As an extension of our broader commitment to inclusion and diversity, Visa recognizes the value of a supply chain that includes diverse suppliers. We believe that expanding engagement with diverse suppliers is a vital business imperative that adds value to our brand, provides a competitive advantage and reflects our customer base.
Supplier Diversity is an important initiative in Visa’s purpose to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid. This initiative aims to give underrepresented and smaller suppliers opportunities to work with Visa which can help grow economies and further drive inclusion. If we can play a part in their success, we’re moving in the right direction together.
- Mithun Sharma, SVP, Chief Procurement Officer
Visa is committed to working with qualified suppliers who fully meet the criteria established in our Supplier Diversity Program. We welcome all potential suppliers who can add value to our products and fulfill our requirements on a competitive basis. However, we cannot promise to transact business with all suppliers who contact us. If you are interested in registering as a diverse supplier, please confirm that your company meets the qualifying requirements below before submitting an email to supplierdiversity@visa.com with your company's information.
A diverse supplier is defined as a U.S. business that is at least 51 percent owned, managed and controlled by a diverse person or group. Considering this definition, "controlled" means actively exercising power to make policy decisions, and "operated" means active involvement in the daily management of the business.
Our Supplier Diversity Program provides qualified small and diverse suppliers with a pathway to become an official supplier of products and/or services to Visa. Suppliers that qualify for this program include:
Asian-Indian
A U.S. citizen whose origins are from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Asian-Pacific
A U.S. citizen whose origins are from Japan, Mainland China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas.
Black
A U.S. citizen who is of African descent.
Hispanic
A U.S. citizen of true-born Hispanic heritage, from any of the Spanish-speaking areas of the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean Basin only. Brazilians (Afro-Brazilian, indigenous/ Indian only) shall be listed under Hispanic designation for review and certification purposes.
Native American
A person who is an American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut or Native Hawaiian, and regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part. Native Americans must be documented members of a North American tribe, band or otherwise organized group of native people who are indigenous to the continental United States and proof can be provided through a Native American Blood Degree Certificate (i.e., tribal registry letter, tribal roll register number).
A Woman-owned business must be at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by one or more women.
A Disabled-owned business whose owners are disabled under the definitions of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. This includes non-profit agencies or programs that promote the interests of the disabled or agencies that have a work force of 51 percent or more disabled workers.
A Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)-owned business is must be majority (at least 51 percent) owned, operated, managed and controlled by an LGBT person or persons who exercise independence from any non-LGBT business enterprise.
A Disabled Veteran-owned business must be at least 51 percent owned and actively managed by a disabled military veteran what was honorably discharged from the U.S. armed forces.
A business located in a historically underutilized business zone (HUBZone) which is owned and controlled by a U.S. citizen with a principal office located in a HUBZone.
Business that meets "small" ownership criteria and Small Business Size Standard for its industry, as defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
A size standard, which is usually stated in number of employees or average annual receipts, represents the largest size that a business (including its subsidiaries and affiliates) may be to remain classified as a small business for SBA and federal contracting programs. The definition of small varies by industry.
SBA certifications, including 8(a), Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB) and Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBZone), have other criteria that must be met. Please refer to www.sba.gov for a full description of the certification programs and the eligibility requirements.
Certification of your company helps to ensure the integrity of Visa's Supplier Diversity Program and reporting.The certification process typically involves completing an application and providing written documentation, and may include allowing the certifying agency to conduct a site visit. If your company qualifies, the certifying agency will issue you a printed certificate to verify your diversity status.
Visa requires that businesses asserting that they are diverse suppliers be certified by a third party certification organization or its regional affiliates (if applicable) and maintain valid certification(s).
Where multiple designations apply, certifications from the applicable agencies/associations are required.
Associations and agencies include, but are not limited to, the:
National Minority Supplier Development Council
Women's Business Enterprise National Council
National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
National Women Business Owners Corporation
National Veteran Business Development Council
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
USBLN Disability Supplier Diversity Program
Federal, State and/or Local Government Certifying Agencies
Visa recognizes that an effective Supplier Diversity Program is an essential part of our company's success. The Second-Tier Initiative aims to enhance Visa's efforts to increase meaningful opportunities for diverse suppliers. We strongly encourage our prime suppliers to participate in our Supplier Diversity Program by establishing relationships with, and committing a percentage of expenditures to, diverse suppliers. Participation in the Initiative demonstrates added value on the part of our prime suppliers.
Suppliers participating in the Second-Tier Initiative will be requested to report information and data on their specific use of small and diverse suppliers.
