Google Pay is a way to pay contactlessly from an Android device in stores, in apps and on websites that support this method. The card is added to the Google Wallet app.
Important
Google Pay and Google Play are different services.
These instructions are for adding a card to Google Wallet. To pay for apps, games and subscriptions on Google Play, the card has to be added to the Google Play payment methods following separate instructions.
1. Check your card
- Make sure the card specifications state support for Google Pay and contactless payments. You can check this for your card in your GoGoCard account → the specific card → terms and limits.
- Check the card details and the billing address in your GoGoCard account — you will need them further on in the form for adding the card.
- Check the card balance — when the card is added, Google and the issuer may carry out a small verification authorization (up to $1).
Important
Before you start adding the card to a service, make sure your card balance is greater than $0.
Support for other payment services does not mean that the card automatically supports Google Pay — go only by the specifications of the particular card. If Google Pay is not stated in the specifications of your card, you will not be able to add that card to Google Wallet, paying this way requires a card with that functionality.
2. Prepare your Android device
Google has its own security requirements for the device. Before adding the card, make sure that:
- the device runs Android 9.0 or newer and supports NFC and HCE;
- NFC is on, and Google Wallet is installed, updated and set as the default app for contactless payments;
- a screen lock is set up on the device;
- the device is certified by Play Protect, and has no root access, unlocked bootloader or modified firmware;
- the internet connection is stable.
Where to turn on NFC: usually Settings → Connected devices → Connection preferences → NFC or Settings → Connections → NFC and contactless payments. In the same "Contactless payments" section, set Google Wallet as the default payment app.
Where to check the certification: Google Play → profile icon → Settings → About → the "Play Protect certification" line. It must show the status "Device is certified".
The names of the settings sections may differ depending on the manufacturer and the version of Android. While the card is being verified, do not close Google Wallet completely, you can put the app in the background, but you should not unload it from memory or restart the device while you are waiting for the confirmation code.
3. Check the regional settings
Google takes four parameters into account at once: the region of the payments profile, the active physical SIM cards, the active eSIMs and the region of the internet connection. None of them may belong to a region or territory from the list of restrictions — the list is given in the AML & KYC Policy section.
The Google payments profile
- Open Google Payments Center in a browser and sign in to the account that is used in Google Wallet.
- Go to "Settings" → the "Payments profile" block → the "Country/region" field.
If the region of the profile is on the list of restrictions, the verification payment will be declined, we will not be able to charge funds in the local currency of that region.
Important
The region inside a payments profile that has already been created cannot be changed — a new profile has to be created.
To create a new one: in the Payments Center settings press the edit icon next to the "Country/region" field → "Create new profile" → "Continue" → choose the region you need → enter the name and address → save. Use the billing address from your GoGoCard account; random or knowingly false data must not be entered.
After creating the profile, make sure the same Google account is open in Google Wallet, close the app completely, restart the device and check the active profile again. Creating a new Google account is usually not required for this.
SIM cards, eSIM, and IP address
Google Pay may be unavailable if a SIM card or eSIM from a restricted region is active in the device. Check all SIM profiles, including a second SIM and eSIMs that are temporarily unused.
- A physical SIM card: connect to Wi-Fi, turn off the device, take the SIM out, turn the device on and restart Google Wallet. If the device allows the SIM to be turned off in software, try that option first.
- An eSIM: turn off the profile you need in the mobile network settings. It does not have to be deleted completely — turning it off is enough.
Google takes the regional parameters of the connection into account. If your IP address belongs to a region or territory from the list of restrictions, turn on a VPN and choose a server in another region before adding the card. The list of restricted countries is given in the AML & KYC Policy section.
We recommend choosing a server in the issuing country of your card — this reduces the risk of repeated declines. Use a stable connection and do not change the server until the procedure is complete.
Important
A VPN alone may not be enough. It only changes the region of the IP address, not the region of the payments profile or the region of the SIM card — those checks have to be done separately.
4. Add the card to Google Wallet
- Open Google Wallet. If the app is not installed, install it from Google Play and sign in to the account whose payments profile you checked.
- Press "Add to Wallet" → "Payment card" → "New credit or debit card".
- Choose "Enter details manually" — scanning with the camera and reading through NFC will not work for a virtual card.
- Enter the card details from your GoGoCard account: the card number, the expiration date, the CVV code, and also the cardholder name and the billing address if they are requested. Check every digit, the expiration month and year and the absence of extra spaces — and press "Save and continue".
- Read the terms of Google Pay and of the card issuer and press "Accept". After that Google will send a request to verify the card.
- When Google Wallet offers a confirmation method, choose email and request the code.
- Get the code, go back to the app, open the card being added, press the button to complete verification (if it is shown), enter the code and confirm the action.
Depending on the type of card, the verification code will be available:
- in the notifications menu in your GoGoCard account;
- in the transactions menu;
- in your email.
The names and the positions of the buttons may differ depending on the version of the app and the Android skin.
Important
Do not request several codes in a row, after a new request the previous code may become invalid.
5. How to tell that the card has been added
The card is ready for contactless payments if it is shown in Google Wallet, has no offer next to it to complete verification, and Wallet itself is selected as the default payment app.
A card may be saved in the Google account but not set up for contactless payments. If there is an offer next to it to complete the setup or confirm the details, the attachment is not finished yet.
To make the card the primary one, open its settings in Google Wallet and select it as the primary card for contactless payments.
6. If the card will not add
- There is no button in Google Wallet for adding a payment card — check the region of the payments profile, the active SIMs and eSIMs, the selected Google account, the version of the app and the internet connection. Then turn off SIMs or eSIMs from restricted countries, connect to Wi-Fi, restart the device and open Wallet again.
- "Contactless payments cannot be set up on this phone" — the device does not meet Google's requirements, check NFC and HCE, the version of Android, the screen lock, the Play Protect certification, and the absence of root access and modified firmware. This problem is not an error on the side of our service.
- "Contactless payments cannot be set up for this card" — check that Google Pay is supported in the card specifications, the balance, that the card is active and has not expired, that the details, the name and the billing address are correct, the region of the payments profile and the active SIMs or eSIMs.
- "The card setup for contactless payments could not be completed" — Google was unable to finish the verification. Check the balance, the details, the payments profile, the SIMs and eSIMs, the internet connection and whether there is a verification request in your GoGoCard account.
- The code does not arrive or is not accepted — do not request a new code until you have checked all three places where it can arrive: the notifications in your GoGoCard account, the transactions menu and email (if you chose your personal email as the place to receive the code — the code will be delivered there).
- Google Wallet offers confirmation by an unknown phone number — do not use it; go back to the choice of method and select confirmation by email.
- The card has been added but contactless payments are unavailable — check NFC, the default app, whether the verification of the card is complete, whether the screen is unlocked before payment and whether a SIM or eSIM from a restricted region has been turned back on.
- The card has disappeared from Google Wallet — Google removes cards for security reasons, for example after the screen lock is turned off, the Google account is removed, the device is reset, the data of Wallet or Google Play services is cleared, after a long period without use or after the app is cloned. Fix the cause and add the card again.
If the card has been declined more than two or three times, do not create new transactions, repeated unsuccessful attempts, multiple requests for a 3DS code and unnecessary payments profiles may lead to additional restrictions on Google's side.
The transactions menu in your GoGoCard account should contain information about the attempted transaction (even an unsuccessful one) with the specific reason for the decline. If there is no record of the transaction, make sure you have followed all of the recommendations above; otherwise, contact Google support.