Create virtual cards with the API

The Cardholder object represents an individual or business entity that you can issue cards to. Create a Cardholder with a name to display on cards and the billing address, which is often requested when the cardholder makes online purchases, and is usually the business address of the connected account or your platform.

When you create a cardholder, or update it later, you can include additional information such as a phone_number or email, which are required for some features like digital wallets. You can also specify preferred_locales to customise the cardholder’s language for features like 3D Secure.

curl https://api.stripe.com/v1/issuing/cardholders \
  -u 
sk_test_4eC39HqLyjWDarjtT1zdp7dc
: \
  -d "name"="Jenny Rosen" \
  -d "email"="jenny.rosen@example.com" \
  -d "phone_number"="+18008675309" \
  -d "status"="active" \
  -d "type"="individual" \
  -d "individual[first_name]"="Jenny" \
  -d "individual[last_name]"="Rosen" \
  -d "individual[dob][day]"=1 \
  -d "individual[dob][month]"=11 \
  -d "individual[dob][year]"=1981 \
  -d "billing[address][line1]"="123 Main Street" \
  -d "billing[address][city]"="San Francisco" \
  -d "billing[address][state]"="CA" \
  -d "billing[address][postal_code]"="94111" \
  -d "billing[address][country]"="US"

Stripe returns a Cardholder object that contains the information you provided and sends the issuing_cardholder.created webhook event.

Individual type cardholder requirements

The cardholder type defaults to individual, but you can set the type to company if you choose.

You must provide values for the first and last names of individual cardholders, which Stripe screens in accordance with regulatory guidelines. Consider also providing date of birth, which might help reduce watchlist reviews.

Accept authorised user terms

If you’re issuing cards to individuals for programmes backed by Celtic Bank (not required for company type cardholders), you must record acceptance of the Celtic Bank Authorised User Terms before activating a card for that cardholder. See the Required Agreements for Issuing and Treasury for more information about which agreements you’re required to present to accountholders and cardholders.

If applicable, Stripe alerts you to this requirement in the requirements property of the Cardholder object:

{
  "id": "ich_1MGlTC2eZvKYlo2CJnowP9Z5",
  "name": "Jenny Rosen",
  ...
  "requirements": {
    "disabled_reason": "requirements.past_due",
    "past_due": [
      "individual.card_issuing.user_terms_acceptance.date",
      "individual.card_issuing.user_terms_acceptance.ip",
    ],
  },
  ...
}

You can accept the terms on behalf of the Cardholder by passing in the Unix timestamp of when the cardholder accepted their terms and also their IP address.

curl https://api.stripe.com/v1/issuing/cardholders/ich_1MGlTC2eZvKYlo2CJnowP9Z5 \
  -u "
sk_test_4eC39HqLyjWDarjtT1zdp7dc
:" \
  -d "individual[card_issuing][user_terms_acceptance][date]"=1470266163 \
  -d "individual[card_issuing][user_terms_acceptance][ip]"="91.121.146.224"

When you’ve met the requirements for card activation (such as first and last names, plus proof of user terms acceptance) you can activate cards for them.

Create a Card and assign it to the cardholder. This request contains the ID of the Cardholder object, currency, and virtual for type.

curl https://api.stripe.com/v1/issuing/cards \
  -u "
sk_test_4eC39HqLyjWDarjtT1zdp7dc
:" \
  -d cardholder=ich_1MGlTC2eZvKYlo2CJnowP9Z5 \
  -d currency=usd \
  -d type=virtual

Stripe returns a Card object upon creation, and sends the issuing_card.created webhook event.

In order for authorisations to be approved on a card, its status must be set to active. Note that past-due requirements block card activation.

Activate on creation

The card can be activated when creating it using the Dashboard or the API. In the Dashboard, when creating a card, click Activate card. Using the API, set status to active when using the create card endpoint.

Activate after creation

Alternatively, after creating an inactive card, the card can be activated using the Dashboard or the API. To activate using the Dashboard, select the card you wish to activate, then click Activate card. To activate using the API, use the update card endpoint to set its status to active.

curl https://api.stripe.com/v1/issuing/cards/ic_1Cm3paIyNTgGDVfzBqq1uqxR \
  -u "
sk_test_4eC39HqLyjWDarjtT1zdp7dc
:" \
  -d status=active

Re-activate after blocking

In some cases, multiple incorrect PIN attempts on a transaction deactivates a card, preventing further authorisations. To reactivate the card, use the Dashboard or the update card API to set the card’s status to active.