Varies by kernelFormat: bLength: 4Kernel-specific
9F6E

Form Factor Indicator / Enhanced Reader Capabilities

Tag ID
9F6E
Format
b
Length (bytes)
4
Source
Varies by kernel

What it is

Tag 9F6E has no single meaning — it is defined differently by each contactless kernel, which makes it a frequent source of confusion. Depending on the scheme it is the Visa Form Factor Indicator, the Amex (Kernel 4) Enhanced Contactless Reader Capabilities, or Mastercard Third Party Data. You must know the active kernel before interpreting it.

Where it appears

Card-side (Visa FFI, Mastercard) or reader-side (Amex) depending on the kernel.

Specification reference

Defined in: Kernel-specific — EMVCo Contactless Book C-3 (Visa FFI), Book C-4 (Amex reader capabilities), Book C-2 (Mastercard Third Party Data)

Meaning by contactless kernel

Kernel 3· Visa

Form Factor Indicator (FFI) — describes the physical form factor and features of the payment device (card, phone, wearable) and its contactless capabilities.

Kernel 4· American Express

Enhanced Contactless Reader Capabilities — the ExpressPay reader capability bitmap used in place of the TTQTerminal Transaction QualifiersEMV tag 9F66 — a 4-byte bitmap the contactless reader sends to the card, declaring what the terminal supports and requires.View in glossary →.

Kernel 2· Mastercard

Third Party Data — optional data such as a device or wallet identifier carried through the transaction.