---
updatedAt: 2026-05-07T13:26:35.000Z
agentTools:
  siteIndex: https://developers.pismo.io/llms.txt
  projectIndex: https://developers.pismo.io/pismo-docs/llms.txt
---

# Activate physical card

A physical card is initally blocked for transactions until activated.  This prevents unauthorized use until the cardholder takes delivery. You do not have to activate a card to tokenize it for a digital wallet.
This endpoint generates a [Card updated](https://developers.pismo.io/events/docs/cards-update-1) event.


# OpenAPI definition

```json
{
  "openapi": "3.1.0",
  "info": {
    "title": "Card issuing - Cards",
    "version": "1.4.6",
    "description": "Card endpoints API",
    "contact": {
      "name": "API Support",
      "url": "https://developers.pismo.io/support/"
    },
    "license": {
      "name": "Copyright Pismo"
    }
  },
  "servers": [
    {
      "url": "https://sandbox.pismolabs.io",
      "description": "Sandbox API server for testing."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://gw-pci.pismolabs.io",
      "description": "Sandbox PCI API server for testing."
    }
  ],
  "security": [
    {
      "BearerAuth": []
    }
  ],
  "tags": [
    {
      "name": "Cards",
      "description": "Card management endpoints"
    }
  ],
  "components": {
    "parameters": {
      "accountIdPath": {
        "in": "path",
        "name": "accountId",
        "schema": {
          "type": "integer"
        },
        "description": "Pismo account ID",
        "example": 8675309,
        "required": true
      },
      "cardId": {
        "in": "path",
        "name": "cardId",
        "schema": {
          "type": "string"
        },
        "description": "Pismo card ID",
        "example": "12345",
        "required": true
      },
      "customerIdHeader": {
        "in": "header",
        "name": "x-customer-id",
        "schema": {
          "type": "integer"
        },
        "required": true,
        "description": "Pismo customer ID",
        "example": 125555
      },
      "customerIdPath": {
        "in": "path",
        "name": "customerId",
        "schema": {
          "type": "string"
        },
        "required": true,
        "description": "Customer ID",
        "example": "125555"
      }
    },
    "schemas": {
      "CardActivatedSuccessResponse": {
        "type": "object",
        "description": "Physical card activated success response",
        "properties": {
          "message": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "Physical card activated message",
            "example": "The card was successfully unblocked"
          }
        }
      }
    },
    "securitySchemes": {
      "BearerAuth": {
        "type": "http",
        "scheme": "bearer",
        "description": "Account token - an access token encoded with a Pismo account ID. Tokens can expire quickly, which can result in an \"Unauthorized\" error.",
        "bearerFormat": "JWT"
      }
    },
    "responses": {
      "204NoContent": {
        "description": "No Content"
      },
      "401Unauthorized": {
        "description": "Access token is missing or invalid"
      },
      "403Forbidden": {
        "description": "You don't have permission to access this resource"
      },
      "500InternalServer": {
        "description": "Internal server error"
      }
    }
  },
  "paths": {
    "/wallet/v1/customers/{customerId}/accounts/{accountId}/cards/{cardId}/activate": {
      "put": {
        "operationId": "put-v1-card-activate",
        "summary": "Activate physical card",
        "description": "A physical card is initally blocked for transactions until activated.  This prevents unauthorized use until the cardholder takes delivery. You do not have to activate a card to tokenize it for a digital wallet.\nThis endpoint generates a [Card updated](https://developers.pismo.io/events/docs/cards-update-1) event.\n",
        "tags": [
          "Cards"
        ],
        "parameters": [
          {
            "$ref": "#/components/parameters/customerIdPath"
          },
          {
            "$ref": "#/components/parameters/accountIdPath"
          },
          {
            "$ref": "#/components/parameters/cardId"
          },
          {
            "$ref": "#/components/parameters/customerIdHeader"
          }
        ],
        "responses": {
          "200": {
            "description": "Card activated success response",
            "content": {
              "application/json": {
                "schema": {
                  "$ref": "#/components/schemas/CardActivatedSuccessResponse"
                }
              }
            }
          },
          "204": {
            "$ref": "#/components/responses/204NoContent"
          },
          "401": {
            "$ref": "#/components/responses/401Unauthorized"
          },
          "403": {
            "$ref": "#/components/responses/403Forbidden"
          },
          "500": {
            "$ref": "#/components/responses/500InternalServer"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```