Purchasing tickets online for concerts, sports events, and other live entertainment has become incredibly convenient thanks to sites like Ticketmaster. With just a few clicks, you can secure seats for highly sought after shows without leaving your home. However, if you are an international customer hoping to purchase tickets on Ticketmaster, you may be wondering whether your credit or debit card from your home country will work on the site.
The short answer is yes, Ticketmaster does accept international cards from certain countries outside the United States. However, depending on the type of card you have, you may encounter challenges when processing payments. Below is an overview of how using international cards works on Ticketmaster, along with some tips for ensuring a smooth transaction.
What Countries’ Cards are Accepted?
Ticketmaster accepts valid credit and debit cards from many countries around the world. According to their support site, they officially support cards from the following locations:
- United States
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
- France
- Germany
- Spain
- Mexico
- Puerto Rico
- Australia
- New Zealand
So if your card is issued by a recognized bank or financial institution in one of the countries listed above, you should be able to use it to make purchases on Ticketmaster. The site may also accept cards from some additional countries not specified here, but the transaction success rate may be lower.
Using Chip & PIN Cards vs. Chip & Signature
One factor that can impact whether an international card works on Ticketmaster is what type of card it is – specifically chip and PIN vs. chip and signature. Here is a quick explanation of each:
Chip and PIN: This type of card, commonly used in Europe, Australia, and other regions, utilizes an embedded microchip to encrypt data. Transactions are authorized by entering a PIN code.
Chip and Signature: Also an EMV chip card, but it is verified by signing for the purchase rather than a PIN. Often used in the U.S. and Canada.
Ticketmaster’s payment system is designed with chip and signature cards in mind. Therefore, chip and PIN cards sometimes encounter issues. The transaction may fail or require you to enter additional verification.
To avoid hassles, it is best to use a chip and signature card issued in your home country if possible. If you only have a chip and PIN, you can still give it a try but be prepared to possibly enter your PIN or other data. Having a secondary payment method on hand is a good idea.
Debit vs. Credit Cards
Beyond the chip type, debit cards and credit cards issued outside the U.S. can work differently on Ticketmaster.
International Debit Cards
Using a debit card from the UK, Canada, or elsewhere is typically more challenging. There are a couple reasons for this:
- Non-U.S. debit cards often require entering a PIN. Ticketmaster’s system is not configured for PIN transactions.
- Daily withdrawal and purchase limits may be stricter on international debit cards, blocking large Ticketmaster purchases.
That said, it still may be possible to use a debit card for smaller Ticketmaster transactions, or by entering additional verification data when prompted.
International Credit Cards
Credit cards tend to have fewer restrictions, and Transaction fees are often waived by issuers for purchases in foreign currencies. As long as you have an EMV chip credit card (not chip and PIN necessarily) with a high enough limit and no foreign transaction blocks, it has a good chance of working on Ticketmaster.
Visa and Mastercard from abroad are more likely to be accepted than some other providers. But Discover, American Express and Diners Club cards can also sometimes work.
Prepaid Gift Cards
What about using an international prepaid, gift or cash passport card on Ticketmaster? Unfortunately, these tend to have strict purchase restrictions and may not work.
Some reasons prepaid cards often fail:
- Low balance – gift cards and travel cash cards tend to have lower balances insufficient for big ticket orders.
- No name attached – prepaid cards are often anonymous, while Ticketmaster requires customer name and billing address.
- Merchant blocking – the card issuer may prohibit Entertainment/Ticketing merchant codes.
- Country verification – Ticketmaster uses address and card security codes to verify the country of origin.
For these reasons, it’s not recommended to rely on an international prepaid or gift card for Ticketmaster. Make sure you have a credit or debit card available instead.
Using Digital Wallets
Mobile and digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and PayPal may be an alternative if you are having difficulty processing payments directly through Ticketmaster.
To use a digital wallet, you would first need to load your international credit or debit card information into your account. Then check if your wallet provider supports using that card for purchases in the U.S. If so, you may be able to successfully use the wallet to buy tickets instead of entering your card on Ticketmaster directly.
The transaction may still be declined, but digital wallets can occasionally work around issuer restrictions on international cards. It’s worth a try if your card is not going through.
Getting Error Messages or Declines?
Don’t panic if your international card does not work on your first Ticketmaster purchase attempt. There are a few reasons you may get error messages or payment declines:
- Fraud prevention block – Large overseas purchases may trigger a safety block.
- Card number or security code errors – Double check you entered everything correctly.
- Zip/postal code mismatch – Does your card billing address exactly match the details you entered?
- Currency confusion – Some international cards can only process native currency.
- Chip and PIN issue – As mentioned, these cards can cause complications.
If you receive any sort of payment failure message, don’t give up! Here are some steps to try:
- Contact your card issuer – They may be able to remove any usage blocks.
- Try again with the same card – Could just be a one-time system glitch.
- Use a different supported card – Perhaps your other international card will work.
- Enter billing details carefully – Double check everything matches your card exactly.
- Try your card on a different site – See if it gets declined elsewhere to isolate the issue.
- Try a digital wallet instead – As discussed, could bypass restrictions.
With a few simple troubleshooting attempts, you should be able to identify why the card was rejected and find a solution. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Ticketmaster customer support if you need assistance!
Summary
Ticketmaster does allow customers to use credit and debit cards from a selection of countries outside the United States. However, some international cards may encounter processing errors or declines depending on the card security features, type of card, issuer policies and more.
Your best options are Chip and Signature cards (not Chip and PIN) and credit cards (not prepaid, debit or gift cards). Be sure to enter all billing details accurately. If your card does not work at first, try troubleshooting or reach out to customer service to identify the reason before giving up. With a few simple steps, you should be able to successfully use your international card to purchase tickets on Ticketmaster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What countries have the highest international card acceptance on Ticketmaster?
Ticketmaster tends to have the highest success rates for cards issued in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Western European countries like France, Spain, Germany, and Ireland. Cards from Mexico and New Zealand also often work. Other countries may be hit-or-miss depending on the specific card and issuer.
Can I use multiple international cards if my first card is declined?
Absolutely – trying a second or third international card is recommended if your initial card does not work. The error could be due to restrictions on one card that may not affect another you have from the same country. Having backup payment methods on hand is always a good idea.
Do I need a card matching my home address for Ticketmaster purchases?
It’s best if your card’s billing address matches the details you input on Ticketmaster, but it does not necessarily have to be related to your home address. Often you can safely use a card issued in another country as long as you have the matching billing info.
What if I am purchasing tickets from outside the US – does my location matter?
Your physical location should not impact your ability to use an international card on Ticketmaster. As long as the card is issued by an approved country and passes fraud/verification checks, purchasing tickets from anywhere in the world should work. The billing address should always match the card details.
Are there fees for using my card internationally on Ticketmaster?
Ticketmaster does not charge any additional international fees themselves. However, your card issuer may charge foreign transaction fees – usually a percentage of the total purchase amount. Check your card terms & conditions to understand if international charges incur fees.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster aims to provide customers worldwide with convenient access to tickets for live events and attractions. While cards from some nations may face obstacles, in most cases it is possible for international customers to successfully use their credit, debit or prepaid cards issued back home to make purchases on Ticketmaster.
With chip and signature cards having the highest probability of working, and a little troubleshooting if your first attempt is declined, you can feel confident buying tickets to great events during your travels abroad. Don’t let payment issues prevent you from accessing the amazing entertainment experiences that Ticketmaster offers!