Relay’s temporary virtual cards are expiring virtual debit cards that automatically stop working after a set period. They’re ideal for one-time purchases, free trials, or project-based spending. When the expiration period ends, the card can no longer be used.
What is a temporary virtual card?
A temporary virtual card is a virtual debit card that expires after a chosen time period. It’s available to users with Cardholder permissions.
When you create one, you can apply controls such as:
Spending limits
Optional international transaction blocking
An expiration period of 14, 30, 60, or 90 days
Before you begin
Key Terms
A source account is the account the card draws funds from.
A backup account is an optional secondary account that can be used if the source account has insufficient available funds.
A cardholder is the primary person assigned to the card (and shared users must have the Cardholder role).
Important Notes
Relay cards only transact when there are available funds in the source account.
If the source account has insufficient funds, a backup account can be used to sweep funds (if set).
Creating a Temporary Card
You can create a new card from the Cards tab in your Relay dashboard. The steps below cover physical cards, virtual cards, and temporary virtual cards (expiring virtual cards).
On the web
Sign in to your Relay account.
Go to Cards.
Select Create Card.
Choose your card type:
Choose:
Virtual Card – immediate online use
Temporary Virtual Card – expires after a set period
Physical Card – mailed to your address
Choose Shared or Individual.
Assign the primary cardholder.
Shared cards: Added users must have the Cardholder role.
Select a Source account.
Select a Backup account.
Set card details.
Spending limit and expiration period (14–90 days)
Optional international transaction blocking
Nickname, background color, and pattern
Receipt settings (if expense management is enabled)
Click Create.
On the mobile app
Sign in to the Relay mobile app.
Tap the Plus (+) icon.
Choose:
Virtual Card
Temporary Virtual Card
Physical Card
Set a card nickname.
Choose Shared or Individual.
Assign the primary cardholder.
Select a Source account.
This can’t be changed later.
Select a Backup account.
Set card details.
Spending limit and expiration period
Optional international blocking
Background color and pattern
Receipt settings (if enabled)
Tap Create.
What happens when the card expires?
When the expiration period ends, the temporary virtual card can no longer be used for purchases.
What if I still need the cardholder after it expires?
Create a new temporary virtual card with a new expiration period and (optionally) updated spending controls.
Troubleshooting: Why was my temporary virtual card declined?
Temporary virtual card declines usually happen for one of these reasons:
The source account has insufficient available funds
The card hit its spending limit
The card is frozen or terminated
The card’s expiration period ended
The transaction is blocked by a control (for example, international transactions blocked)
Quick check: Confirm the source account has available funds, the card hasn’t expired, and no controls (like international blocks or limits) are preventing the transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What expiration periods can I choose?
You can choose 14 days, 30 days, 60 days, or 90 days.
Can I block international transactions?
Yes. You can optionally block international transactions when creating the card.
What’s the difference between a source account and a backup account?
A source account is where the card pulls funds from. A backup account can be used if the source account doesn’t have enough available funds.
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