Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities - Schedule of Outstanding Debt (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 28, 2014	May 31, 2013
Debt Instrument
Total	$ 1,516,462	$ 1,150,930
Current portion	264,406	259,796
Long-term debt	1,252,056	891,134
Line of Credit
Debt Instrument
Total	262,055	497,416
Line of Credit
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt	262,055	187,461
Line of Credit | United Kingdom Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt	72,752	74,146
Line of Credit | Global Payments Canada Financial Corporation Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt	89,097	0
Line of Credit | U.S. Wells Fargo Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt	0	0
Line of Credit | Hong Kong Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt	31,078	38,134
Line of Credit | Spain Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt	29,756	28,041
Line of Credit | Malaysia Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt	9,397	14,025
Line of Credit | Taiwan Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt	8,752	8,359
Line of Credit | Canada Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt	0	6,866
Line of Credit | Singapore Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt	6,206	6,459
Line of Credit | Philippines Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt	6,901	6,384
Line of Credit | Sri Lanka Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt	3,434	1,978
Line of Credit | Macau Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt	2,314	1,966
Line of Credit | Maldives Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt	2,155	741
Line of Credit | Brunei Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt	188	362
Line of Credit | Malta Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt	25	0
Line of Credit
Debt Instrument
Long-term debt (including current portion)	0	309,955
Notes Payable
Debt Instrument
Long-term debt (including current portion)	4,407	6,014
Term Loan
Debt Instrument
Long-term debt (including current portion)	$ 1,250,000	$ 647,500