Maestro Global Rules (PDF) - MasterCard

Licensing and Licensed Activities
2.3 Area of Use
2. Solicit and issue Cards to citizens of any country within the Area of Use,
wherever such citizens reside. Any Card Solicitation, wherever conducted,
must be directed only to residents of countries within the Customer’s Area
of Use.
3. Acquire Transactions from Merchants located in a country within the Area of
Use, even if such Transactions arise from electronic commerce Transactions
that the Merchant effects with Cardholders in countries outside of the
Customer’s licensed Area of Use.
4. Acquire electronic commerce Transactions, from Merchants located
outside of the Customer’s Area of Use, if such Transactions reflect sales to
Cardholders residing within the Customer’s Area of Use.
5. Acquire airline Transactions in a country outside of the Customer’s Licensed
Area of Use, subject to all of the following requirements:
a. The airline has a meaningful presence in at least one country within
the Area of Use; and
b. The Customer identifies the airline Transactions as occurring in the
Region in which the airline ticket office is located; and
c. The Customer authorizes, clears, and settles each “local Transaction” in
a manner that does not significantly disadvantage an Issuer in the same
country in the judgment of the Corporation.
A Merchant’s location generally is deemed to be the address set forth in the
Merchant Agreement. The location of a Merchant conducting e-commerce
Transactions may be determined based in full or in part on where the entity
holds a License, pays taxes, or maintains an address for purposes of receiving
mail. Any disagreement between Customers regarding a Merchant location may
be referred to the Corporation for final resolution.
As used in this Rule 2.3.2, a “local Transaction” means a Transaction by a
Cardholder residing in a country that takes place at a Merchant located in the
same country.
2.3.2.1 Transfer of Cards to India Residents is Prohibited without a
License
An Issuer that reasonably believes that its Cardholders will distribute, transfer,
or in any way provide Cards to residents of India, that are issued by the Issuer
must become Licensed in India and receive written authorization from the
Reserve Bank of India.
Unless the Issuer is Licensed in India and has written authorization from the
Reserve Bank of India, an Issuer that issues Cards to Cardholders that reside
outside of India must communicate to those Cardholders in the terms and
conditions of the cardholder agreement that such Cards must not be distributed,
transferred, or in any way provided to residents of India.
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Maestro Global Rules • 9 November 2012 2-3