Meal and food voucher cards must work across all networks
What’s happening
Decree 12,712/2025 overhauled the Worker Food Program (PAT) behind meal and grocery vouchers (vale-refeição and vale-alimentação): fee caps (3.6% merchant fee, 2% interchange) and 15-day settlement applied from early 2026, and full interoperability, so cards are accepted across every accredited merchant network, is due around November 7, 2026.
What to do
Ask your voucher provider to confirm it is compliant and on time, and tell employees where their cards will be accepted.
Source
planalto.gov.br. Checked October 19, 2026.