<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001123360-09-000118
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20091001
<FILING-DATE>20091005
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20091005
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>JACOBS WILLIAM I
<CIK>0001019556
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-16111
<FILM-NUMBER>091106331
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INC
<STREET2>2000 PURCHASE ST
<CITY>PUCHASE
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10577-2509
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC
<CIK>0001123360
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7389
<IRS-NUMBER>582567903
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>GA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0531
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10 GLENLAKE PARKWAY
<STREET2>NORTH TOWER
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30328
<PHONE>7708298492
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10 GLENLAKE PARKWAY
<STREET2>NORTH TOWER
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30328
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-10-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001123360</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GPN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001019556</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JACOBS WILLIAM I</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10 GLENLAKE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>NORTH TOWER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30328</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1517</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8743</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21646</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>46.16</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5490</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-10-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5490</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5490</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were issued with respect to the partial payment of the Company's compensation arrangements for its Directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This grant will become exercisable in 25% increments on the first (October 1, 2010), second (October 1, 2011), third (October 1, 2012), fourth (October 1, 2013) anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William I Jacobs</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-10-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
