Issue a card

Last updated: October 22, 2025

You can create physical cards or virtual cards to issue to an individual or a business using the Dashboard or the API. All cards are linked to a card product you configured when setting up your card program.

Once created, physical cards are shipped to the cardholder, along with the personal identification number (PIN). Alternatively, if you integrate the Android or iOS Card Management SDK, the cardholder can view the PIN in your mobile app.

Cards must be activated before the cardholder can make payments.

We recommend confirming with the cardholder that they have received the card and PIN and ensuring that the card is activated.

Note

All cards have a maximum lifetime of three years from creation by default. You can set a set shorter maximum lifetime during your Issuing onboarding.

You must have completed your Issuing onboarding.
For physical and tokenized cards, Checkout.com and the card scheme must have approved your card design.
You must have funded your Issuing balance.
You must have created a cardholder to issue the card to.

To create a card in the Dashboard, you need one of the following user roles:

Admin
A custom role with the Create and edit cards and cardholders; Simulate transactions permission

Sign in to the Dashboard.
Go to Issuing > Cards > Create card.
Select the type of card you want to create.
In the Cardholder dropdown, select the cardholder you want to issue the card to.
Optionally, enter a Display name to show on the card, and your Reference to help you identify the card.
In the Card product dropdown, select the card product you want to link the card to, if your entity has more than one configured.
Select Create card.

You must first retrieve the identifier for the card product you want to link the card to in the Dashboard. You need the Admin role or a custom role with the View all transactions, cards, cardholders, and card products permission.

Sign in to the Dashboard.
Go to Issuing > Card products.
Select the required card product.
In the Card product details page, copy the Card product ID value.

Then, call the Create a card endpoint and provide the following:

type field – Set the card type to either physical or virtual.
cardholder_id field – Provide the cardholder's unique identifier returned in the Create a cardholder response.
card_product_id field – Provide the identifier of the card product you want to link the card to, if your entity has more than one configured.

Virtual cards are activated on creation by default. To activate the card later, set the activate_card boolean to false.

post

https://api.checkout.com/issuing/cards


1{
2  "type": "physical",
3  "cardholder_id": "crh_d3ozhf43pcq2xbldn2g45qnb44",
4  "lifetime": {
5    "unit": "Months",
6    "value": 6
7  },
8  "reference": "Your-card-reference",
9  "revocation_date": "2027-03-12",
10  "card_product_id": "pro_7syjig3jq3mezlc3vjrdpfitl4",
11  "display_name": "John Smith",
12  "shipping_instructions": {
13    "shipping_recipient": "John Paul Smith",
14    "shipping_address": {
15      "address_line1": "Checkout.com",
16      "address_line2": "90 Tottenham Court Road",
17      "city": "London",
18      "state": "London",
19      "zip": "W1T 4TJ",
20      "country": "GB"
21    }
22  }
23}


1{
2  "id": "crd_fa6psq242dcd6fdn5gifcq1491",
3  "display_name": "John Smith",
4  "last_four": "1234",
5  "expiry_month": 5,
6  "expiry_year": 2025,
7  "billing_currency": "GBP",
8  "issuing_country": "GB",
9  "reference": "X-123456-N11",
10  "created_date": "2019-09-10T10:11:12Z",
11  "_links": {
12    "self": {
13      "href": "https://api.checkout.com/issuing/cards/crd_fa6psq42dcdd6fdn5gifcq1491"
14    },
15    "credentials": {
16      "href": "https://api.checkout.com/issuing/cards/crd_fa6psq42dcdd6fdn5gifcq1491/credentials"
17    },
18    "revoke": {
19      "href": "https://api.checkout.com/issuing/cards/crd_fa6psq42dcdd6fdn5gifcq1491/revoke"
20    }
21  }
22}

A successful response returns the card id.

Set the is_single_use boolean to:

true – For single-use cards that are valid for one transaction only and are then automatically revoked
false – For multi-use cards that can be used for an unlimited number of transactions until the card expires, or is revoked


1{
2  "type": "virtual",
3  "cardholder_id": "crh_d3ozhf43pcq2xbldn2g45qnb44",
4  "card_lifetime": {
5    "unit": "Months",
6    "value": 6
7  },
8  "reference": "X-123456-N11",
9  "card_product_id": "pro_7syjig3jq3mezlc3vjrdpfitl4",
10  "display_name": "John Smith",
11  "is_single_use": false,
12  "activate_card": false
13}


1{
2  "id": "crd_fa6psq242dcd6fdn5gifcq1491",
3  "display_name": "John Smith",
4  "last_four": "1234",
5  "expiry_month": 5,
6  "expiry_year": 2025,
7  "billing_currency": "GBP",
8  "issuing_country": "GB",
9  "reference": "X-123456-N11",
10  "created_date": "2019-09-10T10:11:12Z",
11  "_links": {
12    "self": {
13      "href": "https://api.checkout.com/issuing/cards/crd_fa6psq42dcdd6fdn5gifcq1491"
14    },
15    "credentials": {
16      "href": "https://api.checkout.com/issuing/cards/crd_fa6psq42dcdd6fdn5gifcq1491/credentials"
17    },
18    "revoke": {
19      "href": "https://api.checkout.com/issuing/cards/crd_fa6psq42dcdd6fdn5gifcq1491/revoke"
20    }
21  }
22}

Information

For security purposes, the card's credentials are not returned in the response.

Note

If you receive a card_product_required response error, you may have more than one card product configured. You must provide a card_product_id in your request.

You can use the API to:

Activate a card

Activate the card and manage its status.

Enroll a card in 3D Secure

Enroll the card in 3DS to authenticate cardholders for online transactions and reduce the risk of fraud.

Manage cards

Find out how to add cards to digital wallets, securely display card details to cardholders, renew cards, and update the card details or card product.

Manage cardholder transactions

View your cardholder's transaction lifecycle, simulate transactions, and configure authorizations.

Manage card controls

Apply card spending controls to manage your budget and prevent fraud.

Retrieve Issuing reports

Generate reports to manage and gain insight into your card program.

Issue a card

Note

Before you begin

Create a card in the Dashboard

Create a card using the API

Request example

Response example

Request example

Response example

Information

Note

Next steps

Activate a card

Enroll a card in 3D Secure

Manage cards

Manage cardholder transactions

Manage card controls

Retrieve Issuing reports