---
title: "Create a card"
---
> 📘 Coming from accounts? Read this first
>
> Cards aren't created directly the way accounts are. A card needs an **approved card application** behind it. In production you create that application by activating the card feature, not by calling Create card first. See [Create a card application](/platform/cards/create-a-card-application) for that flow. This page covers the final step: turning an approved application into a card.

Creating a card is a two-step flow:

1. [Create a card application](/platform/cards/create-a-card-application) and wait for it to be approved.
2. Create the card, covered below.

Before you start, the customer must exist, have completed intermediate [KYC](/getting-started/know-your-customer), and have a card application with `application_status` of `approved`.

## Create the card

Once the application is approved, create the card using the [Create card](/api-reference/cards/post-v1-cards) endpoint. Each card creation request requires the following fields:

| Field        | Type   | Description                                     |
| :----------- | :----- | :---------------------------------------------- |
| customer_id  | string | unique identifier for the customer              |
| card_limit   | number | maximum spending limit on the card in USD       |
| name_on_card | string | name to be printed on the card                  |
| card_type    | string | type of card to create: `virtual` or `physical` |

### Create a virtual card

To create a virtual card, your request body should look like this:

```bash title="create virtual card request"
curl --request POST \
     --url https://api.gravv.xyz/v1/cards \
     --header 'Api-Key: <API_KEY>' \
     --header 'Idempotency-Key: 979879887678789_attempt_1' \
     --header 'content-type: application/json' \
     --data '
{
  "customer_id": "9e3cccad-e9ae-47a0-81ee-063af0159310",
  "card_limit": 50,
  "name_on_card": "Jane Doe",
  "card_type": "virtual"
}
'
```

### Create a physical card

Physical cards require a shipping address. Include the `shipping_address` field with the customer's delivery details:

```bash title="create physical card request"
curl --request POST \
     --url https://api.gravv.xyz/v1/cards \
     --header 'Api-Key: <API_KEY>' \
     --header 'Idempotency-Key: 979879887678789_attempt_1' \
     --header 'content-type: application/json' \
     --data '
{
  "customer_id": "9e3cccad-e9ae-47a0-81ee-063af0159310",
  "card_type": "physical",
  "card_limit": 50,
  "name_on_card": "Jane Doe",
  "shipping_address": {
    "address_line1": "201 Allen St",
    "city": "New York",
    "state": "New York",
    "postal_code": "10002",
    "country_code": "US",
    "phone_number": "12125550123",
    "method": "standard"
  }
}
'
```

The `shipping_address` object accepts the following fields:

| Field         | Type   | Description                                 |
| :------------ | :----- | :------------------------------------------ |
| address_line1 | string | street address                              |
| address_line2 | string | apartment, suite, or unit number (optional) |
| city          | string | city name                                   |
| state         | string | state or region (optional)                  |
| postal_code   | string | postal or ZIP code                          |
| country_code  | string | two-letter country code                     |
| phone_number  | string | contact phone number                        |
| method        | string | shipping method                             |

For more information on the countries supported for physical card shipping and the available shipping methods, see [Physical card shipping](/platform/cards/physical-card-shipping).

The endpoint returns a 200 status code when the card is created. Retrieve the new card with [Get card](/platform/cards/retrieve-cards) to share its details with your customer.

### Spending controls

Spending controls help you manage risk and prevent unauthorized or excessive spending. You can only set these controls when creating the card. The following are the available spending controls:

* **Card limit:** Maximum amount allowed per transaction
* **Estimated monthly limit:** Total spending allowed within a calendar month

## Card issuance timeframe

Card creation is instant once the application is approved. The overall timeframe depends on how fast the customer completes KYC and how long application review takes.