Visa Debit Card – Types, Features, Benefits & How to Apply

Visa offers a variety of debit cards with unique features and benefits across different categories. These cards are designed for varying individual needs and are offered based on your savings or current account type. Here are the types of Visa Debit Cards:

Visa Classic Debit Card

This is basically an ATM cum Debit Card that allows you to withdraw cash and pay for your transactions. Besides this, you can also pay for your retail purchases as well as online transactions via this debit card. Its other features include:

• Withdraw cash from more than 1.9 million ATMs in over 200 countries
• Emergency card replacement and cash withdrawal facility
• Visa’s 24×7 global customer assistance service

Visa Gold Debit Card

Visa Gold Debit Card offers a host of benefits, like high spending line and exclusive offers on retail, dining, travel and entertainment categories. It also provides:

• Acceptance at 1.9 million ATMs across the Visa Global ATM Network with cash withdrawal facility
• Travel, medical and legal referral and assistance
• Emergency card replacement facility
• Toll-free 24×7 global customer assistance

Visa Platinum Debit Card

This is an upgraded version of the Gold Debit Card and offers privileges better than the Gold version. With this debit card, you will receive:

• Global customer assistance regarding lost card, blocking your account, card replacement and emergency cash
• Accepted by merchants globally and at more than 1.9 million ATMs
• Exclusive discounts & offers along with 24×7 concierge services for various lifestyle activities, such as bookings & reservations, hotel recommendations and much more.

Visa Signature Debit Card

With this variant, you can avail 24×7 concierge services along with exclusive rewards, discounts and offers. This card lets you:

• Withdraw cash at over 1.9 million ATM locations worldwide
• Avail global customer assistance to block your Visa card in case you lose it
• Get emergency cash
• Globally accepted by merchants

Visa Infinite Debit Card

This is one of the best debit cards offered by Visa. Apart from benefits offered on other Visa card variants, such as discounts, rewards, cash withdrawals, this card also offers:

• Complimentary lounge access
• Avail 24×7 Visa Infinite concierge services

Suggested Read: Best Credit Cards in India

Visa Debit Cards are accepted at various PoS within or outside India. Below mentioned are some of the major Visa Debit Card features:

Visa Global ATM Network: You can easily withdraw cash via more than 1.9 million ATMs around the world with a Visa Debit Card. It is a great alternative for carrying cash everywhere. Visa cards offer secure, instant and convenient access to your money over the phone, in person, online and overseas.

Worldwide Acceptance: Visa Debit Cards are known for their acceptance by the merchants across the globe. You can make purchases even outside the country, wherever Visa Debit Card is accepted, by enabling the international transactions facility on your card.

However, the bank usually charges a nominal overseas transaction fee up to 3.5% of the withdrawn amount, based on your card variant.

Exclusive Privileges: You can also avail exclusive benefits and privileges, such as 24×7 Visa Concierge services, additional discounts, bonus reward points, early bookings, dining discounts and more as per your Visa debit card type and issuer.

Secure Offline/Online Purchases and Payments: Visa payment gateway is one of the most used and secure payment gateways with additional security measures like Verified by Visa. For offline transactions, swipe your card at the PoS terminal and enter the passcode.

You can also make online purchases by entering the card details, like card number, your name, expiry date and CVV at the merchant’s site. After that, you have to enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number.

Suggested read: Best Visa Credit Cards

Usually, the bank offers a debit card whenever you open a new savings account. However, if you don’t receive a debit card while opening your account, you can apply for Visa debit card online as well as offline. You may be required to share proofs of identity, residence and passport size photographs during the application processes described below:

Online Application

To apply for a debit card online, you need to visit the official website of the bank in which you have an account. After that, you can look for debit cards offered by the bank and apply for any one of them as per your eligibility and requirement. Fill the application form and submit it. The bank will verify your details and process your application.

Offline Application

You need to visit the nearest branch of the bank in which you have savings or current account. You can fill and submit the debit card application form. After that, similar to the online process, the bank will verify your details and dispatch your debit card that you will receive within 7-10 working days at the address given by you in the application form. In some cases it might take just 2-3 working days, depending upon the respective banking institution.

If you are planning to apply for a debit card, you can click on the below links to check top Visa Debit Cards offered by the respective card provider:

Q. Will my Visa debit card work when I am travelling overseas?

Yes, you can use your Visa debit card even while travelling abroad. However, you need to first enable international transactions on your Visa credit card or debit card.

Q. How does a Visa Debit Card work?

With a Visa Debit Card, you can make online as well as offline transactions. To use your debit card for online transactions, you need to enter the card details, including card number, CVV, expiry date and name to process the transaction. Whereas, for offline transactions, you can swipe your card at the Point of Sale (POS) machine. However, you need to enter the OTP sent on your registered mobile number for both transactions.

Q. What is the fee charged for Visa Debit Card?

Visa Debit Cards are offered by multiple banks, therefore, the fee charged for the card varies from bank to bank. Also, the fee depends on the variant of the card you are applying for. For instance, Visa Infinite variant will incur higher charges as compared to the Classic variant.

Q. Can I convert my Visa Debit Card purchases into EMIs?

Yes, you can convert your Visa Debit Card purchases into EMIs. However, the terms and conditions to avail this facility varies as per the bank. To avail this facility at the time of purchase, you can check if the merchant offers an EMI option on your respective bank’s debit card. Besides this, you can also contact your bank’s customer care to convert your selected purchase into EMIs.

Q. How can I track the status of my Visa Debit Card?

To check your Visa Debit Card application status, you can visit the official website of the bank through which you have applied. Additionally, you can also call the customer care of the bank and ask the executive about your application status. Generally, the bank informs you about your application status through texts on your registered mobile number.

Q. Why should I apply for Visa Debit Card?

You can apply for a Visa Debit Card if you frequently make online as well as offline transactions but don’t want to carry cash. Debit cards are a great alternative for cash. Also, just like credit cards, you can avail discounts and rewards on your transactions via debit cards.