Visa and Mastercard have resumed international card payments in Syria for the first time in more than 15 years, following the United States’ recent removal of Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. This development marks a significant step toward re-integrating Syria into the global financial system after years of economic isolation.

Mastercard announced in a statement that it, alongside Qatar National Bank (QNB) Group, processed Syria’s first international card payment in over a decade and a half. Visa also confirmed it conducted a live test of an international transaction in Syria, working in partnership with Lebanon’s Fransabank and the local electronic payments firm Paymera. Paymera reported executing the country’s first electronic payment using a Visa card on Thursday.

The resumption of these transactions follows the U.S. decision on Monday to delist Syria from its terrorism sponsors’ register, a designation that had imposed stringent economic sanctions since the civil war began in 2011. This action is part of a broader easing of restrictions by several Western countries after the December 2024 ouster of longtime Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and signals a potential thaw in relations.

Visa described the transaction test as the beginning of an effort to expand digital payment services within Syria, aiming to offer international visitors a secure and convenient payment method. Central Bank of Syria Governor Safwat Raslan posted a video on social media showing Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa making a Visa card payment for coffee in Damascus, marking what he called “the first payment made using a Visa card in the heart of Damascus” since the country’s removal from the terrorism list. Raslan described the event as “a new beginning” filled with hope and responsibility, emphasizing continued efforts to develop a modern and reliable financial system that aligns with Syrians’ aspirations and opens new economic opportunities.

Syria’s exclusion from the international banking network, which included a ban on dealings with its central bank and asset freezes, severely restricted its access to global markets. Authorities in Damascus are optimistic that the recent delisting will help end the country’s economic isolation, improve financial sector integration, attract foreign investment, and support reconstruction efforts after years of conflict.