Does Amazon accept Visa gift cards? Can you use Visa gift cards on Amazon?
The short answer is YES!
In fact, there are two ways you can do it:
Add the card information as a payment method (just like a credit or debit card) during checkout.
Use your Visa gift card to add funds to your Amazon gift card balance.
These methods also apply to a Mastercard gift card and all other prepaid cards that Amazon accepts.
Read on to find out how to use a Visa debit gift card on Amazon.
How to Use a Visa Gift Card on Amazon
Just like most physical stores, Amazon also accepts a variety of payment methods, such as credit and debit cards, gift cards, and Amazon Pay.
Follow these steps on how to add Visa gift card to Amazon, or use your Visa gift card as a payment option or a new payment method on the Amazon homepage.
1 – Go to your Amazon account and hover over “Accounts & Lists”, found at the top right corner. Select Account from the dropdown menu.
2- Once the page opens, click on “Your Payments”. This opens your digital wallet where you can view the payment methods you’ve added.
3- Click “Add a payment method”. Scroll down to the credit or debit card category to add the new card.
4- The new webpage will ask you to type in the needed Visa gift card details, including your Visa gift card number, cardholder’s name, and expiry date.
5- After that, a new webpage will ask for your own address or billing address to activate your Visa gift card.
You may also add gift cards on the Amazon shopping app:
Tap on the three horizontal lines at the bottom right of the screen.
Go to “Your Shortcuts” at the bottom of the page and click on “Account”.
Follow the steps mentioned above to start adding and activating your Visa gift card on Amazon.
The Problem with Using a Visa Gift Card on Amazon
Unlike credit or debit cards, Visa gift cards don’t link to a bank account and can’t be used to withdraw cash at an ATM. They also already have a predetermined value loaded onto them.
Your Visa gift card can be used just like any payment method, only with a few caveats.
Here are some drawbacks to using a Visa gift card on Amazon.
Not all Visa gift cards work like a debit or credit card on Amazon. Some cards may require you to use a CVV (Card Verification Value) security code to authorize Amazon purchases. Amazon doesn’t ask for a three digit CVV code when you add a payment method, so these gift cards are unlikely to go through.
Amazon doesn’t allow using multiple Visa gift cards, or using a Visa gift card with other payment methods on a single transaction. Whenever you purchase an item using the gift card, you have to make sure that you have enough balance to cover the total order cost (including taxes and shipping).
Visa gift cards can’t be used to purchase Amazon Prime memberships.
Amazon doesn’t let you use a Visa gift card to purchase digital goods, such as Kindle ebooks or MP3 files.
Visa gift cards may have inactivity or activation fees, or an expiration date.
The Solution? Buy an Amazon Gift Card with Your Visa Gift Card
To save yourself the trouble of encountering the problems mentioned above, I suggest using your Visa gift card to buy Amazon gift cards instead.
Follow these steps on how to pay with Visa gift card on Amazon and also how to purchase an Amazon gift card with your Visa funds:
1- Hover over “Accounts & Lists” and click on “Account”.
2- Click on “Your Payments”.
3- Underneath “Rewards & Balances” you should see “Amazon Gift Card”.
4- Click on “Amazon Gift Card” (this could also be called “Amazon Balance”, depending on your device) and click Reload Your Balance.
5- Type the exact balance on your Visa gift card in the box that says “Amount”, then click on “Buy Now”.
6- Once the Payment Method section opens, scroll down to “Payment Method” and click on “Change”.
7- On the payment options menu, click on “Add credit or debit card”.
8- Type in your Visa gift card’s information and enter your own mailing address in the “Address” section.
9- It will now show the new Amazon account balance, which gets deducted from your Visa gift card on Amazon when you choose the “Pay with Gift Card” option.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to Use a Visa Gift Card on Amazon for Partial Payment?
Using a Visa gift card for partial payments on Amazon isn’t possible.
I also get asked about how to split payment on Amazon with Visa gift card.
Split payments on Amazon can only be done using a credit, debit, or prepaid card, and an Amazon gift card.
How to Use Multiple Visa Gift Cards on Amazon?
Unfortunately, using multiple Visa gift cards in a single transaction is not allowed.
How to Use Vanilla Gift Card on Amazon?
Create an Amazon account.
Add your Vanilla gift card to your Amazon account.
Combine the exact amount of your Visa gift card balance with your credit or debit card.
Add an item to your online shopping cart.
Review your order details and choose your Vanilla gift card balance as your primary payment method.
Click on “Place your order” to complete the transaction.
Why is My Visa Gift Card Being Declined on Amazon?
Ensure that your Visa gift card has been activated. You may have received a gift receipt or a card holder confirming its activated status. You may call the toll free telephone number on the back of the card to check.
Double-check the exact dollar and cent Visa gift card balance before using it.
Lastly, check if you’ve entered the correct Visa gift card information, such as the card number, expiration date, billing address, and phone number.
Why is My Visa Gift Card Not Working on Amazon?
You might be using your Visa card on Amazon together with another credit or debit card for a single transaction, which is not allowed.
Also, Amazon doesn’t require you to enter a CVV code, which is normally found on the back of some cards. If your issuing bank requires this code for online transactions, your payment won’t go through.
What credit score is required to get an Amazon Prime Visa card?
Having a credit score of at least 700 or higher increases your chances of getting approved for an Amazon credit card.
How to Redeem a Visa Gift Card on Amazon?
Look for the claim code on the back of your Amazon gift card.
Sign into your Amazon account and click on “Your Account”.
Click on “Gift Cards”.
Click on “Redeem a Gift Card” under “Your Gift Card Balance”.
Type in the Amazon claim code and click “Apply to Your Balance”.
The Bottom Line
I hope my guide has taught you how to add a prepaid Visa gift card on Amazon.
Through this article, I’ve shown you how to use a prepaid Visa card on Amazon, as well as how to use a Vanilla Visa gift card on Amazon.
Furthermore, I hope you’ve learned some clever techniques for adding funds to your card’s balance and using your gift card as a payment method.
You can visit my blogs for more Amazon tips and tricks.
One Response
This doesn’t work. I’ve received three Visa debit cards from United Healthcare rewards (two of them from different companies) and Amazon has refused all of them when I try to load them into my Amazon balance. I get a message each time that they’ve been declined. My understanding is that Amazon is refusing more and more debit cards this way for no real reason and will only allow to reload specific Amazon gift cards… with several caveats now of what you can order now with them what you can’t.