Free bank card: how to get a digital Visa card fast
Need a card right now – before a trip, a shopping run, or your child's first solo purchase? A plastic bank card from a traditional bank takes several days to arrive by post. The Paysera digital Visa card is issued for free and activates in 20 minutes in the app, working straight from your phone with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay.
In this article, we explain how a digital card differs from a plastic one, which fees to watch, and how to get a card the same day.
What is a digital bank card?
A digital (or virtual) card is the same Visa payment card as a plastic one – it just lives on your phone instead of in your wallet. You have a card number, expiry date, and CVV (card security code), and you pay by holding your phone to the terminal via Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay, or by entering the card details online.
The essentials, briefly:
No waiting for the post – the card is created straight in the app.
Works everywhere Visa is accepted – in shops, online, and at ATMs (via digital wallets).
Separate card account – the card has its own account number (IBAN), which you top up with as much money as you want. That way you use only the amount held on the card each day, not your entire balance.
We currently issue digital cards only – plastic cards are temporarily unavailable.
Security is one of the biggest advantages of a digital card. Lose your phone and you can block the card instantly by logging in to your account from any other device – you don't lose the account itself. If your phone is protected by face recognition, fingerprint or PIN, no one can use the card without unlocking the phone. And because you keep only part of your money on the separate card account, the risk stays minimal even in a worst-case scenario.
Is there really a "free" bank card?
Fees are indicative and valid for August 2026. Paysera fees verified at paysera.com/v2/en/fees/payment-card-fees.
| Criterion | Traditional bank | Digital card platform | Paysera digital Visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card issuance | 0–2 EUR + delivery (2–12 EUR) | usually free | 0 EUR*. |
| When you get it | several days by post | instantly in the app | about 20 min in the app. |
| Monthly fee | 1–2 EUR/month (or included in the plan) | 0 to a few EUR (depends on the plan) | 1 EUR. |
| Can you get only the digital card (without a physical one)? | usually no – you must order a physical card first | yes | yes. |
| EU payments in EUR | free | free | free. |
| Apple Pay / Google Pay | yes | yes | yes. |
* Card issuance is free of charge if you live in an EEA or EU country. Customers residing outside the EEA may be charged a 3–10 EUR fee — you will see the exact amount at checkout.
If you're looking for a card with no monthly fee at all, such options exist on the market. Paysera's strength lies elsewhere – speed and having the card straight on your phone: issuance is free, and for 1 EUR/month you get a Visa that works instantly, with no waiting.
How the Paysera digital Visa card works
Fees and terms verified (August 2026, source)
- Issuance free.
- Monthly fee: 1 EUR for the first card; second and subsequent cards linked to the same account – free.
- Activation: free, online, within 20 minutes.
- Payments in shops in the EU in EUR: free.
- Payments in another EU currency: 0.10 EUR + 0.70%.
- Cash withdrawal in Lithuania in EUR: 0.15 EUR + 1%.
- Card validity: 4 years.
- Digital wallets: Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay.
- Separate card account: top up as much as you need; the rest stays separate. Up to 10 cards per person (e.g. a separate card for online shopping).
Practical tip: if you shop online often, create a separate digital card just for online purchases and keep only the amount you need on it – that way you limit the risk if the card details ever "leak" somewhere.
Real-life situations
You need a card just before a trip. A plastic bank card by post would take several days. You order the Paysera card in the app, activate it in 20 minutes, add it to Apple Pay or Google Pay, and pay from your phone before you even leave.
Your child's or teenager's first card. Instead of waiting for a plastic card, you create a digital card on the phone. Because the second and subsequent cards linked to the same account are free, you can have a separate card for your child's everyday expenses and block it any time.
Everyday shopping. Payments in shops in EUR are free, so the only cost of daily use is the 1 EUR/month card fee.
How to get a Paysera digital card
Download the Paysera app and register;
Top up your account;
In the Cards section, order the digital Visa card;
Activate it (within 20 minutes) and add it to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is the Paysera Visa card free?
Card issuance and activation are free. A 1 EUR/month fee applies to the first card, while the second and subsequent cards linked to the same account are free. EU payments in shops in EUR are also free.
How long does it take to get the card?
The digital card is created and activated in the app in about 20 minutes – no need to wait for it to arrive by post.
Can I get a plastic card?
We currently issue digital cards only – plastic cards are temporarily unavailable. The digital card works on your phone with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
Is the digital card safe?
Yes – security is one of its main advantages. Online purchases are confirmed with two-factor authentication. If you lose your phone, you can block the card by logging in to your account from another device; and if your phone is protected by face recognition, fingerprint or PIN, no one can use the card without unlocking the phone. Because the card has a separate account, you can keep only part of your money on it.
Summary
If you need a card fast, the digital Visa is one of the most convenient options: issuance is free, activation takes about 20 minutes, and the card works straight from your phone. Monthly fee – 1 EUR; EU payments in EUR – free.