# Issue a card

You can create [physical cards](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/set-up-card-program.md#Physical_cards) or [virtual cards](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/set-up-card-program.md#Virtual_cards) to issue to an individual or a business using the Dashboard or the API.
All cards are linked to a [card product](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/set-up-card-program.md#Card_products) you configured when setting up your card program.

Once created, physical cards are [shipped to the cardholder](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/design-and-ship-cards.md), along with the personal identification number (PIN).
Alternatively, if you integrate the [Android](https://www.checkout.com/docs/developer-resources/sdks/card-issuing-sdks/card-management-android-sdk.md) or [iOS](https://www.checkout.com/docs/developer-resources/sdks/card-issuing-sdks/card-management-ios-sdk.md) Card Management SDK, the cardholder can [view the PIN in your mobile app](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cards/display-card-details.md#Display_card_details_in_your_app).

Cards must be [activated](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/activate-a-card.md) 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 shorter maximum lifetime during your Issuing onboarding.

---

## Before you start

1. You must have [completed your Issuing onboarding](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/set-up-card-program.md).
2. For physical and tokenized cards, Checkout.com and the card scheme must have approved your [card design](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/design-and-ship-cards.md).
3. You must have [funded your Issuing balance](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/fund-your-issuing-balance.md).
4. You must have [created a cardholder](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/create-and-manage-cardholders.md#Create_a_cardholder) to issue the card to.

---

## Create a card in the Dashboard

To create a card in the Dashboard, you need one of the following [user roles](https://www.checkout.com/docs/business-operations/use-the-dashboard/manage-users/user-permissions.md):

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

1. Sign in to the [Dashboard](https://dashboard.checkout.com).
2. Go to _Issuing_ > _Cards_ > _Create card_.
3. Select the type of card you want to create.
4. In the _Cardholder_ dropdown, select the cardholder you want to issue the card to.
5. Optionally, enter a _Display name_ to show on the card, and your _Reference_ to help you identify the card.
6. In the _Card product_ dropdown, select the card product you want to link the card to, if your entity has more than one configured.
7. Select _Create card_.

---

## Create a card using the API

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.

1. Sign in to the [Dashboard](https://dashboard.checkout.com).
2. Go to _Issuing_ > _Card products_.
3. Select the required card product.
4. In the _Card product details_ page, copy the _Card product ID_ value.

Then, call the [Create a card](https://api-reference.checkout.com/tag/Cards/#operation/createCard) 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](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/create-and-manage-cardholders.md#Create_a_cardholder_using_the_API) 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.

To schedule the card's activation or revocation for a future date, include the `scheduled_activation_date` or `scheduled_revocation_date` field.

> **Note**
>
> Virtual cards are activated on creation by default. To activate the card later, set the `activate_card` boolean to `false`.
>
> You cannot set `"activate_card": true` and provide `scheduled_activation_date` in the same request.

> **Information**
>
> Your base URL's `{prefix}` value is unique to your account and environment. To learn how to retrieve your base URLs for the sandbox and production environments, see [API endpoints](https://www.checkout.com/docs/developer-resources/api/api-endpoints.md).

**Production**

`POST` `https://{prefix}.api.checkout.com/issuing/cards`

**Sandbox**

`POST` `https://{prefix}.api.sandbox.checkout.com/issuing/cards`

**Physical card**

### Request example

```json
{
  "type": "physical",
  "cardholder_id": "crh_d3ozhf43pcq2xbldn2g45qnb44",
  "lifetime": {
    "unit": "Months",
    "value": 6
  },
  "reference": "X-123456-N11",
  "scheduled_activation_date": "2026-06-01",
  "scheduled_revocation_date": "2027-03-12",
  "card_product_id": "pro_7syjig3jq3mezlc3vjrdpfitl4",
  "display_name": "Hannah Bret",
  "shipping_instructions": {
    "shipping_recipient": "Hannah Bret",
    "shipping_address": {
      "address_line1": "123 High St.",
      "address_line2": "Flat 456",
      "city": "London",
      "state": "London",
      "zip": "SW1A 1AA",
      "country": "GB"
    }
  }
}
```

### Response example

```json
{
  "id": "crd_fa6psq242dcd6fdn5gifcq1491",
  "display_name": "Hannah Bret",
  "last_four": "1234",
  "expiry_month": 5,
  "expiry_year": 2025,
  "billing_currency": "GBP",
  "issuing_country": "GB",
  "reference": "X-123456-N11",
  "scheduled_revocation_date": "2027-03-12",
  "card_product_id": "pro_7syjig3jq3mezlc3vjrdpfitl4",
  "created_date": "2019-09-10T10:11:12Z",
  "last_activated_on": "2019-11-12T10:11:12Z",
  "_links": {
    "self": {
      "href": "https://{prefix}.api.checkout.com/issuing/cards/crd_fa6psq42dcdd6fdn5gifcq1491"
    },
    "credentials": {
      "href": "https://{prefix}.api.checkout.com/issuing/cards/crd_fa6psq42dcdd6fdn5gifcq1491/credentials"
    },
    "revoke": {
      "href": "https://{prefix}.api.checkout.com/issuing/cards/crd_fa6psq42dcdd6fdn5gifcq1491/revoke"
    }
  }
}
```

A successful response returns the card `id`.

**Virtual card**

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](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cards/revoke-a-card.md)

### Request example

```json
{
  "type": "virtual",
  "cardholder_id": "crh_d3ozhf43pcq2xbldn2g45qnb44",
  "card_lifetime": {
    "unit": "Months",
    "value": 6
  },
  "reference": "X-123456-N11",
  "card_product_id": "pro_7syjig3jq3mezlc3vjrdpfitl4",
  "display_name": "Hannah Bret",
  "is_single_use": false,
  "activate_card": false
}
```

### Response example

```json
{
  "id": "crd_fa6psq242dcd6fdn5gifcq1491",
  "display_name": "Hannah Bret",
  "last_four": "1234",
  "expiry_month": 5,
  "expiry_year": 2025,
  "billing_currency": "GBP",
  "issuing_country": "GB",
  "reference": "X-123456-N11",
  "created_date": "2019-09-10T10:11:12Z",
  "_links": {
    "self": {
      "href": "https://{prefix}.api.checkout.com/issuing/cards/crd_fa6psq42dcdd6fdn5gifcq1491"
    },
    "credentials": {
      "href": "https://{prefix}.api.checkout.com/issuing/cards/crd_fa6psq42dcdd6fdn5gifcq1491/credentials"
    },
    "revoke": {
      "href": "https://{prefix}.api.checkout.com/issuing/cards/crd_fa6psq42dcdd6fdn5gifcq1491/revoke"
    }
  }
}
```

> **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:

- [Get the card's details](https://api-reference.checkout.com/tag/Cards/#operation/getCard)
- [Update the card's details](https://api-reference.checkout.com/tag/Cards/#operation/updateCard)

---

## Subscribe to webhooks

You can set up webhooks to be notified when cards are created:

1. [Configure your webhook server](https://www.checkout.com/docs/developer-resources/event-notifications/receive-webhooks/configure-your-webhook-server.md).
2. Subscribe to the [Card created](https://www.checkout.com/docs/developer-resources/event-notifications/event-types/card_created.md) webhook.

---

## Next steps

**[Activate a card](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/activate-a-card.md)**

Activate the card and manage its status.

**[Enroll a card in 3D Secure](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cards/enroll-a-card-in-3d-secure.md)**

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

**[Manage cards](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cards.md)**

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](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cardholder-transactions.md)**

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

**[Manage card controls](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-controls.md)**

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

**[Retrieve Issuing reports](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/retrieve-issuing-reports.md)**

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