About EMVCo

Who We Are

EMVCo's primary role is to manage, maintain and enhance the EMV Integrated Circuit Card Specifications to ensure interoperability and acceptance of payment system integrated circuit cards on a worldwide basis.

EMVCo is also responsible for type approval processes for terminal compliance testing and Common Core Definitions (CCD) and Common Payment Application (CPA) card compliance testing. These testing processes ensure that a single terminal and card approval process is developed at a level that will allow cross payment system interoperability through compliance with the EMV specifications.

Organization Structure

EMVCo is governed by the Board of Managers under guidance and direction of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, in turn, receives input from the EMVCo Advisors on business and strategic issues. The organization has established several working groups, composed of representatives from the members, to carry out the work of EMVCo. The Board assigns work items, functions and responsibilities to the working groups as appropriate. The current EMVCo structure can be viewed in the Overview section.

Working Groups

• Maintains and enhances the EMVCo Specifications
• Responds to specification-related queries received via the website communication facility
• Publishes ongoing bulletins, errata and application notes when required

Security Working Group -

• Supports and maintains elements of the specifications related to security
• Produces an annual risk assessment regarding the strength of cryptographic algorithms
• Responds to security-related queries received via the website comment facility

Terminal Approval Working Group -

• Develops and maintains type approval requirements and test scripts
• Manages the type approval process for Interface Modules and Application Kernels
• Manages the relationship with EMVCo Accredited Laboratories
• Provides the EMV Level 1 and Level 2 accreditation service for devices

Interoperability Working Group -

• Manages and tracks interoperability issues and resolutions
• Reviews and reports on global issues

Common Core Working Group -

• Develops the Common Core Definitions
• Defines the minimal functional requirements for credit/debit application interoperability

Security Evaluation Working Group -

• Defines and develops the EMVCo chip hardware and software evaluation and approval process.

Card Approval Working Group -

• Defines and develops a testing and approval process for CCD/CPA (Common Core Definitions/Common Payment Application) compliant cards.

Contactless Working Group -

• Maintains and enhances the EMV Contactless Communication Protocol specification
• Defines and develops the EMV Contactless Specifications for Payment Systems - Entry Point Specification
• Conducts annual reviews to determine need and appropriate time for development of a common contactless application.

Mobile Payments Working Group -

• Identify and develop the necessary requriements, specifications and processes that will enable the availability of a consistent mobile contactless proximity payment platform and infrastructure.
• Liaise and coordinate/collaborate with related standards organizations in the development of mobile contactless proximity payment standards to avoid overlap redundancies.
• Represent EMVCo's mobile contactless proximity payment role, scope and objectives in the context of industry standards development to the payments and mobile industries.