Relay's card payment processor, Adyen, does not accept card payments from businesses in 14 restricted industry categories. Alternative payment methods remain available.
Why are some industries not eligible for card payments?
Card payment requests on Relay are processed by Adyen, and Adyen's global compliance policy blocks card acceptance in certain regulated or high-risk industries. This applies to both Invoices and Quick Requests that ask a customer to pay by debit or credit card. Adyen enforces the policy across every merchant on its network, and Relay cannot override it on a per-business basis.
Which industries cannot send card payment requests?
The following 14 NAICS-based categories are not eligible for card payment acceptance through Relay. If your business's primary industry falls into any of these categories, customers cannot pay your Invoices or Quick Requests by card.
Administrative and support (travel and tourism): 4 codes, including travel agencies and tour operators
Alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis: 9 codes, including breweries, wineries, distilleries, and liquor retailers
Financial institutions and services: 47 codes, including banks, credit unions, insurance carriers, and investment firms
Gambling and gaming: 3 codes, including casinos and gaming operators
Government and public services: 29 codes, covering executive, legislative, judicial, and administrative functions
Healthcare and social services: 24 codes, including physician offices, hospitals, and nursing facilities
Mining and extraction: 26 codes, including crude petroleum extraction, natural gas extraction, coal mining, and metal ore mining
Nonprofits, advocacy, and religion: 8 codes, including religious organizations, foundations, and advocacy groups
Oil, gas, and chemicals: 10 codes, including petroleum refineries and lubricating oil manufacturing
Pharmaceuticals and healthcare manufacturing: 6 codes, including medicinal manufacturing and surgical equipment manufacturing
Professional, scientific, and technical services: 5 codes, including notaries and accounting services
Retail and wholesale trade: 17 codes, including auto dealers, pharmacies, and jewelry retailers
Technology, media, and telecommunications: 4 codes, including data processing and web hosting
Transportation and logistics: 8 codes, including scheduled air transportation and pipeline operations
Adyen updates this list periodically to reflect changes in its compliance guidelines, so eligibility can shift over time.
What other restrictions apply to card payments?
Card payment access can also be blocked based on the citizenship or residency of a business's beneficial owners. If any beneficial owner is a citizen or resident of a country restricted by Adyen's compliance policy, typically a country under international sanctions or embargoes, the business cannot send Invoices or Quick Requests by card. The country-level restrictions are documented separately in Countries Not Eligible for Card Payments with Invoices or Quick Requests.
How can I still get paid if my industry is restricted?
Businesses in restricted industries can still send payment requests through non-card rails, which cover most business-to-business payment scenarios. The available options are:
ACH transfers for United States customers only
Domestic wire transfers for larger or same-day United States payments
International wire transfers for cross-border customers
Pay by Bank (Open Banking) for direct account-to-account payment from a customer's bank
You can select any of these methods when creating an Invoice or a Quick Request in Relay.
How do I check if my business qualifies?
The fastest way to confirm your eligibility is to create an Invoice or a Quick Request in your Relay account and select the card payment option. If your industry or ownership profile is blocked, Relay will surface the restriction at that step and offer the alternative payment methods above. If you would like a definitive answer before setting up a payment request, contact the Relay Customer Experience team using the link below and include your primary NAICS code so the team can check it against Adyen's current list.
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Countries Not Eligible for Card Payments with Invoices or Quick Requests
Invoices and Quick Requests: Processing Fees, Settlement Timelines, Limits
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