A virtual Relay card is a digital-only Visa debit card that works instantly for online purchases, digital wallets, and recurring subscriptions, with no physical card required.
What is a virtual Relay card?
A virtual Relay card is a digital Relay Visa® Debit Card that spends directly from a linked Relay checking account. It activates the moment you create it in the Relay web or mobile app, works anywhere Visa debit is accepted online, and can be added to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay for in-store contactless use.
Who can create a virtual Relay card?
Any Relay customer with an approved business account can create virtual cards for themselves or their team. Relay includes up to 50 Visa debit cards per business at no charge, combined across virtual and physical formats.
Common use cases:
Owners and team members who need a card for online-only spend
Recurring subscription payments (software, ads, cloud services)
Vendor-specific or category-specific cards you can freeze or delete quickly
Backup card while a physical card is in the mail
Digital-wallet spending on a phone or watch
How does a virtual Relay card work?
Once you create a virtual card in Relay, it is ready to use for the balance in the linked checking account. The flow:
Create the card from the Cards tab in the Relay web or mobile app and assign it to a checking account.
The card number, expiry date, and CVV appear immediately in-app.
Enter those details at online checkout, or add the card to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay for in-store use.
Purchases post against the linked checking account in real time, with settlement following the merchant's timeline.
Manage the card any time from Relay: change limits, freeze it, or terminate it.
What does a virtual Relay card cost?
Relay does not charge a fee to use your virtual debit card for domestic transactions in USD. International purchases or purchases in a non-USD currency carry Visa's International Service Assessment fee of 1–2%, applied automatically at settlement by the Visa network.
What are the spending limits on a virtual Relay card?
Spending is limited first by the available balance in the linked checking account, and then by any card-level limits you set in Relay. Two things to know:
You can set card-specific daily, per-transaction, or monthly limits in addition to your account-level limits.
Contactless purchases through a digital wallet are typically capped at $100 per transaction by the merchant or country, independent of your card limits.
For a complete view of Relay's card limits, see Understanding your card limits.
How do I get a refund on a virtual Relay card purchase?
Refunds are processed by the merchant, not by Relay. Timing depends on the merchant's own refund policy and the returning card network, so the merchant is the right first contact for status updates. Relay cannot see the refund on its way back and cannot speed it up.
If you do not recognize a transaction, or if a merchant will not resolve a refund, freeze and terminate the card in Relay, then file a dispute so the transaction can be reviewed.
How do I save my virtual card for faster checkout?
You can save your virtual Relay card details to a password manager or your browser's autofill so you do not have to look them up every time. Supported tools include:
Password managers: 1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane
Browser autofill: Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox
Store the card in a secured item, and rotate it (delete and re-add) if you ever create a replacement card.
When does a virtual Relay card expire?
A virtual Relay card is valid through 11:59 PM on the last day of the printed expiry month. A card marked 11/25, for example, works through November 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
Virtual cards do not renew automatically. You will receive an in-app or email notice about one month before expiry so you can create a replacement card. Physical cards work differently: a replacement is mailed automatically about one month before expiry and requires activation once it arrives.
What's included and what's not
Included with a virtual Relay card:
Activation the moment you create the card
Card number, expiry, and CVV visible in the Relay app
Digital wallet support (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay)
Card-level spending controls and freezes
Real-time transaction posting to the linked checking account
No fee for domestic USD transactions
Not included:
Cash withdrawals at ATMs (physical card only)
Automatic renewal when the card expires
Refund tracking or status from Relay (merchants own that)
Fee-free international purchases (Visa's 1–2% ISA fee applies)
Common issues
Card declined online: check the linked checking account has an available balance, that the card is not frozen, and that any category or vendor controls allow the merchant. See Why did my card decline?
Cannot see the CVV or full card number: open the specific card in the Cards tab; sensitive details are revealed only after tapping "Show details."
Refund not showing up: contact the merchant with your transaction receipt; Relay cannot see refund status.
Suspicious activity: freeze the card immediately from the Cards tab, then terminate it and file a dispute.
Card expired: create a new virtual card from the Cards tab. Update any saved details in your password manager and any subscriptions billed to the old card.
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