PCI DSS Transaction Levels | VISA Requirements for Merchants

PCI DSS transaction levels for merchants are used to identify what “Level” an organization would fall into for PCI DSS compliance.

Level 1: Any merchant-regardless of acceptance channel-processing over 6,000,000 Visa transactions per year OR Any merchant that Visa, at its sole discretion, determines should meet the Level 1 merchant requirements to minimize risk to the Visa system.

Level 2: Any merchant-regardless of acceptance channel-processing 1,000,000 to 6,000,000 Visa transactions per year.

Level 3: Any merchant processing 20,000 to 1,000,000 Visa e-commerce transactions per year.

Level 4: Any merchant processing fewer than 20,000 Visa e-commerce transactions per year, and all other merchants-regardless of acceptance channel-processing up to 1,000,000 Visa transactions per year.

Regarding PCI DSS compliance for VISA, most merchants will fall into Levels 2, 3, and 4, which allows a merchant to conduct a payment card industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) self assessment. However, a self-assessment is easier said than done, as it is best to still utilize a Qualified Security Assessor (PCI QSA) to assist in self-assessment matters.

Level 1 compliance for merchants requires an actual on-site PCI DSS assessment by a PCI-QSA.