Features Introduced This Week

REST API

| RM-45368

Description

The Merchant Country of Origin feature adds a field to transaction messages that identifies the country where a merchant is legally registered, independent of where the transaction occurs. It is primarily required for government-controlled merchants when their country of origin differs from the acquiring or processing country, ensuring accurate representation in authorization and clearing.

Mandate

Mastercard mandate AN 8026.

Audience

Merchants who use these merchant category codes:

9211 (Court costs including alimony and child support)

9222 (Fines)
9311 (Tax payments)
9399 (Government services - not elsewhere classified)
9402 (Postal services - government only)
9405 (Intra-government purchases-government only)
9406 (Government-owned lottery; global, excluding U.S. region)

Benefits

Improves compliance with card network mandates
Supports issuer decisioning, monitoring, and regulatory controls
Helps prevent fines

Technical Details

Merchants should provide their valid country code in the

merchantInformation.merchantDescriptor.countryOfOrigin

field.

Important Dates

Released to production June 18, 2026.