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).
- 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.
- 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)
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.