When Do You Test?
At a Glance Guidelines for Visa’s EMV Chip Terminal
Testing Requirements
In order to maintain the integrity of the payment infrastructure and a frictionless cardholder acceptance experience, Visa has
developed test tools to be used on terminals (POS and ATM) to ensure correct terminal configuration, assist with integration testing,
and ensure that Visa’s terminal requirements are being met.
Acquirers are required to use these test tools prior to terminal deployment to minimize the risk of interoperability problems.
The following will assist you in determining when testing is required.
1. New or Change to Terminal Hardware and Software
Hardware
Any time there are changes to chip
processing on the terminal or within its
infrastructure, ADVT testing is required. Visa
testing requirements take place after both
EMVCo Type Approval Level 1 and Level 2
terminal approval and precede terminal
deployment.
(including peripheral
equipment and PIN
pad add on)
Software Authorization
(CVMs, introduction of
cashback or dynamic
currency conversion)
Software
(EMV kernel)
2. New or Change to Acquirer, Gateway and Processor Paths
Acquirers may have combinations of
multiple/split relationships involving
acquirers, merchants, ISOs, gateways and
VARs potentially requiring testing.
Merchant
TEST
Process Path
or Acquirer
Processor
TEST
TEST
TEST
Acquirer
Processor
Messaging
(Payment gateway
and acquirer network
or terminal to
acquirer host)
© 2016 Visa. All Rights Reserved.
Gateway & Processor Network
WHEN DO YOU TEST?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is testing required on all devices if they are within a terminal family?
A: Testing is required for a single POS device within a terminal family (same EMV kernel,
payment application, process path). Consult with your supplier to verify terminals fall
within a terminal family.
Q: Does Visa require every terminal test results submission be reviewed/validated by Visa?
A: No. CCRT has been designed so after the first accepted report reviewed by Visa, a review of
updates will not be required.
Test one.
Q: As an acquirer, do I need to schedule Visa testing with each of my merchants?
A: There is no Visa requirement that terminal testing be conducted for each merchant
location. Testing is, however, required for each unique terminal configuration.
Q: If I change the currency code/country code on the same U.S. acquirer host platform to
support a U.S. territory, do I need to retest the terminal configuration?
A: There is no Visa requirement to retest the terminal configuration, however, if on a different
host platform or different protocol then testing is required.
Q: If I change software that does not affect the payment application for chip processing
(i.e., screen layout or graphics) do I need to retest the terminal configuration?
A: There is no Visa requirement to retest the terminal configuration, however, isolating the
payment application will assist in identifying when testing is needed.
Q: If I add a new peripheral device (i.e., printer or cash dispenser module) do I need to retest
the terminal configuration?
A: Unless the device is directly involved in the payment processing (i.e. a card reader), there is
no Visa requirement to retest the terminal configuration.
Q: If I change to the terminal-to-host protocol which does not affect authorization messages,
do I need to retest?
A: There is no Visa requirement to retest the terminal configuration as long as there are no
changes to the payment application or authorization message for chip processing.
For More Information
Additional specifics on each of these toolkits, Visa clients can access Visa documentation on
Visa Online. Visa-confirmed tool vendors can access documentation at
https://technologypartner.visa.com
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Acquirer Device Validation Toolkit (ADVT) User Guide
Contactless Device Evaluation Toolkit (CDET) User Guide
Chip Compliance Report Tool (CCRT) User Guide
Chip Compliance Report Tool (CCRT) Quick User Guide
Visa Smart Debit/Credit and Visa payWave U.S. Acquirer Implementation Guide
Visa Smart Debit/Credit ATM U.S. Acquirer Implementation Guide
Visa Inc. U.S. EMV Chip Terminal Testing Requirements
CVES Benefits
© 2016 Visa. All Rights Reserved. VBS 20.JAN.16
For more information
Acquirers should contact their
Visa representative to discuss
their testing requirements in
further detail.
">
