Personal Finance Tips

Shopping online with a Visa debit card in 4 simple steps

Hannes Ausmees

19.01.26 (last updated)

Read time 2 minutes

Open to residents with a registered address in the following countries: United States of America, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia or New Zealand.

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Using your Visa debit card to pay when you shop online is safe and convenient. In fact, it’s very similar to using your credit card for ecommerce shopping.

If you’re new to online shopping with Visa, this guide has you covered. We’ll look at how to use your Visa debit card for online shopping, and how to stay safe when paying online. To help you cut the costs of shopping internationally, we’ll also introduce the Wise multi-currency account and international card as a great way to save on currency conversion and foreign transaction fees.

How to use a Visa debit card for online shopping

Spending online with your Visa debit card is very easy - even if it’s your first time. It’s a pretty intuitive process, and very similar to spending using your credit card, or a card on a different payment network like Mastercard.

All you need to do is select the Check out tab once you’ve finished shopping, and follow these simple steps:

Look for the option Pay by credit/debit card - and select to pay by Visa debit card
Follow the onscreen prompts to enter the 16 digit card number from the front of your card, as well as the expiry date of the card
Add your card’s security number - this is typically a 3 or 4 digit number on the back of the card, near the signature strip
Complete your card issuers verification step - often this involves getting a one time password (OTP) via message or email, and entering it to confirm the payment

Depending on the specific site you’re shopping with, you might also have to add the billing address, which is the address your card is registered to. If you need to do this, you’ll be prompted by the site to add the details required when you’re entering your payment information.

Staying safe when paying with a debit card online

Security is crucial when you’re spending with a debit card. Whatever you plan on buying, there are some key steps to take to make sure your money stays safe. Here are a few to think about:

Never access ecommerce sites through a link that’s been emailed to you or sent in a social media message
Make sure websites you choose to spend with are secure - addresses should begin https (rather than http), and you’ll often also see a padlock icon in the address bar
Check out seller reviews to make sure the site you’re shopping with are legitimate - or even better, get personal recommendations to help you choose ecommerce sites to shop with
Find contact details for the seller before you spend - reputable sites display a phone number and email address, so you’ll have a way of getting in touch if something goes wrong
Use a firewall, antivirus and anti spy software on your computer when shopping online
Double check all the possible fees involved in your purchase to make sure there are no nasty surprises - unexpected costs like currency conversion charges or extra shipping fees can push up the price you pay significantly

Shop online with the Wise Visa card

If you love to shop with ecommerce retailers based overseas, you could save with a Wise international Visa card.

With Wise you’ll always get the mid-market exchange rate, and low, transparent transaction fees. Perfect - whether you’re bargain hunting on Taobao, or treating yourself to a trip somewhere fancy.

Open a Wise account online or using the Wise app, and order your Visa card for simple spending in person and online. You can manage your Wise card via the smart Wise app, to view transactions, freeze and unfreeze your card, and get notifications every time you spend. You’ll also be able to get digital cards you can use right away, with no need to wait around until your physical card arrives. Here’s how to get started:

1. Create a Wise account online or in the Wise app
2. Order your Wise Visa card for a one time fee of 13.70 MYR
3. Get your digital card right away - your physical card will be with you soon, too!
4. Top up your account and start spending

See how much you can save with the Wise multi-currency account and international card, today!

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.