What are and where can I find the EMV specifications?

The EMV specifications as they apply to the development and testing of EMV solutions are managed by an organization called EMVCo.

This is a central global organization and the specifications they manage apply to the global standards for EMV.

Go to the EMVCo website for additional information.

Any questions you have may be answered in their extensive FAQ, or by submitting your questions to them directly via their website.

There is no U.S.A. specific version of EMV specifications. That said, for U.S. debit transactions alone, the U.S. does have a specification unique to the U.S. market. Refer to the EMV Migration Forum U.S. Debit EMV Technical Proposal white paper for details.