Mastercard and GCash are introducing Mastercard Pay Local, a service that will allow eligible international visitors to link their Mastercard credit or debit cards to the GCash app and pay local merchants through their mobile phones. Expected to launch in the third quarter of 2026, the service will remove the need for visitors to cash in or load the e-wallet before making purchases.
The feature is designed to make everyday spending more convenient for travelers who would otherwise need to carry more cash, exchange currency, or adjust to unfamiliar payment methods. Visitors will be able to use their linked Mastercard cards for dining, shopping, attractions, transit, and other purchases accepted through GCash.
Using existing merchant QR systems
Philippine merchants will be able to receive payments from international visitors through their current QR payment setup. Mastercard and GCash said businesses will not need to change their existing payment infrastructure to participate, allowing them to serve more travelers through the same systems already used for local customers.
“Travelers increasingly expect the convenience and confidence of their everyday payment experiences to travel with them,” said Jason Crasto, country manager for the Philippines at Mastercard. “Mastercard’s global network coupled with GCash’s everyday acceptance means visitors can spend less time thinking about how to pay and more time enjoying everything the Philippines has to offer, while helping local businesses benefit from growing tourism.”
Extending GCash access to visitors
Ren-Ren Reyes, president and CEO of G-Xchange Inc., the mobile wallet operator of GCash, said the service is intended to make the country more accessible to international travelers while creating more opportunities for local businesses.
“Trips should be about experiencing a destination, not worrying about how to pay for essentials and experiences,” Reyes said. “By extending the convenience of GCash to international visitors through GCash Link and Pay, we’re helping make the Philippines even more accessible while creating more opportunities for businesses across the country.”
Mastercard Pay Local builds on the companies’ existing collaboration in card issuance, merchant acceptance, and QR payment enablement. Supporting details on eligible cards and customer registration will be announced closer to the service’s availability in the GCash app.
Supporting tourism and local businesses
The new payment option comes as international tourism to the Philippines continues to grow. Between January and mid-June 2026, the country welcomed 2.96 million foreign visitors, representing a 6.16% increase from the same period in the previous year.
Tourism contributed PHP2.27 trillion to the Philippine economy in 2025 and supported 7.7 million jobs nationwide. Mastercard and GCash said easier access to digital payments can help visitors transact more conveniently while giving local merchants more opportunities to serve international customers.
In Summary
Mastercard Pay Local will allow eligible international visitors to link Mastercard credit or debit cards to the GCash app and pay Philippine merchants through existing QR systems. Scheduled for launch in the third quarter of 2026, the service will not require users to load the GCash wallet before making card-funded payments.