VR and VA cards should be accepted in more restaurants starting this Saturday (7); understand

Starting this Saturday (7), meal voucher (VR) and food voucher (VA) cards from different operators must be accepted on the same machines enabled for benefits. The change ends the exclusivity between benefit companies and commercial establishments.

The implementation is contested by companies and entities in the sector, who claim that the systems are not yet prepared for integration. The Ministry of Labor and Employment rules out extending the deadline and states that the obligation must be fulfilled.

This Friday (6), for example, the Court rejected Alelo's requests to suspend the rules or obtain more time to adapt. The company had requested, among other measures, an additional period of 30 months to open its payment arrangement. Judge Marilaine Almeida Santos understood that the decree is within the government's regulatory competence. Alelo did not comment on the decision.

Interoperability is the last stage in the implementation schedule of the new PAT (Worker's Food Program) rules. Since February, limits have been in place on the fees charged to establishments, a reduction in the period for transferring payments and a ban on additional charges, such as membership fees and annual fees.

The government estimates that all of the changes could generate average savings of R$225 per worker per year, according to a calculation by the Ministry of Finance released in November 2025.

ABBT (Brazilian Association of Employee Benefit Companies) states that there is a lack of technical definitions and dialogue to make change possible. Abipag (Brazilian Association of Payment Institutions) says that the open arrangements, necessary for interoperability, have not yet been implemented by payment facilitators.

Abrasel (Brazilian Association of Bars and Restaurants) supports the opening of the market, but states that the systems are not integrated. The Federation of Hotels, Restaurants and Bars of the State of São Paulo (Fhoresp) criticizes the possibility of postponing the rules.

The Ministry of Labor states that the absence of more detailed complementary regulations does not eliminate the obligation to comply with the decree. The responsibility for implementation lies with the companies that participate in the payment systems, not the government.

Failure to comply with the rules can result in fines of R$5,000 to R$50,000, with the possibility of doubling in case of repeat offense or obstruction of inspection. Companies may also lose PAT registration and the tax incentives associated with the program.

What is interoperability?

It is the possibility of cards from different companies working on the same payment networks. Today, some operators work with their own networks of accredited establishments, which limits the places where each card can be used.

With the change, a restaurant that accepts a certain brand will also be able to receive cards from other operators, as long as its machine is enabled for food benefits.

What changes for the worker?

The main change is the expansion of the places where it will be possible to use the benefit. A worker who receives VR from an operator, for example, will be able to pay for a meal at a restaurant accredited by another company.

The expectation is to expand options mainly in neighborhoods far from large centers, smaller cities and rural regions, where the network of establishments that accept each card may be more restricted.

Will I need to change my card or update my registration?

No. The adaptation must occur between the companies responsible for the cards and the payment networks. The worker will be able to continue using the card they already have.

Messages that ask for personal data, passwords or a supposed mandatory update of the card due to the change should be treated with suspicion.

Will any machine start accepting all cards?

No. The rule applies to machines enabled to receive meal voucher and food voucher payments.

Will the worker be able to use the VR in the supermarket and the VA in restaurants?

No. Interoperability does not change the purpose of each benefit.

The meal voucher continues to be used to pay for ready-to-eat meals, such as those consumed in restaurants and cafeterias. The food voucher must be used to purchase food in establishments such as supermarkets, bakeries, butchers and fruit and vegetable stores.

It is also prohibited to use the benefits to buy products unrelated to food.

What happens if the card is declined at an establishment?

The worker must register the problem, writing down the name of the establishment, the date and time of the payment attempt. If possible, you should also keep a photo of the message displayed on the machine.

The first step is to contact the card operator and the HR department of the company you work for, who may request a solution from the benefit provider.

If the problem persists, it is possible to file a complaint with the Ministry of Labor and Employment, responsible for monitoring PAT rules. The body provides a labor complaint channel and the email address [email protected].

Will the merchant need to change the machine?

Not necessarily. Systems integration is the responsibility of benefit operators and companies that accredit establishments to receive payments.

The recommendation is that the merchant confirms with their acquirer whether the equipment and registration are enabled to receive the different brands.

Will the establishment have any costs to adapt?

According to Abrasel, interoperability does not require financial investment from the merchant or the exchange of equipment. Technical adaptation must be made by the companies responsible for cards and payment networks.

Abecs (Brazilian Association of Credit Card and Services Companies) also states that the payments sector is working on preparing the systems together with retailers and other participants.

Will the fees charged to establishments decrease?

Since February 2026, the new PAT rules establish limits for charges in meal voucher and food voucher operations:

Fee charged to the establishment: maximum of 3.6% of the sale value.

Interchange fee: maximum of 2%, charged between companies participating in the payment system.

Deadline to receive the money: up to 15 calendar days after the transaction.

Additional charges: no membership fees or annual fees may be required from establishments.

How will the new rules be implemented?

Decree No. 12,712, published on November 11, 2025, established an adaptation schedule for companies in the sector, with deadlines of 90 days, 180 days and one year, starting from November. The last stage, which takes effect this Saturday (7), concerns adaptation to offer full interoperability, with acceptance of different cards on enabled networks.

The Ministry of Labor states that it does not intend to extend the deadline and that the lack of complementary regulation does not eliminate the companies' obligation to comply with the decree.

Inspection will be carried out by the Labor Inspection Secretariat. Companies that fail to comply with the rules may receive fines of R$5,000 to R$50,000, with the possibility of double charges in the event of a repeat offense or difficulty imposed on inspection. They may also lose PAT registration and tax benefits related to the program.