Nigerians face a number of challenges when paying for services and buying goods on foreign platforms. For example, AliExpress, Amazon and eBay. Difficulties also arise when paying for subscriptions to services such as Netflix, Adobe Creative Cloud and many others.
One of the challenges is the banking restrictions put in place by Nigerian banks to protect against fraud. These restrictions include placing limits on international transactions and even blocking payments altogether. Another is the refusal of international payment systems to accept Nigerian bank cards. In addition, many international marketplaces and merchants require Nigerian users to go through a multi-step verification process, which also makes it difficult to purchase necessary services or goods.
However, there are services that offer solutions to all these problems – with the help of virtual dollar cards. Some of them can be obtained without going through the KYC procedure at all.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the top 5 best virtual cards that facilitate access to international services and purchases for Nigerian residents.
1. PSTNET
PSTNET is a financial platform where you can choose a virtual multi-currency card (Visa/MasterCard) for all your needs. For frequent purchases, the most popular card on the platform – Ultima – is the best choice. These are virtual dollar cards for unlimited purchases on all international platforms. They are issued by American banks, so they are also ideal for transactions on PayPal, Steam, Spotify, Netflix, Patreon, Unity 3D or in Google Play, Apple App Store, Microsoft Store, PlayStation Store, Epic Games Store and many other app stores.
According to PSTNET reviews, users particularly like the fact that there are no fees for transactions, cancelled transactions or frozen card transactions.
The reload fee is the lowest – just 2%.
And of course, one of the top benefits is that the cards have no spending or reload limits. There is no limit to what you can buy and spend.
All PSTNET cards can be easily recharged with cryptocurrencies USDT TRC20, BTC (15+ coins), SWIFT, SEPA bank transfer or via another Visa/Mastercard. All transactions are secure thanks to innovative 3D Secure technology. All codes and notifications can be received in a dedicated Telegram bot, providing an additional level of privacy and transaction security. Money can be withdrawn from the card without complications or additional costs.
You don’t need to provide any documents to get your first card, and the registration process only takes a few minutes. You can use your existing Google, Telegram, Whatsapp or Apple account.
2. ALAT Cards
ALAT is Wema Bank’s digital financial platform. It can be used for online banking transactions.
The ALAT card is specifically designed for international transactions, especially purchases and subscriptions. There are Classic, Gold and Platinum cards.
All payments are made in NGN, converted at the bank’s exchange rate. You can also choose a dollar card.
It is important to note that there are limits on all spending. For example, the limit for online transfers may differ from the total card limit. The card limit also includes cash withdrawals from ATMs, POS transactions and other transactions.
The limit can be checked via the personal wallet on the website or via the application. It can also be requested via the Support Service Manager.
The limits are limited – you can transfer up to NGN 1,000,000 (approx. $860) per transaction and up to NGN 5,000,000 (approx. $4,300) per day.
The card must also be activated for international purchases, otherwise there may be difficulties in processing payments.
There is no charge to register with ALAT. However, you will need to receive a USSD code on your mobile phone. Then follow the instructions and confirm the access code.
3. Chipper Cards
Chipper Cash is a financial application. It allows you to send and receive money in Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, the USA and the UK. The cards are specially designed for online shopping and can be used anywhere Visa cards are accepted.
The cards are great for Netflix, Apple, Spotify, Google, Ali Express and other popular services. You should note, however, that before making a transaction in an international shop, it is better to check on the website that the merchant falls into the category supported by the card.
It should be noted that there are no additional commissions for paying bills with the card, which makes the service quite attractive.
The cost of the card depends on the user’s country.
The card also has a spending limit – you cannot spend more than $1,000 per day and $4,000 per month.
Some users find that the exchange rate is quite high. However, many note the positive features of the service. For example, fast and professional technical support.
To get a card, you need to install the application and pass the verification process by providing the necessary documents.
4. Barter Cards
Flutterwave, a financial company for international business transactions, has launched its Dollar Barter Cards.
It can be used to send money worldwide and receive money on the card while in Nigeria. You can create a virtual card in as little as 5 minutes. You need to download the app of the same name and go through KYC and identity verification.
You can create a card for any online purchase or global payment, or you can customise the card for a specific payment. For example, a card for Netflix or Spotify.
Users note that the service has no limits on transfers. However, there are questions about its performance. It is believed that the service will be discontinued in the near future.
5. Kuda Cards
Kuda Technologies is a fintech company that provides virtual cards. They operate in Nigeria and the UK.
Kuda cards are supported by Visa and can be used to pay for Spotify, Netflix, Prime Video, Showmax and many other platforms.
There is an option to get a similar card with no service fee. You will need to install the application, pass verification and wait for the card to be delivered to your address.
The service also has a loan programme. These are lump sum payments, the amount of which plus interest is added to your monthly payment. You can get a loan of up to
150,000 NGN (about $130).
The service also has a system of spending limits and deposits. Users note that these are quite low. For example, you cannot spend more than NGN 50,000 ($40) or NGN 250,000 ($215) at a time, depending on the individual conditions.
All of these services offer a convenient solution to the problems faced by residents of Nigeria when making international transactions. Each has a number of unique advantages. However, you should consider your own preferences and capabilities when choosing a virtual card.
