AVS Response Codes
- 28 Mar 2023
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AVS Response Codes
- Updated on 28 Mar 2023
- 1 Minute to read
- Print
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The address verification service (AVS) is offered as part of the Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Amex network. The service checks if the address of a credit card is linked to the person claiming to own that card.
The AVS response will not impact the approval or decline of a transaction, but can help as an indicator on whether you should proceed with the transaction. Although the street address can sometimes be tricky to match, the postal/zip code is usually a more accurate indicator. AVS is mostly supported by banks throughout Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Most card issuers outside of those countries do not participate in the address verification service.
Response Codes
| AVS Response Code | Description |
| A | Address (Street) matches, Zip does not |
| E | AVS error |
| N | No Match on Address (Street) or Zip |
| R | Retry, System unavailable or Timed out |
| S | Service not supported by issuer |
| U | Address information is unavailable (domestic issuer) |
| W | 9 digit Zip matches, Address (Street) does not |
| X | Exact AVS Match |
| Y | Address (Street) and 5 digit Zip match |
| Z | 5 digit Zip matches, Address (Street) does not |
VISA AVS Response Codes
These response codes are specific for cards processed on the Visa network
| AVS Response Code | Description |
| A | AVS Street address only, partial match |
| R | AVS Indeterminate outcome, retry |
| U | AVS Unable to verify |
| Z | AVS Postal/zip code only, partial match |
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