The spending limit for contactless card payments has been increased from £30 to £45 effective 1 April 2020. The change in the limit had been under consideration and has now been expedited as part of the industry’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak. 

The change will allow more contactless payments to be made reducing the need to enter pin numbers and handling of cash. Mobile payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, do not have an upper limit once they've been authenticated using biometric technologies such as a fingerprint or face scan.

The updated limit will take some time to be introduced at all retailers as many retailers are facing staff shortages and other pressures as a result of COVID-19. 

UK Finance, which represents the finance and payments industry, said the decision was made following talks with the retail sector. There have also been similar increases made in several other European countries.