Yes! Every new and replacement Visa® Prepaid Card comes with an EMV chip. The chip is the small metallic square on the front of the Card. When the Card is inserted into a chip reader, the chip creates a unique code for that purchase, which helps protect the Card against counterfeit fraud.
In this article, you'll learn how to pay using the chip and what to do if the cardholder has an older Card without one.
How to pay with the chip
- When the payment terminal prompts you, insert the Card into the chip reader slot, chip end first.
- Leave the Card in the reader until the screen says it's okay to remove it.
- If the terminal asks for a PIN and the cardholder doesn't have one, see How to Handle a Merchant PIN Request.
If a terminal doesn't have a chip reader, the Card can still be swiped. For online purchases, use the card number, expiration date, and security code as usual. Cardholders can also pay with a tap of their phone or watch; see Use the Visa® Prepaid Card with Apple Pay and Google Pay.
The chip doesn't change how the Card's Spending Settings work. Every purchase is checked against Spending Settings the same way, whether the Card is inserted, swiped, or used online.
Have an older Card without a chip?
If the cardholder has an older Card without a chip that you'd like to replace, please contact our Customer Support team. We can order a chip Card in a way that keeps the current Card open while the replacement is in transit, so the cardholder can keep spending in the meantime.
Once the new Card arrives and is activated, any funds remaining on the old Card are transferred to the new Card automatically, and the cardholder can start making purchases with it. See Activate your Card.
Chip not working?
If the chip is scratched or damaged and card readers can no longer read it, you can order a replacement Card from your dashboard. See Replace a Damaged Card.
If you have any questions about EMV chip Cards, please don't hesitate to contact our Customer Support team.