How to get emergency cash when you encounter the unexpected while traveling

Visa Customer Care Professionals can help to ease the stress of these situations, providing assistance when you need it most so you can resume your life. With a straightforward process and a global network, Visa enables you to receive cash assistance anytime and nearly anywhere.

Key highlights


Travel can bring many pleasant surprises, as well as some unwelcome challenges. You’re on your dream vacation and you lose your wallet. You’re traveling for business and your handbag is stolen. Or, you might be backpacking in a remote region and discover you need local currency for meals, lodging and local shopping.

What is emergency cash replacement?

When the unexpected occurs, emergency cash replacement — also known as emergency cash disbursement — can be a gamechanger. Funds can be used for critical expenses when traveling, including food, lodging, medical care, transportation, incidentals and more, to keep you moving forward.

How does it work?

With Visa's global reach and 24/7 global customer assistance services, cardholders can retrieve cash rapidly and efficiently from more than 270,000 locations across the globe¹.

To request Visa Emergency Cash Disbursement Services, simply go to Visa Customer Care. You also can call a centralized and toll-free number or use one of the Visa collect numbers from anywhere around the world.

Funds can be delivered in as little as two hours from an authorization request.

  1. Does not apply to Cuba, Syria, Sudan, Iran, North Korea, Crimea and other OFAC listed countries.
  2. Funds are generally available in one business day or less after the issuer approves the emergency cash request.
  3. Cardholder to present identification at pick-up location.