EMV Tag Reference
Tools/EMV Tag Reference/9F6C
Card (ICC)Format: bLength: 2Kernel-specific
9F6C

Card Transaction Qualifiers (CTQ)

Tag ID
9F6C
Format
b
Length (bytes)
2
Source
Card (ICC)

What it is

The Card Transaction Qualifiers (CTQCard Transaction QualifiersEMV tag 9F6C — a 2-byte bitmap the card returns to the terminal, declaring the card’s contactless requirements (e.g. online PIN, signature).View in glossary →) is a 2-byte contactless bitmap the card returns to state its requirements for this tap: whether online PIN or signature is required, when to go online or switch to contact if offline data authentication fails, and whether on-device CVMCardholder Verification MethodHow the cardholder is verified — for example offline PIN, online PIN, signature, or no CVM required.View in glossary → (CDCVMConsumer Device Cardholder Verification MethodCardholder verification done on the consumer’s own device — e.g. phone biometrics or passcode — instead of at the terminal.View in glossary →) was performed. The reader uses it together with its own TTQTerminal Transaction QualifiersEMV tag 9F66 — a 4-byte bitmap the contactless reader sends to the card, declaring what the terminal supports and requires.View in glossary → (9F66) to finalise CVMCardholder Verification MethodHow the cardholder is verified — for example offline PIN, online PIN, signature, or no CVM required.View in glossary → and the online/offline decision.

Where it appears

Returned by the card (typically in the GPOGet Processing OptionsThe EMV command that starts a transaction; the card responds with the AIP and the records to read.View in glossary → response or a record); read by the terminal to finalise CVMCardholder Verification MethodHow the cardholder is verified — for example offline PIN, online PIN, signature, or no CVM required.View in glossary →.

Specification reference

Defined in: EMVCo Contactless Book C-3 (Kernel 3 / Visa); also Book C-7 (Kernel 7 / UnionPay)

Bit-level definitions below follow: EMV Contactless Book C-3 Annex A.2 (also Book C-7) — Card Transaction Qualifiers (2 bytes)

Bit & value breakdown

EMV Contactless Book C-3 Annex A.2 (also Book C-7) — Card Transaction Qualifiers (2 bytes)
Byte 1 — Card requirements
b8 = 0x80Online PIN required
b7 = 0x40Signature required
b6 = 0x20Go online if offline data authentication fails and reader is online capable
b5 = 0x10Switch interface if offline data authentication fails and reader supports contact chip
b4 = 0x08Go online if application expired
b3 = 0x04Switch interface for cash transactions
b2 = 0x02Switch interface for cashback transactions
b1 = 0x01Not valid for contactless ATM transactions
Byte 2 — Card capabilities
b8 = 0x80Consumer Device CVMCardholder Verification MethodHow the cardholder is verified — for example offline PIN, online PIN, signature, or no CVM required.View in glossary → performed
b7 = 0x40Card supports Issuer Update Processing at the POS
b6–b1RFUReserved for Future UseBits or bytes with no current meaning, reserved by the spec; they must be set to zero. — must be 0

Example values

8000Online PIN required
0080Consumer Device CVM (CDCVM) performed

Meaning by contactless kernel

Kernel 3· Visa

Canonical CTQCard Transaction QualifiersEMV tag 9F6C — a 2-byte bitmap the card returns to the terminal, declaring the card’s contactless requirements (e.g. online PIN, signature).View in glossary →. Byte 1 bit 8 = online PIN required, bit 7 = signature required; byte 2 bit 8 = CDCVMConsumer Device Cardholder Verification MethodCardholder verification done on the consumer’s own device — e.g. phone biometrics or passcode — instead of at the terminal.View in glossary → performed.

Kernel 7· UnionPay

QuickPass reuses 9F6C; the CDCVMConsumer Device Cardholder Verification MethodCardholder verification done on the consumer’s own device — e.g. phone biometrics or passcode — instead of at the terminal.View in glossary →-performed bit is central to mobile-wallet acceptance.

Decode & build this tag

💳CTQ Decoder🔓EMV TLV Decoder

Related tags

9F66Terminal Transaction Qualifiers (TTQ)82Application Interchange Profile (AIP)9F34CVM Results
← Previous9F66 Terminal Transaction Qualifiers (TTQ)Next →9F6E Form Factor Indicator / Enhanced Reader Capabilities