Starting on October 1, 2026, contactless Pix will no longer have the specific regulatory cap of R$500 per transaction. The change comes from BCB Normative Instruction No. 746 of June 16, 2026, which repeals the provisions of BCB Normative Instruction No. 512/2024 that created dedicated limits for this initiation method.
This does not turn contactless Pix into an “unlimited” payment method. What disappears is the extra, uniform R$500 cap that applied specifically to contactless initiation. The transaction will still be subject to the account’s general Pix limits, security rules, and the amount available within the relevant period or day, depending on the type of recipient and the configuration adopted by the institution.
What changes on October 1, 2026
| Point | Through September 30, 2026 | From October 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Specific per-transaction cap for contactless Pix | R$500, without overriding a lower general Pix limit | The specific R$500 cap is removed |
| Specific daily contactless limit | The user may set a maximum daily amount for the method | The regulation no longer requires separate daily-limit management for contactless Pix |
| General Pix limits | They still apply and may reduce the amount actually available | They still apply and become the main regulatory reference for the transaction |
| Who determines the amount actually available | Specific cap + general account limits | General limits set by the institution, customer adjustment requests, and other applicable controls |
Why removing R$500 does not mean any amount is allowed
BCB Normative Instruction No. 512/2024 requires Pix participants to establish maximum limits for purchase or transfer transactions made by individual customers. Those limits do not disappear under Instruction 746.
For payments to individuals, the general rule uses limits by period and may distinguish daytime and nighttime periods. At night, the limit is R$1,000 when the recipient is an individual, unless the user expressly requests another arrangement. For business recipients, the limit is established per day. The institution must also consider the customer’s risk and behavioral profile when setting limits.
Therefore, after October 1, a contactless purchase above R$500 may be possible, but only if there is enough general limit available for that payment. Repealing the specific cap does not create a minimum amount that a bank is required to make available.
How the R$500 cap worked before the change
Article 16-A of Instruction 512, introduced for contactless Pix, set a maximum of R$500 per transaction. It also allowed the payer to establish a maximum daily limit. If that user’s general Pix limit was below R$500, the lower amount prevailed.
For example, if a person had only R$300 available under the applicable general limit at that moment, the R$500 contactless cap did not allow a R$500 payment. The transaction remained limited to R$300. Instruction 746 repeals Article 16-A as of October 1, 2026.
Which limit applies to contactless Pix after the change
The safest reference for the user is the general Pix limit shown by the bank or payment institution. Once Instruction 746 takes effect, the regulation no longer maintains a separate R$500 ceiling for contactless payments.
This means the maximum amount of a specific purchase will depend on the remaining limit for the relevant period or day, the institution’s profile and rules, the type of recipient, and any settings made by the customer. An institution may also apply security and risk-analysis mechanisms before authorizing a transaction.
What the customer can configure — and what depends on the institution
Instruction 512 requires account-providing participants to offer, in the app used to initiate Pix, functionality to manage the general limits. Customers may request increases or reductions. Under the general rule, a reduction must be accepted immediately; an increase may be accepted at the institution’s discretion and, if approved, the response and effective change must occur between 24 and 48 hours after the request.
- Depends on the customer: requesting a reduction, applying for an increase, choosing available app settings, and keeping values compatible with their usage.
- Depends on the institution: setting reference limits based on risk and behavior, deciding on increase requests, and applying security controls.
- No longer mandatory as a separate rule: a regulatory control for per-transaction and per-day limits exclusively for contactless Pix. The exact way each app presents its controls may vary.
Before trying a contactless payment above R$500
Because the new rule takes effect only on October 1, 2026, check the institution’s app after that date to see which limit is shown as available and whether the wallet or contactless Pix controls have been updated. It is not safe to assume that every customer will automatically receive a limit above R$500.
- Check the general Pix limit available for the time of day and recipient type.
- See whether the institution reports any additional control for contactless payments.
- If you need an increase, request it in advance, because approval is not automatic and may take 24 to 48 hours.
- Review the amount and recipient on screen before confirming the transaction.
Instruction 746 also changes another Pix journey
The same instruction repeals Article 16-C of Instruction 512, which dealt with the maximum limit for transactions initiated through payment-initiation service sharing without redirection. This is a related change, but it should not be confused with the practical question of making a contactless payment at a terminal.
Summary: what actually changes
Through September 30, 2026, contactless Pix has a specific R$500 per-transaction cap and may have its own daily limit set by the user. From October 1, BCB Instruction 746 repeals that specific treatment. Contactless Pix does not become unlimited: the transaction will depend on the account’s general Pix limits, available settings, and the institution’s risk decisions.
For the official rules, consult BCB Normative Instruction No. 746/2026, BCB Normative Instruction No. 512/2024, and the Central Bank of Brazil’s guidance on Pix limits.
