange fees on card-present transactions.
Business Category
SIC Code
Limousines and Taxicabs
4121
Books, Periodicals and Newspapers
5192
Home Supply Warehouse Stores
5200
Hardware Stores
5251
Lawn and Garden Supply Stores
5261
Variety Stores
5331
Freezer Locker Meat Provisioners
5422
Dairy Products Stores
5451
Bakeries
5462
Misc Food Store / Convenience Market / Specialty / Vending
5499
Alterations, Mending, Seamstresses, Tailors
5697
Eating Places / Restaurants
5812
Fast Food Restaurants
5814
Drug Stores / Pharmacies
5912
Book Stores
5942
News Dealers and Newsstands
5994
Pet Shops — Pet Foods and Supplies
5995
Cleaning, Garment and Laundry Services
7210
Laundry Services — Family and Commercial
7211
Dry Cleaners
7216
Barber and Beauty Shops
7230
Hat Cleaning Shops, Shoe Repair, Shoe Shine
7251
Automobile Parking Lots and Garages
7523
Car Washes
7542
Notes
1 Annual fee applied to merchant categories: Direct Marketing/Inbound, Dating Services, Gambling, Pharmacies/Drug Stores, Quasi-Cash/Crypto, Computer/Network Services, Digital Games, Securities Dealer, Direct Marketing/Outbound, Direct Marketing/Subscriptions and Tobacco Sales.
2 HST is charged to the acquirer/processor on network card-brand, association and cross-border fees. Visa's listed card-brand fee is 0.090%. Because this is an absorbed cost by the acquirer who are not allowed to claim ITCs in Canada, the HST on the card-brand fee cannot be used as an ITC by the merchant. Does not apply to interchange, per-transaction, or cost+ fees.
Transparent pricing. Always.
With Interchange Plus pricing, you see exactly what goes to the card network and what goes to Helcim. No hidden markups, no bundled rates, no surprises on your statement.
No hidden fees
Interchange Plus Pricing
No contracts
The Helcim promise