Release Notes

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2020

October 2020

Welcome to the Visa Developer October 2020 Release Notes that include key features introduced in this release.

Product Updates


Visa Direct

Visa Direct now offers the Alias Lookup API  that enables  Alias Directory Service (ADS) to look up an alias in participating third-party directories and return the associated payment instrument. The Alias Lookup API sends an alias and accompanying data to participating third-party directories. If the alias is found, the third-party directories return the payment instrument associated with the alias in the API response. If multiple results are returned, the ADS applies business logic to select the most relevant result and returns the associated payment instrument to the originating entity. The originating entity can then use this information to submit the original credit transaction.

Refer to Visa Direct for more details.

Note: The results from Alias Lookup API are returned to clients using the Resolve API. Therefore, as part of this release, optional fields will be added to the Resolve API response. Clients using Resolve API should ensure that the addition of optional fields should not impact any existing integrations. Please contact your Visa representative to request access to this API.

Visa Transaction Controls

Visa Transaction Controls now offers EU Issuers the ability to test a new Enhanced Alert Notification Callback API, that will enable EU Issuers to receive foreign exchange rate information in a transaction alert notification and provide to their cardholders. This new API is offered in support of EU-518 Regulation.

Refer to Visa Transaction Controls for more details.

VisaNet Data Services

VisaNet Data Services is no longer available on Visa Developer. If you are interested in using this product, please contact [email protected].


September 2020

Welcome to the Visa Developer September 2020 Release Notes that include key features introduced in this release.

Product Updates


Visa In-App Provisioning

Visa In-App Provisioning can help issuers or issuing solution providers more easily implement a "Add to Apple, Google or Samsung Pay" button in native banking applications. An encrypted card data payload is generated for the issuers or issuing solution providers that's formatted for any of Apple, Google or Samsung native provisioning specifications. The service helps eliminate backend software development complexity as well as expensive and complex server infrastructure to store encryption keys.

Refer to Visa In-App Provisioning for more details.

Visa Risk Manager

Visa Risk Manager is a web portal that provides a comprehensive suite of fraud and risk management tools that can be accessed through Visa Online 24/7. It is specifically designed to help issuers optimize fraud loss prevention and maximize profitability by providing clients with an effective transaction risk management decisioning system. The Visa Risk Manager (VRM) APIs help existing users of VRM streamline their fraud operations. VRM Web Services (API) Version 2 will support new and improved API specifications. Version 2 features a redesign of the APIs into microservices that are simpler to maintain, deploy, and test. More specifically, Version 2 now features an Account Management API, a Token Provisioning API, and an Alert API.

Refer to Visa Risk Manager for more details.

B2B Connect

Visa B2B Connect now offers a new callback API called Debit Credit Advice, that will allow participants banks to receive a credit advice when funding Visa instead of at the end of the day. We are also supporting two new payment statuses, Received and Beneficiary Credit Confirmed.

Refer to Visa B2B Connect for more details.

Merchant Measurement

Merchant Measurement is no longer available on Visa Developer. If you are interested in using this product, please contact [email protected].

Issuer Measurement

Issuer Measurement is no longer available on Visa Developer. If you are interested in using this product, please contact [email protected].

Community Updates

Visa Developer Center has launched the redesigned Community experience. This first phase of changes aim to make it easier for our members to navigate the community and find the information and discussions they are interested in. Check out the updated personalized hero area, new menu and navigation, enhanced profile page with user stats and direct messaging capabilities, plus a new forum thread topic layout featuring the latest and greatest content to help you in your development journey.

Refer to Visa Developer Community for more details.


August 2020

Welcome to the Visa Developer August 2020 Release Notes that include key features introduced in this release.

Product Updates


Visa Biometric Authenticator App

Visa Biometric Authenticator App (VBAA) is a white-label, turnkey mobile app solution offered to Issuers. The solution allows cardholders to verify their high-risk e-commerce transactions, using device biometric authentication, securely and conveniently within the mobile app. An important component of this solution is the Visa Biometric Authenticator App API. The Issuer’s Access Control Server (ACS) provider needs to integrate with this VBAA API to route the requests for two-factor authentication to the Visa Biometric Authenticator App and to receive the result. Visa may enhance the solution in the future to support other consumer authentication scenarios.

Refer to Visa Biometric Authenticator App for more details.

B2B Connect

Visa B2B Connect now offers a new API called Update Payment Status. This allows for the originating bank to recall a payment via API. It also allows the beneficiary bank to confirm when it has credited a beneficiary customer’s account, reject inbound payments, and accept or reject a recall request received from an originating bank for a payment. We are also offering new and updated Reason Codes for recall and reject requests.

Refer to Visa B2B Connect for more details.

Visa Payments Threat Intelligence

The Visa Payment Threat Intelligence API enables the distribution of actionable Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) to clients. The API enables a streamlined and efficient process where clients receive the IOCs directly into their Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems or Threat Intelligence Portals (TIPs). Through the use of push notifications of vetted and timely IOCs identified by Visa, this service allows clients to quickly assess and act on the most critical cyber-attacks that may disrupt their payment systems. 

The API is currently only available to select clients, however, it will be available for all Visa clients in the near future.

Refer to Visa Payments Threat Intelligence for more details.

Cybersource Payments

CyberSource Payments is no longer available on Visa Developer. 

Visa continues to invest in our developer platforms, including bringing together Authorize.net and Cybersource developer content into a new portal. Please visit: https://developer.cybersource.com for up to date information on CyberSource APIs.

Standards and Guidelines


Visa Secure using EMV® 3DS User Experience Guidelines

We have updated the Visa Secure using EMV® 3DS User Experience Guidelines to support issuer and merchant enablement for EMV® 3-D Secure (EMV 3DS) and assist in the creation of delightful and consistent EMV 3DS authentication challenge experiences. The Out of Band (OOB) challenge guidelines have been revamped to show issuers how to build OOB challenge flows. An OOB challenge flow occurs when users verify transactions in their issuer’s authentication service. Issuers can choose which service to make available for customer OOB authentication.

Refer to Visa Secure using EMV® 3DS User Experience Guidelines for more details.

Platform Updates


MLE Documentation

We have updated the Message Level Encryption documentation to provide you details on how Visa Deveoper provides an enhanced end-to-end security for message payload by using asymmetric encryption technique (public-key cryptography). 

Refer to Message Level Encryption documentation for more details.

Working with Visa APIs

We have launched a new Working With Visa APIs experience. This provides developers and business users with a more intuitive and user-friendly experience to help them quickly get started on the Visa Developer Platform. We have a refreshed look, improved navigation and a personalized learning experience. We have also introduced several new content sections to help users understand the Visa Developer Platform technology architecture and new quick start guides.

Refer to Working With Visa APIs for more details.

Use Cases


Enhanced Merchant Information

Help cardholders understand their purchases and reduce chargebacks and cardholder inquiries.

Refer to Enhanced Merchant Information use case for more details.


July 2020

Welcome to the Visa Developer July 2020 Release Notes that include key features introduced in this release.

Product Updates


Visa Merchant Screening Service

Visa Merchant Screening Service (VMSS) allows Acquirers to identify potentially high-risk, unreliable or fraudulent Merchants and Third Party Agents prior to making an onboarding decision and therefore helps reduce risk exposure to fraudulent and illegal transactions, and helps protect against brand damage and non-compliance assessments.

Refer to Visa Merchant Screening Services for more details.

Visa Stop Payment Services

The Visa Stop Payment Service (VSPS) enables Visa card issuers to stop card-on-file payments (including recurring and installment payments) from being authorized, cleared, and settled through VisaNet. The service can help to provide Visa issuers with a method for handling cardholder stop payment requests.

Refer to Visa Stop Payment Services for more details.

Visa ReadyLink

Visa ReadyLink (VRL) allows a Visa reloadable prepaid cardholder to add funds to their account from a ReadyLink enabled merchant terminal.  The VRL Merchant Locator API enables cardholders to search for ReadyLink enabled merchant locations. The API allows the location of participating ReadyLink merchants to be delivered in a user friendly way.

ReadyLink is only available for reloadable prepaid cards that are enabled to use ReadyLink. The ReadyLink symbol is located on the back of the card. ReadyLink is only available for “Card Present” domestic transactions. ReadyLink merchant locations are only available in the U.S.A. Merchants may set their own fees for cash reloads.

Refer to Visa ReadyLink for more details

Visa Cardholder Verification Service

Visa Cardholder Verification Service (VCVS) gives clients the power to verify consumer identity by using Issuer step-up to deliver dynamic authentication data directly to their cardholders.

Refer to Visa Cardholder Verification Service for more details.

B2B Virtual Account Payment Methods

The B2B Virtual Account Payment Method product now offers a new endpoint called ‘Get Payment Controls’.  This endpoint provides more visibility into the current state of an account’s authorization-level payment controls. It provides a list of all the authorization controls currently active on a virtual account (Processor PANs, Pseudo accounts and TSYS VANs). Specifically, clients can obtain the accumulated balance and the open-to-buy remaining on a Spend Velocity Rule for an account.

Refer to B2B Virtual Account Payment Method for more details.

Payment Account Attributes Inquiry

Recently we updated Payment Account Attribute Inquiry due to which General Attributes Inquiry API is no longer available to new customers. Current customers are not impacted by this change.

Refer to Payment Account Attribute Inquiry for more details.

We recommend using Visa BIN Attribute Sharing Service for future needs. Visa BIN Attribute Sharing Service enables the caller to look up information about a payment account. 

Platform Updates


Visa Developer List of Trusted Certifying Authorities

For trusting your server side certificate, the certificate should be issued by a known and Visa trusted Certificate Authority (CA). 

We recently updated the Visa Developer list of Trusted Certifying authorities on our website.

Refer to updated List of Trusted Certifying Authorities for details.


June 2020

Welcome to the Visa Developer June 2020 Release Notes that include key features introduced in this release.

Product Updates


Card-On-File Data Inquiry

Card-on-File Data Inquiry provides information about the merchants with whom cardholders have stored their cards on file and when the merchants have received updated card details, in the event of card reissuance.

Refer to Card-On-File Data Inquiry for more details.


May 2020

Welcome to the Visa Developer May 2020 Release Notes that include key features introduced in this release.

Product Updates


Visa B2B Connect

Visa B2B Connect now offers a new callback API called Payment Status Notification that can notify the originating or receiving bank about any changes in payment status. We also are now offering new enhancements to support Out-of-Network Payments. These APIs will ensure that payment instructions adhere to preliminary rules as specified by Visa Compliance and the additional of creditor fields relevant for out-of-network payments.

Refer to Visa B2B Connect for more details.

Visa BIN Attribute Sharing Service

Visa BIN Attribute Sharing Service (VBASS) can enable eligible Visa clients and partners to look up the most current Visa BIN Information. Using VBASS, applications can access Issuer  BIN Attributes, which can help to build richer digital offerings and provide better customer experiences within the allowed use cases.

Refer to Visa BIN Attribute Sharing Service for more details.

Visa Token Service Provisioning and Credential Management

Network Hub Push Provisioning (NHPP) has been renamed as Visa Card Enrollment Hub (VCEH). The name Visa Card Enrollment Hub is clearer and more aligned with what it does — enrolling consumer’s payment credentials into a number of locations. This change does not reflect any changes to the product.

Refer to Visa Token Service Provisioning and Credential Management for more details.

 

 

Platform Updates


Visa Developer PKI

An X.509 Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is implemented by Visa for issuing and managing digital certificates to be used in conjunction with Visa products and services. This PKI consists of a hierarchy of entities called CAs that issue certificates to “Subscribers” (that is, end-entities or other CAs) within the hierarchy. 

You can download the Visa Developer Platform public certificates used to identify Visa API endpoints.

Refer to Visa Developer PKI page for more details.

Edit Fully Promoted Project

Once your Visa Developer Project is fully promoted to the certification or production environment and you want to use additional Visa APIs, you can use Add APIs feature to promote the newly added APIs. Simply add the new Visa APIs in sandbox of your fully promoted project and once you are ready to promote your newly added APIs from the sandbox to the certification or production environment, initiate the process for going live and to commercialize your project.

Refer to Going Live > Edit Fully Promoted Project for more details.

Visa Developer Pricing

Pricing for Visa Developer Platform aims to charge our clients at the point where the capability provides value, for example, during a transaction, per API call, for a subscription, etc. Given the sheer variety of capabilities on our platform servicing multiple clients (issuers, processors, merchants, acquirers, FinTechs, independent developers, etc.), the pricing model is determined after examining the specific use case at hand.

Refer to Visa Developer Picing page for more details.

Visa Developer Commercailization

Developers can initiate their journey to go live by either engaging with their Visa representative or submitting a Project Promotion request (for their Sandbox project) through our Visa Developer Portal. The first phase of the Going-Live process, which we refer to as “Commercialization”, entails executing contractual terms that govern the pricing and licensing of Visa Developer Platform (VDP) APIs.

Refer to Visa Developer Commercialization page for more details.

API Reference User Experience

We have completely enhanced the API Reference experience to provide developers with easy navigation to all related product pages and made the code explorer more interactive. 

Use Cases


Easy Benefit Eligibility Validation

Enable quick and easy validation of benefit eligibility based on the Visa card number to help provide a better cardholder experience.

Refer to Easy Benefit Eligibility Validation for more details.


February 2020

Welcome to the Visa Developer February 2020 Release Notes that include key features introduced in this release.

Product Updates


Visa Cardholder Transaction Scores

Visa Cardholder Transaction Scores are PAN-level creditworthiness scores that use transaction and authorization data to help predict the likelihood that a customer will become delinquent.

Refer to Visa Cardholder Transaction Scores for more details.

Merchant Search

Merchant Search now offers a new Transaction Lookup API that allows clients to get detailed information of the merchant at which a Visa Net transaction took place (allows search by transaction ID & date).

Refer to Merchant Search for more details.

B2B Virtual Account Payment Methods

B2B Virtual Account Payment Method now offers additional APIs to streamline the Visa Payables Automation (VPA) implementation process. There are four sets of new APIs to support buyer onboarding and promote self-service capabilities for ongoing management.  The new APIs will enable issuers and Fintechs to setup buyers with specified settings, configure funding accounts needed for pseudo account or TSYS Virtual Account Number (VAN) usage, as well as setup proxy pools used for single use account virtual payments.

Refer to B2B Virtual Account Payment Method for more details. 

CyberSource Payments

CyberSource Payments is no longer available on Visa Developer. 

Visa continues to invest in our developer platforms, including bringing together Authorize.net and Cybersource developer content into a new portal. Please visit: https://developer.cybersource.com for up to date information on CyberSource APIs.

Preauthorized Payment Cancellation Service

Preauthorized Payment Cancellation Service is no longer available on Visa Developer.

If you are interested in using this product, please contact [email protected].

Mobile Location Confirmation

Mobile Locaton Confirmation is no longer available on Visa Developer.

If you’re looking for a Visa product that can help improve approval rates when cardholders travel, we recommend that you check out the Visa Travel Notification Serviceas an alternative solution.

For more information or questions, please contact [email protected] or your Visa account representative.

Visa Biometerics

Visa Biomterics is no longer available on Visa Developer.

For more information or questions, please contact [email protected].

Community Updates


Visa Developer Community Forums

Visa Developer Community Forums now provides a new and improved discussion board categories to help you find answers to your questions quicker. Changes include more categories, specific to various stages of your developer journey with testing Visa APIs (i.e. Sandbox & Test Data, Connection & Security Errors, Implementation Support and more).

Using a board-specific search will refine your results to include related questions and answers within that board only. This is a great way to narrow results by your support needs.

What if I can’t find the answer I am looking for? Ask the Community by posting a new topic! Chances are high that other Visa Developers have similar questions, answers, or insight.

Explore the new categories. We’re here to help, all you need to join the conversation is a Visa Developer Community profile. 

Refer to Visa Developer Community Forums for more information.

Recommendations are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for marketing, legal, regulatory or other advice. Recommended materials should be independently evaluated in light of your specific business needs and any applicable laws and regulations. Visa is not responsible for your use of the materials, best practice recommendations, or other information, including errors of any kind.