> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sendpadi.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create card

> Issue a virtual card for a cardholder. Scope: `virtual-cards:write`. Requires `Idempotency-Key`.



## OpenAPI

````yaml POST /api/v1/merchant/virtual-cards
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
  title: SendPadi Merchant API
  version: 1.0.0
  description: >-
    Merchant REST API. Authenticate with HMAC headers (`X-Api-Key`,
    `X-Timestamp`, `X-Signature`). Generate playground headers with [Sign
    requests (playground)](/guides/sign-requests).
servers:
  - url: https://api.sendpadi.com
    description: Production (test + live keys)
security: []
paths:
  /api/v1/merchant/virtual-cards:
    post:
      tags:
        - virtual-cards
      summary: Create card
      description: >-
        Issue a virtual card for a cardholder. **Scope:** `virtual-cards:write`.
        Requires `Idempotency-Key` on this write.
      operationId: api-reference_virtual-cards_create-card
      parameters:
        - name: X-Timestamp
          in: header
          required: true
          description: Unix time in seconds
          schema:
            type: string
        - name: X-Signature
          in: header
          required: true
          description: HMAC-SHA256 signature
          schema:
            type: string
        - name: Idempotency-Key
          in: header
          required: true
          description: UUID. Required on money-moving writes.
          schema:
            type: string
            format: uuid
      requestBody:
        required: true
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              type: object
              properties:
                cardType:
                  type: string
                  enum:
                    - dollar
                    - multi-currency
                  description: Card product type
                cardholder:
                  type: object
                  properties:
                    firstName:
                      type: string
                    lastName:
                      type: string
                    email:
                      type: string
                    phone:
                      type: string
                    bvn:
                      type: string
                    address:
                      type: object
                      properties:
                        houseNo:
                          type: string
                        street:
                          type: string
                        city:
                          type: string
                        state:
                          type: string
                        country:
                          type: string
                        postalCode:
                          type: string
                    identity:
                      type: object
                      properties:
                        idType:
                          type: string
                          enum:
                            - NIN
                            - NATIONAL_IDENTITY
                            - PASSPORT
                            - DRIVERS_LICENSE
                          description: Government ID type for KYC
                        idNo:
                          type: string
                        idUrl:
                          type: string
                        issuanceCountry:
                          type: string
              required:
                - cardType
                - cardholder
            example:
              cardType: dollar
              cardholder:
                firstName: Ada
                lastName: Lovelace
                email: ada@example.com
                phone: '+2348012345678'
                bvn: '22222222222'
                address:
                  houseNo: '12'
                  street: Broad Street
                  city: Lagos
                  state: LA
                  country: NG
                  postalCode: '100001'
                identity:
                  idType: NIN
                  idNo: '12345678901'
                  idUrl: https://example.com/id.jpg
                  issuanceCountry: NG
      responses:
        '201':
          description: OK
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                type: object
                additionalProperties: true
              example:
                success: true
                data:
                  card:
                    id: mock-bitnob-1789820551052
                    userId: dcce795d-ff25-46c1-b318-04e6af27dcd1
                    cardType: dollar
                    currency: USD
                    status: pending
                    createdAt: '2026-09-19T12:22:31.052Z'
                    updatedAt: '2026-09-19T12:22:31.052Z'
                message: Virtual card created
              examples:
                success:
                  summary: Success
                  value:
                    success: true
                    data:
                      card:
                        id: mock-bitnob-1789820551052
                        userId: dcce795d-ff25-46c1-b318-04e6af27dcd1
                        cardType: dollar
                        currency: USD
                        status: pending
                        createdAt: '2026-09-19T12:22:31.052Z'
                        updatedAt: '2026-09-19T12:22:31.052Z'
                    message: Virtual card created
        '400':
          description: Card provider rejected
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                type: object
                additionalProperties: true
              examples:
                card_provider_rejected:
                  summary: Card provider rejected
                  value:
                    success: false
                    message: >-
                      Failed to create virtual card: Card provider rejected the
                      request
                    error: MERCHANT_VC_CREATE_ERROR
                database_validation_error:
                  summary: Database / validation error
                  value:
                    success: false
                    message: >-
                      Failed to create virtual card: Database error during
                      createCard: value too long for type character varying(10)
                    error: MERCHANT_VC_CREATE_ERROR
              example:
                success: false
                message: >-
                  Failed to create virtual card: Card provider rejected the
                  request
                error: MERCHANT_VC_CREATE_ERROR
      security:
        - ApiKeyAuth: []
components:
  securitySchemes:
    ApiKeyAuth:
      type: apiKey
      in: header
      name: X-Api-Key
      description: API key id (sp_test_… / sp_live_…)

````

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