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Visa ECI Code 05: Successful Authentication

Last updated: October 8, 2026

Key details

Brand
Visa
Code
05
Response
05
Detailed Response
Cardholder authentication is successful (step-up or frictionless)

What it means

Visa ECI (Electronic Commerce Indicator) 05 is not a decline code; it is a positive status indicating that 3-D Secure cardholder authentication was successful. It signifies that the issuer's Access Control Server (ACS) authenticated the cardholder, either through a frictionless flow or a step-up challenge. While it indicates a highly secure transaction, it does not guarantee that the subsequent authorization request will be approved.

Why does code 05 occur?

  • The cardholder successfully completed a 3-D Secure authentication challenge (step-up authentication).
  • The issuer's Access Control Server (ACS) successfully authenticated the cardholder without a challenge via a frictionless flow.

How to solve 05?

No resolution is needed as this is a successful authentication status. Proceed with the normal transaction flow by passing the ECI 05 value and required authentication values to the authorization step.

Solving as a merchant

Include the ECI 05 value and the CAVV in the subsequent authorization request to VisaNet. Ensure no 3-D Secure fields are omitted or malformed.

Solving as a client

No action is required from the customer as the 3-D Secure authentication was successful.

See the full list of Visa's decline codes >Find code on Visa's website >

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Kyle Regacho

Author

Kyle Regacho
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Focused on payment recovery, decline codes, and authorization optimization at SmartRetry. Helps payment teams turn failed transactions into recovered revenue

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