Tristan da Cunha Economy News

Making payments on or to Tristan has just become even easier.

Following the successful introduction of credit card facilities on the island last year, the use of card payments has continued to grow. Building on that success, card machines have now been rolled out to a number of additional locations across the settlement.

Residents and visitors can now make card payments at the Tourism Office, Post Office, Island Store, Albatross Bar, Café da Cunha and the Finance Department. The Finance Department will also offer a cashback service in GB Pounds, US dollars, Euros and SA Rand, providing added convenience for visitors and the community.

An exciting new development is the launch of the island's Digital Pay-by-Link payment system.* This allows people who are off island to securely make payments online for a range of goods and services. Whether paying an accommodation deposit, purchasing stamps and souvenirs, or settling other charges, payments can now be made quickly and easily from anywhere in the world.

The new system will also benefit visiting cruise ships, enabling operators to make payments directly to the island online before or after their visit. This will streamline transactions and help improve efficiency for both visitors and local services.

With the 2026/27 tourist season just around the corner, these improvements represent another important step in modernising services and making Tristan more accessible to visitors and customers worldwide. We hope the increased convenience will encourage greater spending on island products and services, boosting local revenue and supporting the community.

In short, whether you're buying a postcard in Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, enjoying a drink at the Albatross Bar, or arranging your visit from thousands of miles away, paying for goods and services on Tristan has never been easier.

* A secured URL link is shared to customers via email, SMS or WhatsApp prompting an instant settlement by customers. The Pay-by-link digital service entails a 10% transactional fee.