---
title: "Create card"
method: POST
path: "/v1/cards"
tags: ["v1 - Cards"]
---

# Create card

`POST /v1/cards`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://light.inc` (the document declares no server; this is the origin it was published from)
- URL: `https://light.inc/v1/cards`
- Auth: one of:
  - API key in header `Authorization`
  - HTTP bearer

Creates a new card. Use metadata type 'VENDOR' for vendor cards or 'EMPLOYEE' for employee cards.

## Headers

- `X-Idempotency-Key` string

## Request body

- ExternalCreateCardRequestV1Model
  - `balanceAccountId` string, uuid: ID of the card balance account to associate with this card.
  - `ownerId` string, uuid: ID of the user who will own/manage this card.
  - `metadata` ExternalCreateCardMetadataV1Model: Card type metadata. Use type 'VENDOR' with vendorId for vendor cards, or type 'EMPLOYEE' with employeeId for employee cards.
    - `type` 'VENDOR' | 'EMPLOYEE': ⚠️ This enum is not exhaustive; new values may be added in the future.
  - `description` string, nullable: Optional description or memo for this card.
  - `authentication` ExternalCardAuthenticationV1Model, nullable: 3D Secure authentication details for the card. Required for Light-issued cards, ignored for external providers.
    - `phoneNumber` PhoneNumber
      - `countryCode` 'AC' | 'AD' | 'AE' | 'AF' | 'AG' | 'AI' | 'AL' | 'AM' | 'AN' | 'AO' | 'AQ' | 'AR' | 'AS' | 'AT' | 'AU' | 'AW' | 'AX' | 'AZ' | 'BA' | 'BB' | 'BD' | 'BE' | 'BF' | 'BG' | 'BH' | 'BI' | 'BJ' | 'BL' | 'BM' | 'BN' | 'BO' | 'BQ' | 'BR' | 'BS' | 'BT' | 'BU' | 'BV' | 'BW' | 'BY' | 'BZ' | 'CA' | 'CC' | 'CD' | 'CF' | 'CG' | 'CH' | 'CI' | 'CK' | 'CL' | 'CM' | 'CN' | 'CO' | 'CP' | 'CR' | 'CS' | 'CU' | 'CV' | 'CW' | 'CX' | 'CY' | 'CZ' | 'DE' | 'DG' | 'DJ' | 'DK' | 'DM' | 'DO' | 'DZ' | 'EA' | 'EC' | 'EE' | 'EG' | 'EH' | 'ER' | 'ES' | 'ET' | 'EU' | 'EZ' | 'FI' | 'FJ' | 'FK' | 'FM' | 'FO' | 'FR' | 'FX' | 'GA' | 'GB' | 'GD' | 'GE' | 'GF' | 'GG' | 'GH' | 'GI' | 'GL' | 'GM' | 'GN' | 'GP' | 'GQ' | 'GR' | 'GS' | 'GT' | 'GU' | 'GW' | 'GY' | 'HK' | 'HM' | 'HN' | 'HR' | 'HT' | 'HU' | 'IC' | 'ID' | 'IE' | 'IL' | 'IM' | 'IN' | 'IO' | 'IQ' | 'IR' | 'IS' | 'IT' | 'JE' | 'JM' | 'JO' | 'JP' | 'KE' | 'KG' | 'KH' | 'KI' | 'KM' | 'KN' | 'KP' | 'KR' | 'KW' | 'KY' | 'KZ' | 'LA' | 'LB' | 'LC' | 'LI' | 'LK' | 'LR' | 'LS' | 'LT' | 'LU' | 'LV' | 'LY' | 'MA' | 'MC' | 'MD' | 'ME' | 'MF' | 'MG' | 'MH' | 'MK' | 'ML' | 'MM' | 'MN' | 'MO' | 'MP' | 'MQ' | 'MR' | 'MS' | 'MT' | 'MU' | 'MV' | 'MW' | 'MX' | 'MY' | 'MZ' | 'NA' | 'NC' | 'NE' | 'NF' | 'NG' | 'NI' | 'NL' | 'NO' | 'NP' | 'NR' | 'NT' | 'NU' | 'NZ' | 'OM' | 'PA' | 'PE' | 'PF' | 'PG' | 'PH' | 'PK' | 'PL' | 'PM' | 'PN' | 'PR' | 'PS' | 'PT' | 'PW' | 'PY' | 'QA' | 'RE' | 'RO' | 'RS' | 'RU' | 'RW' | 'SA' | 'SB' | 'SC' | 'SD' | 'SE' | 'SF' | 'SG' | 'SH' | 'SI' | 'SJ' | 'SK' | 'SL' | 'SM' | 'SN' | 'SO' | 'SR' | 'SS' | 'ST' | 'SU' | 'SV' | 'SX' | 'SY' | 'SZ' | 'TA' | 'TC' | 'TD' | 'TF' | 'TG' | 'TH' | 'TJ' | 'TK' | 'TL' | 'TM' | 'TN' | 'TO' | 'TP' | 'TR' | 'TT' | 'TV' | 'TW' | 'TZ' | 'UA' | 'UG' | 'UK' | 'UM' | 'US' | 'UY' | 'UZ' | 'VA' | 'VC' | 'VE' | 'VG' | 'VI' | 'VN' | 'VU' | 'WF' | 'WS' | 'XI' | 'XU' | 'XK' | 'YE' | 'YT' | 'YU' | 'ZA' | 'ZM' | 'ZR' | 'ZW': ⚠️ This enum is not exhaustive; new values may be added in the future.
      - `localNumber` string
    - `email` string, nullable: Email address for 3D Secure authentication.
  - `limits` ExternalCreateCardLimitRequestV1Model[], nullable: Optional spending limits for this card.
    - `amount` integer: Spending limit amount in minor units (e.g., cents).
    - `currency` string
    - `interval` 'PER_TRANSACTION' | 'WEEKLY' | 'MONTHLY': Interval for the spending limit (PER_TRANSACTION, WEEKLY, or MONTHLY). ⚠️ This enum is not exhaustive; new values may be added in the future.
  - `formFactor` 'PHYSICAL' | 'VIRTUAL', nullable: Card form factor. Defaults to `VIRTUAL` when omitted. `PHYSICAL` ships a plastic card and requires `deliveryContact` to be set. `VIRTUAL` must be sent with `deliveryContact` left null. Mismatches are rejected with `PHYSICAL_CARD_DELIVERY_CONTACT_REQUIRED` or `VIRTUAL_CARD_DELIVERY_CONTACT_NOT_ALLOWED`. ⚠️ This enum is not exhaustive; new values may be added in the future.
  - `deliveryContact` ExternalCardDeliveryContactV1Model, nullable: Recipient and address used by the card issuer to ship the physical card. Only `address` and `name` are required.
    - `address` ExternalCardDeliveryAddressV1Model: Postal address the card is shipped to. Country must be an ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code; `stateOrProvince` is required for US and CA destinations. An address the card issuer rejects comes back as `CARD_PROVIDER_REJECTED_FIELD` with `path` pointing at the offending field.
      - `street` string: Street name (maps to Adyen `address.line1`).
      - `houseNumberOrName` string: House number, building, apartment, or suite (maps to Adyen `address.line2`).
      - `city` string: City.
      - `postalCode` string: Postal or ZIP code in the delivery country's own format; separators such as spaces and dashes are optional. Max 10 characters, or 5 digits for `US`. The card issuer validates the format and rejects a code that doesn't match the destination country.
      - `country` 'AC' | 'AD' | 'AE' | 'AF' | 'AG' | 'AI' | 'AL' | 'AM' | 'AN' | 'AO' | 'AQ' | 'AR' | 'AS' | 'AT' | 'AU' | 'AW' | 'AX' | 'AZ' | 'BA' | 'BB' | 'BD' | 'BE' | 'BF' | 'BG' | 'BH' | 'BI' | 'BJ' | 'BL' | 'BM' | 'BN' | 'BO' | 'BQ' | 'BR' | 'BS' | 'BT' | 'BU' | 'BV' | 'BW' | 'BY' | 'BZ' | 'CA' | 'CC' | 'CD' | 'CF' | 'CG' | 'CH' | 'CI' | 'CK' | 'CL' | 'CM' | 'CN' | 'CO' | 'CP' | 'CR' | 'CS' | 'CU' | 'CV' | 'CW' | 'CX' | 'CY' | 'CZ' | 'DE' | 'DG' | 'DJ' | 'DK' | 'DM' | 'DO' | 'DZ' | 'EA' | 'EC' | 'EE' | 'EG' | 'EH' | 'ER' | 'ES' | 'ET' | 'EU' | 'EZ' | 'FI' | 'FJ' | 'FK' | 'FM' | 'FO' | 'FR' | 'FX' | 'GA' | 'GB' | 'GD' | 'GE' | 'GF' | 'GG' | 'GH' | 'GI' | 'GL' | 'GM' | 'GN' | 'GP' | 'GQ' | 'GR' | 'GS' | 'GT' | 'GU' | 'GW' | 'GY' | 'HK' | 'HM' | 'HN' | 'HR' | 'HT' | 'HU' | 'IC' | 'ID' | 'IE' | 'IL' | 'IM' | 'IN' | 'IO' | 'IQ' | 'IR' | 'IS' | 'IT' | 'JE' | 'JM' | 'JO' | 'JP' | 'KE' | 'KG' | 'KH' | 'KI' | 'KM' | 'KN' | 'KP' | 'KR' | 'KW' | 'KY' | 'KZ' | 'LA' | 'LB' | 'LC' | 'LI' | 'LK' | 'LR' | 'LS' | 'LT' | 'LU' | 'LV' | 'LY' | 'MA' | 'MC' | 'MD' | 'ME' | 'MF' | 'MG' | 'MH' | 'MK' | 'ML' | 'MM' | 'MN' | 'MO' | 'MP' | 'MQ' | 'MR' | 'MS' | 'MT' | 'MU' | 'MV' | 'MW' | 'MX' | 'MY' | 'MZ' | 'NA' | 'NC' | 'NE' | 'NF' | 'NG' | 'NI' | 'NL' | 'NO' | 'NP' | 'NR' | 'NT' | 'NU' | 'NZ' | 'OM' | 'PA' | 'PE' | 'PF' | 'PG' | 'PH' | 'PK' | 'PL' | 'PM' | 'PN' | 'PR' | 'PS' | 'PT' | 'PW' | 'PY' | 'QA' | 'RE' | 'RO' | 'RS' | 'RU' | 'RW' | 'SA' | 'SB' | 'SC' | 'SD' | 'SE' | 'SF' | 'SG' | 'SH' | 'SI' | 'SJ' | 'SK' | 'SL' | 'SM' | 'SN' | 'SO' | 'SR' | 'SS' | 'ST' | 'SU' | 'SV' | 'SX' | 'SY' | 'SZ' | 'TA' | 'TC' | 'TD' | 'TF' | 'TG' | 'TH' | 'TJ' | 'TK' | 'TL' | 'TM' | 'TN' | 'TO' | 'TP' | 'TR' | 'TT' | 'TV' | 'TW' | 'TZ' | 'UA' | 'UG' | 'UK' | 'UM' | 'US' | 'UY' | 'UZ' | 'VA' | 'VC' | 'VE' | 'VG' | 'VI' | 'VN' | 'VU' | 'WF' | 'WS' | 'XI' | 'XU' | 'XK' | 'YE' | 'YT' | 'YU' | 'ZA' | 'ZM' | 'ZR' | 'ZW': ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code (e.g. `DK`, `US`, `GB`). ⚠️ This enum is not exhaustive; new values may be added in the future.
      - `stateOrProvince` string, nullable: State, province, or region. **Required** when `country` is `US` or `CA`; requests without it are rejected with `PHYSICAL_CARD_STATE_OR_PROVINCE_REQUIRED`. Optional for other countries.
    - `name` ExternalCardDeliveryContactNameV1Model: Name printed on the shipping label.
      - `firstName` string: Recipient first name.
      - `lastName` string: Recipient last name.
    - `company` string, nullable: Company or department name on the shipping label.
    - `email` string, nullable: Contact email for delivery notifications.
    - `phoneNumber` PhoneNumber
      - `countryCode` 'AC' | 'AD' | 'AE' | 'AF' | 'AG' | 'AI' | 'AL' | 'AM' | 'AN' | 'AO' | 'AQ' | 'AR' | 'AS' | 'AT' | 'AU' | 'AW' | 'AX' | 'AZ' | 'BA' | 'BB' | 'BD' | 'BE' | 'BF' | 'BG' | 'BH' | 'BI' | 'BJ' | 'BL' | 'BM' | 'BN' | 'BO' | 'BQ' | 'BR' | 'BS' | 'BT' | 'BU' | 'BV' | 'BW' | 'BY' | 'BZ' | 'CA' | 'CC' | 'CD' | 'CF' | 'CG' | 'CH' | 'CI' | 'CK' | 'CL' | 'CM' | 'CN' | 'CO' | 'CP' | 'CR' | 'CS' | 'CU' | 'CV' | 'CW' | 'CX' | 'CY' | 'CZ' | 'DE' | 'DG' | 'DJ' | 'DK' | 'DM' | 'DO' | 'DZ' | 'EA' | 'EC' | 'EE' | 'EG' | 'EH' | 'ER' | 'ES' | 'ET' | 'EU' | 'EZ' | 'FI' | 'FJ' | 'FK' | 'FM' | 'FO' | 'FR' | 'FX' | 'GA' | 'GB' | 'GD' | 'GE' | 'GF' | 'GG' | 'GH' | 'GI' | 'GL' | 'GM' | 'GN' | 'GP' | 'GQ' | 'GR' | 'GS' | 'GT' | 'GU' | 'GW' | 'GY' | 'HK' | 'HM' | 'HN' | 'HR' | 'HT' | 'HU' | 'IC' | 'ID' | 'IE' | 'IL' | 'IM' | 'IN' | 'IO' | 'IQ' | 'IR' | 'IS' | 'IT' | 'JE' | 'JM' | 'JO' | 'JP' | 'KE' | 'KG' | 'KH' | 'KI' | 'KM' | 'KN' | 'KP' | 'KR' | 'KW' | 'KY' | 'KZ' | 'LA' | 'LB' | 'LC' | 'LI' | 'LK' | 'LR' | 'LS' | 'LT' | 'LU' | 'LV' | 'LY' | 'MA' | 'MC' | 'MD' | 'ME' | 'MF' | 'MG' | 'MH' | 'MK' | 'ML' | 'MM' | 'MN' | 'MO' | 'MP' | 'MQ' | 'MR' | 'MS' | 'MT' | 'MU' | 'MV' | 'MW' | 'MX' | 'MY' | 'MZ' | 'NA' | 'NC' | 'NE' | 'NF' | 'NG' | 'NI' | 'NL' | 'NO' | 'NP' | 'NR' | 'NT' | 'NU' | 'NZ' | 'OM' | 'PA' | 'PE' | 'PF' | 'PG' | 'PH' | 'PK' | 'PL' | 'PM' | 'PN' | 'PR' | 'PS' | 'PT' | 'PW' | 'PY' | 'QA' | 'RE' | 'RO' | 'RS' | 'RU' | 'RW' | 'SA' | 'SB' | 'SC' | 'SD' | 'SE' | 'SF' | 'SG' | 'SH' | 'SI' | 'SJ' | 'SK' | 'SL' | 'SM' | 'SN' | 'SO' | 'SR' | 'SS' | 'ST' | 'SU' | 'SV' | 'SX' | 'SY' | 'SZ' | 'TA' | 'TC' | 'TD' | 'TF' | 'TG' | 'TH' | 'TJ' | 'TK' | 'TL' | 'TM' | 'TN' | 'TO' | 'TP' | 'TR' | 'TT' | 'TV' | 'TW' | 'TZ' | 'UA' | 'UG' | 'UK' | 'UM' | 'US' | 'UY' | 'UZ' | 'VA' | 'VC' | 'VE' | 'VG' | 'VI' | 'VN' | 'VU' | 'WF' | 'WS' | 'XI' | 'XU' | 'XK' | 'YE' | 'YT' | 'YU' | 'ZA' | 'ZM' | 'ZR' | 'ZW': ⚠️ This enum is not exhaustive; new values may be added in the future.
      - `localNumber` string
  - `providerId` string, nullable: Issuer-supplied card ID, for external (non-Adyen) cards only. Prefer sending this when known, since it makes repeat imports idempotent. A synthetic ID is generated when omitted. Ignored for cards on an Adyen-backed balance account.
  - `lastFour` string, nullable: Last four digits of the card number, for external (non-Adyen) cards only. Required when the balance account is external. Ignored for cards on an Adyen-backed balance account.
  - `cardholderName` string, nullable: Name embossed on the card, for external (non-Adyen) cards only. Required when the balance account is external. Ignored for cards on an Adyen-backed balance account.

## Response `default`

default response

- ExternalCardV1Model
  - `id` string, uuid
  - `companyEntityId` string, uuid
  - `companyId` string, uuid
  - `ownerId` string, uuid
  - `cardBalanceAccountId` string, uuid
  - `form` 'PHYSICAL' | 'VIRTUAL': ⚠️ This enum is not exhaustive; new values may be added in the future.
  - `status` 'ACTIVE' | 'FROZEN' | 'CLOSED' | 'UPDATE_IN_PROGRESS': ⚠️ This enum is not exhaustive; new values may be added in the future.
  - `metadata` ExternalCardMetadataV1Model
    - `type` 'VENDOR' | 'EMPLOYEE': ⚠️ This enum is not exhaustive; new values may be added in the future.
  - `threeDs` ExternalCard3DsMetadataV1Model
    - `phoneNumber` PhoneNumber
      - `countryCode` 'AC' | 'AD' | 'AE' | 'AF' | 'AG' | 'AI' | 'AL' | 'AM' | 'AN' | 'AO' | 'AQ' | 'AR' | 'AS' | 'AT' | 'AU' | 'AW' | 'AX' | 'AZ' | 'BA' | 'BB' | 'BD' | 'BE' | 'BF' | 'BG' | 'BH' | 'BI' | 'BJ' | 'BL' | 'BM' | 'BN' | 'BO' | 'BQ' | 'BR' | 'BS' | 'BT' | 'BU' | 'BV' | 'BW' | 'BY' | 'BZ' | 'CA' | 'CC' | 'CD' | 'CF' | 'CG' | 'CH' | 'CI' | 'CK' | 'CL' | 'CM' | 'CN' | 'CO' | 'CP' | 'CR' | 'CS' | 'CU' | 'CV' | 'CW' | 'CX' | 'CY' | 'CZ' | 'DE' | 'DG' | 'DJ' | 'DK' | 'DM' | 'DO' | 'DZ' | 'EA' | 'EC' | 'EE' | 'EG' | 'EH' | 'ER' | 'ES' | 'ET' | 'EU' | 'EZ' | 'FI' | 'FJ' | 'FK' | 'FM' | 'FO' | 'FR' | 'FX' | 'GA' | 'GB' | 'GD' | 'GE' | 'GF' | 'GG' | 'GH' | 'GI' | 'GL' | 'GM' | 'GN' | 'GP' | 'GQ' | 'GR' | 'GS' | 'GT' | 'GU' | 'GW' | 'GY' | 'HK' | 'HM' | 'HN' | 'HR' | 'HT' | 'HU' | 'IC' | 'ID' | 'IE' | 'IL' | 'IM' | 'IN' | 'IO' | 'IQ' | 'IR' | 'IS' | 'IT' | 'JE' | 'JM' | 'JO' | 'JP' | 'KE' | 'KG' | 'KH' | 'KI' | 'KM' | 'KN' | 'KP' | 'KR' | 'KW' | 'KY' | 'KZ' | 'LA' | 'LB' | 'LC' | 'LI' | 'LK' | 'LR' | 'LS' | 'LT' | 'LU' | 'LV' | 'LY' | 'MA' | 'MC' | 'MD' | 'ME' | 'MF' | 'MG' | 'MH' | 'MK' | 'ML' | 'MM' | 'MN' | 'MO' | 'MP' | 'MQ' | 'MR' | 'MS' | 'MT' | 'MU' | 'MV' | 'MW' | 'MX' | 'MY' | 'MZ' | 'NA' | 'NC' | 'NE' | 'NF' | 'NG' | 'NI' | 'NL' | 'NO' | 'NP' | 'NR' | 'NT' | 'NU' | 'NZ' | 'OM' | 'PA' | 'PE' | 'PF' | 'PG' | 'PH' | 'PK' | 'PL' | 'PM' | 'PN' | 'PR' | 'PS' | 'PT' | 'PW' | 'PY' | 'QA' | 'RE' | 'RO' | 'RS' | 'RU' | 'RW' | 'SA' | 'SB' | 'SC' | 'SD' | 'SE' | 'SF' | 'SG' | 'SH' | 'SI' | 'SJ' | 'SK' | 'SL' | 'SM' | 'SN' | 'SO' | 'SR' | 'SS' | 'ST' | 'SU' | 'SV' | 'SX' | 'SY' | 'SZ' | 'TA' | 'TC' | 'TD' | 'TF' | 'TG' | 'TH' | 'TJ' | 'TK' | 'TL' | 'TM' | 'TN' | 'TO' | 'TP' | 'TR' | 'TT' | 'TV' | 'TW' | 'TZ' | 'UA' | 'UG' | 'UK' | 'UM' | 'US' | 'UY' | 'UZ' | 'VA' | 'VC' | 'VE' | 'VG' | 'VI' | 'VN' | 'VU' | 'WF' | 'WS' | 'XI' | 'XU' | 'XK' | 'YE' | 'YT' | 'YU' | 'ZA' | 'ZM' | 'ZR' | 'ZW': ⚠️ This enum is not exhaustive; new values may be added in the future.
      - `localNumber` string
    - `password` string
    - `email` string
  - `description` string
  - `bin` string
  - `lastFour` string
  - `cardholderName` string
  - `limits` ExternalCardLimitV1Model[]
    - `id` string, uuid
    - `companyId` string, uuid
    - `cardId` string, uuid
    - `amount` integer
    - `currency` string
    - `interval` 'PER_TRANSACTION' | 'WEEKLY' | 'MONTHLY': ⚠️ This enum is not exhaustive; new values may be added in the future.
    - `createdAt` string, date-time
    - `updatedAt` string, date-time
  - `createdAt` string, date-time
  - `updatedAt` string, date-time
  - `type` 'VENDOR' | 'EMPLOYEE': ⚠️ This enum is not exhaustive; new values may be added in the future.

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/light/apis/light-api.md) - [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/light/apis/light-api/llms.txt) - [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/light/apis/light-api/revisions/84f51306f648?raw)