--- description: Understand Visa ECI Code 05. Learn what a successful 3D Secure authentication means for authorization, fraud liability shifts, and payment processing. title: Visa ECI Code 05: Successful Authentication image: https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,height=630,quality=85,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.smartretry.com%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Fog-image.0z0q4_5kazzzo.jpeg --- [Skip to main content](#main-content) ![Visa](https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=96,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.smartretry.com%2Fpayment-providers%2Flogos%2Fvisa.svg) Visa # Visa ECI Code 05: Successful Authentication technical decline Last updated: September 25, 2026 ## Still letting failed transactions slip through? SmartRetry turns declines into approvals - automatically, intelligently, and without changing your payment provider. Email address Let’s talk Table of Contents ## About 05 \- "Cardholder authentication is successful (step-up or frictionless)" ## Key details Brand ![Visa](https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=256,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.smartretry.com%2Fpayment-providers%2Flogos%2Fvisa.svg) Code 05 Category ECI Codes Response 05 Detailed Response Cardholder authentication is successful (step-up or frictionless) technical decline ## 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. ## Classification & retryability technicalRetryable: no Because ECI 05 is a success indicator rather than a decline, you should not retry the authentication. If the subsequent authorization attempt fails, base your retry strategy on the specific authorization decline code provided by the issuer. ## 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? Proceed to authorization. Pass the ECI 05 value alongside the required authentication values (such as the CAVV) in your e-commerce authorization message to VisaNet. Ensure no 3-D Secure fields are omitted or malformed, as this can result in the authorization being refused or downgraded. ### Solving as a merchant Submit the authorization request with all returned authentication data to secure potential fraud liability shifts. Retain the authentication records for dispute defense. Be prepared to handle separate authorization declines, as ECI 05 relates solely to identity authentication, not fund availability or account standing. ### Solving as a customer No action is required from the customer, as their identity has already been successfully authenticated by their issuing bank. 💡Tip from SmartRetry Because ECI 05 transfers fraud liability to the issuer, you can safely configure your internal risk engine to relax pre-auth fraud rules on these transactions to avoid false-positive declines. Ensure your gateway routes the authorization immediately, as cryptographic tokens like the CAVV expire quickly. [See the full list of Visa's decline codes \>](/payment-providers/visa#statuses)[Find code on Visa's website \>](https://developer.visa.com/capabilities/visa-secure-remote-commerce/docs-data-elements) ### Frequently asked questions about this topic Does Visa ECI 05 guarantee that my authorization will be approved? No. ECI 05 only confirms that the 3-D Secure authentication was successful. The issuer makes the final authorization decision based on separate factors like available funds, account standing, and post-authentication risk rules. Does an ECI 05 response guarantee a fraud liability shift? While an ECI 05 is necessary to establish a fully authenticated secure e-commerce transaction, it is not always sufficient on its own. Network rules and specific transaction conditions determine the final liability shift outcome, which can sometimes be downgraded during the authorization process. What happens if I do not include the ECI 05 value in my authorization request? Omitting the ECI and corresponding authentication data from your authorization message can cause the transaction to be refused or downgraded by the processor. It also prevents the normal fraud liability shift from applying to the transaction. #### Share this article [![Share on X](https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.smartretry.com%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Ftwitter.21z6yr9njnznr.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Visa%20ECI%20Code%2005%3A%20Successful%20Authentication&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smartretry.com%2Fdecline-code%2Fvisa-eci-code-05 "Share on X")[![Share on Facebook](https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.smartretry.com%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Ffacebook.3sbfjbsxa26qg.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smartretry.com%2Fdecline-code%2Fvisa-eci-code-05 "Share on Facebook")[![Share on LinkedIn](https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.smartretry.com%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Flinkedin.09sdc8tnlrn4a.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smartretry.com%2Fdecline-code%2Fvisa-eci-code-05 "Share on LinkedIn") Make us your preferred source ![Kyle Regacho](https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=256,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fsecure.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Faa4329c7f45a68c68f2fbccab899d0f43f3740f3f9e92d5c6ea711171fc1a35f%3Fs%3D96%26d%3Dmm%26r%3Dg) Author ##### Kyle Regacho [![LinkedIn](https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=32,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.smartretry.com%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Flinkedin.09sdc8tnlrn4a.svg)Find me on Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdregacho/) Focused on payment recovery, decline codes, and authorization optimization at SmartRetry. Helps payment teams turn failed transactions into recovered revenue [Read all articles >](/authors/kyle-regacho) ## Join our newsletter! Real strategies to recover lost revenue - straight to your inbox Email address Subscribe ## Related codes * [![Visa](https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=256,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.smartretry.com%2Fpayment-providers%2Flogos%2Fvisa.svg)06Authentication was attempted but not completed (e.g. frictionless or passive)technical declineRead more >](/decline-code/visa-eci-code-06) * [![Visa](https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=256,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.smartretry.com%2Fpayment-providers%2Flogos%2Fvisa.svg)07Non-authenticated e-commerce transactiontechnical declineRead more >](/decline-code/visa-eci-code-07) * [![Visa](https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=256,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.smartretry.com%2Fpayment-providers%2Flogos%2Fvisa.svg)10Approved, partialsoft declineRead more >](/decline-code/visa-issuer-response-code-10) * [![Visa](https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=256,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.smartretry.com%2Fpayment-providers%2Flogos%2Fvisa.svg)11Approved, VIPtechnical declineRead more >](/decline-code/visa-issuer-response-code-11) ## Articles you may find interesting: [View all](/blog) [![Turning Payment Declines into Revenue with Context-Aware Retry Logic](https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.smartretry.com%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F09%2Frecovering-revenue-with-intelligent-retries.jpg) September 25, 2026 Turning Payment Declines into Revenue with Context-Aware Retry Logic Blind retries waste fees and damage issuer trust. 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Discover how data-driven retries and response code intelligence help teams recover failed transactions and protect conversion.](/blog/cost-of-payment-declines-recovery) --- ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"Visa ECI Code 05: Successful Authentication","url":"https://www.smartretry.com/decline-code/visa-eci-code-05","inLanguage":"en","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.smartretry.com/#organization","name":"SmartRetry","url":"https://www.smartretry.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://cdn.smartretry.com/logo.png","width":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","value":175,"unitCode":"PX"},"height":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","value":29,"unitCode":"PX"}},"description":"SmartRetry is a smart payment recovery platform that helps businesses save revenue from failed payment transactions and reduce false declines.","sameAs":["https://x.com/smartretry","https://www.facebook.com/smartretry","https://www.instagram.com/smartretry","https://www.linkedin.com/company/smartretry","https://www.youtube.com/@smartretry"],"contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer support","availableLanguage":["Hebrew","English"],"url":"https://www.smartretry.com/contact"},"address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"Menachem Begin","addressLocality":"Tel Aviv-Yafo","addressCountry":"IL"}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.smartretry.com/#organization","name":"SmartRetry","url":"https://www.smartretry.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://cdn.smartretry.com/logo.png","width":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","value":175,"unitCode":"PX"},"height":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","value":29,"unitCode":"PX"}},"description":"SmartRetry is a smart payment recovery platform that helps businesses save revenue from failed payment transactions and reduce false declines.","sameAs":["https://x.com/smartretry","https://www.facebook.com/smartretry","https://www.instagram.com/smartretry","https://www.linkedin.com/company/smartretry","https://www.youtube.com/@smartretry"],"contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer support","availableLanguage":["Hebrew","English"],"url":"https://www.smartretry.com/contact"},"address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"Menachem Begin","addressLocality":"Tel Aviv-Yafo","addressCountry":"IL"}},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.smartretry.com/decline-code/visa-eci-code-05","name":"Visa ECI Code 05: Successful Authentication"},"description":"Understand Visa ECI Code 05. 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