In today’s rapidly evolving payment ecosystem, EMV certification ensures that payment terminals and software applications operate securely, reliably, and in compliance with global standards set by payment networks like Visa, Mastercard, and RuPay. While EMV Level 2 (L2) certification validates the terminal’s EMV kernel and chip-processing logic, the EMV Level 3 (L3) certification focuses on the integration between the terminal application, the payment host, and the acquirer’s network—representing the final milestone before a POS or SoftPOS device goes live in the field.

EazyPayTech, a trusted provider of EMV Level 2 kernel development and certification services, also supports clients in achieving EMV Level 3 readiness, ensuring that their POS terminals and SoftPOS applications meet all brand-specific (Visa, Mastercard, RuPay, Amex, Discover, JCB) requirements.

Understanding EMV Level 3 (L3) Certification

The EMV certification process is divided into three levels:

• Level 1 (L1): Validates the terminal hardware’s electrical and physical interface with the EMV card.
• Level 2 (L2): Certifies the EMV kernel software responsible for card authentication, risk management, and transaction processing.
• Level 3 (L3): Confirms the complete transaction flow between the terminal application, host, and acquirer, ensuring proper data exchange and message formatting.

L3 certification primarily validates the end-to-end transaction path, including:

• Communication between terminal and host (ISO 8583 message mapping)
• Cryptogram validation (ARQC/ARPC)
• Authorization and financial message exchange
• Reversals, refunds, and completion messages
• Contactless and mobile transaction handling (for SoftPOS)

In simple terms, EMV L3 testing proves that the entire system from card tap/insertion to bank authorization functions correctly and securely for every scheme.

L3 Certification for Traditional POS Devices

For a POS terminal manufacturer or integrator, L3 certification ensures the terminal application, EMV kernel, and host processor work together as expected under real-world transaction scenarios.

During this stage, several critical components are validated:

1. Terminal Application Logic
   The application must correctly implement EMV parameters such as CVM selection, online/offline authorization decisions, and issuer script handling.
2. EMV Kernel Integration (L2)
   EazyPayTech’s certified EMV Level 2 kernels (Visa, Mastercard, RuPay, etc.) act as the backbone for seamless L3 testing, ensuring the kernel processes chip data correctly and communicates expected EMV tags to the application.
3. Host Message Validation
   Each acquirer or scheme has its own message format and response rules (VisaNet, Mastercard IPM, RuPay Host). L3 ensures that the POS terminal transmits and interprets these messages accurately.
4. End-to-End Transaction Flow
   Test scenarios include contact, contactless, fallback, refund, and reversal flows, verifying every possible user and merchant interaction.
5. Brand-Specific Testing Tools
   Tools such as Visa’s Brand Test Tool (BTT), Mastercard Brand Center, or RuPay Test Suites are used to execute pre-defined test scripts that simulate live transaction behavior.

By passing L3 certification, the POS device becomes fully compliant and ready for deployment with acquirers, ensuring it meets global interoperability and security standards.

L3 Certification for SoftPOS Applications

Unlike traditional POS terminals that depend on specialized hardware, SoftPOS (Software Point of Sale) transforms any NFC-enabled Android smartphone into a contactless payment terminal. This innovation introduces additional complexities in EMV L3 testing.

Key validation areas for SoftPOS L3 Certification include:

1. Host Communication Layer Validation
   Ensures that the app securely communicates transaction data with the acquirer’s system or payment gateway, maintaining encryption and proper ISO 8583 formatting.
2. Contactless Kernel Integration (L2)
   EazyPayTech’s EMV L2 contactless kernels (for Visa VCPS, Mastercard MCL, and RuPay qSPARC) ensure that tap transactions are processed with correct cryptograms, AID selection, and scheme-specific configurations.
3. User Interface and Flow Handling
   The app must correctly handle prompts, errors, and transaction statuses, replicating a certified payment experience similar to a POS terminal.
4. CVM (Cardholder Verification Method) Validation
   Testing ensures that PIN, CDCVM (Consumer Device CVM), or no-CVM rules are correctly enforced based on transaction amount and scheme policies.
5. Security Compliance
   The SoftPOS application must adhere to PCI MPoC, EMVCo, and scheme-mandated security requirements, validating encryption, tokenization, and transaction traceability.

L3 certification for SoftPOS confirms that digital transactions initiated through a mobile device meet the same reliability and interoperability standards as hardware terminals.

The Role of EMV L2 Certification in L3 Success

Before any device or application can begin L3 testing, it must first integrate a scheme-approved EMV Level 2 kernel. This kernel handles the EMV data exchange with the card, providing the foundation upon which L3 validation is built.

EazyPayTech specializes in:

• EMV L2 Kernel Development and Integration for Visa, Mastercard, RuPay, Amex, and others.
• Custom Terminal Application Support for OEMs and acquirers.
• Certification Consultancy for L1, L2, and L3 test readiness.

Our L2-certified kernels streamline the L3 process by ensuring that all EMV tags, cryptograms, and risk parameters are already compliant, minimizing failures during L3 execution.

Scheme-Specific Considerations in L3 Testing

Each payment scheme defines its own rules for L3 testing, message validation, and approval. For instance:

• Visa: Requires validation through Visa Brand Test Tool (BTT) for both contact and contactless flows.
• Mastercard: Utilizes Brand Center test scripts for both EMV and contactless (MCL) scenarios.
• RuPay: Follows NPCI’s qSPARC or EMV specifications, focusing on ISO 8583 host-level verification.

At EazyPayTech, we help OEMs and developers align their device configurations, AID tables, and host parameters according to these scheme-specific mandates to achieve faster approvals.

Typical L3 Certification Process Flow

1. Pre-Certification Analysis
   Verify that terminal hardware/software, host system, and kernel are all L2 certified and integrated.
2. Test Plan Preparation
   Define which schemes, transaction types (contact/contactless), and host environments will be tested.
3. Execution of Test Cases
   Use brand-approved test tools to execute required scripts and capture logs.
4. Log Review and Debugging
   Analyze authorization messages, field mismatches, and cryptogram inconsistencies.
5. Submission for Scheme Approval
   Submit logs and test results to the respective card brand or acquirer for review and approval.
6. Certification Grant
   Once validated, the device or application is issued an L3 compliance certificate, authorizing it for production or deployment.

Why L3 Certification Matters

For both POS terminal manufacturers and SoftPOS solution providers, L3 certification is not just a regulatory requirement — it’s a business necessity. It ensures:

• Interoperability across multiple card schemes and acquirers.
• Security and reliability in transaction handling.
• Compliance with scheme mandates for brand acceptance.
• Readiness for commercial rollout with acquirer networks.

Failing to achieve L3 certification can delay market launch and cause costly re-engineering of payment applications.

EazyPay Tech: Your Partner for EMV Certification Success

EazyPay Tech offers end-to-end EMV compliance solutions, from kernel development (L2) to certification consultancy (L3), helping OEMs, fintech’s, and payment aggregators accelerate their time to market.

Our expertise covers:

• EMV L1/L2 kernel integration
• Scheme-specific L3 certification for Visa, Mastercard, and RuPay
• Host message validation and pre-certification testing
• SoftPOS and Tap-to-Pay EMV implementation
• PCI DSS and MPoC security compliance

By partnering with EazyPay Tech, you ensure your payment device or application meets every requirement to go live confidently and securely in global payment ecosystems.

EMV Level 3 Certification is the final gatekeeper of quality, security, and interoperability for any payment device — whether it’s a hardware-based POS or a mobile-based SoftPOS solution.
And while L3 certification validates the end-to-end transaction, it all begins with a robust and certified EMV L2 kernel — a space where EazyPay Tech excels.

With deep domain expertise in EMV kernel development, testing, and certification, EazyPay Tech helps global clients ensure seamless compliance and faster market entry — one certification at a time.