Earnings Per Share - Common Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Basic EPS:
Net income attributable to TSYS common shareholders	$ 105,868	$ 90,628
Basic EPS	$ 0.58	$ 0.49
Diluted EPS:
Net income attributable to TSYS common shareholders	$ 105,868	$ 90,628
Diluted EPS	$ 0.57	$ 0.49
Common Stock
Basic EPS:
Net income attributable to TSYS common shareholders	$ 105,868	$ 90,628
Less income allocated to nonvested awards	(373)	(526)
Net income allocated to common stock for EPS calculation	$ 105,495	$ 90,102
Average common shares outstanding	183,220	182,177
Basic EPS	$ 0.58	$ 0.49
Diluted EPS:
Net income attributable to TSYS common shareholders	$ 105,868	$ 90,628
Less income allocated to nonvested awards	(373)	(525)
Add income allocated to nonvested awards	373
Net income allocated to common stock for EPS calculation	$ 105,868	$ 90,103
Average common shares outstanding	183,220	182,177
Increase due to assumed issuance of shares related to common equivalent shares outstanding	1,067	630
Average nonvested awards	651
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding	184,938	182,807
Diluted EPS	$ 0.57	$ 0.49