How to Use a Visa Gift Card Online

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How to use a Visa gift card online as well as check the balance and activate it

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: October 20, 2025 Fact Checked

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• How to Use a Visa Gift Card Online
|
• How to Activate a Visa Gift Card
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• How to Check the Balance on a Visa Gift Card
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• How to Use a Visa Gift Card for Partial Payments

|Show more |Show less

Do you want to use a Visa gift card online? Gift cards are incredibly useful when shopping for that person that's hard to shop for. Even store-brand gift cards can be iffy if you don't know what stores or restaurants a person likes. This is what makes Visa gift cards so handy. They can be used anywhere that accepts Visa, in person or online. They can also be a useful alternative for those who don't have a bank account. This wikiHow article teaches you how to use a Visa gift card online.

Things You Should Know

• To use a Visa gift card online, select the option to pay with a credit or debit card (not the option to pay with a gift card).
• Enter the 16-digit card number, expiration date, and the 3-digit CVV number on the back in the relevant fields and complete your purchase.
• Make sure you activate your Visa gift card before using it by calling the toll-free number on the back or at https://www.visaprepaidprocessing.com/MyGift/Verify/Activate.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

How to Use a Visa Gift Card Online

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1. 
   Use your Visa gift card like a credit or debit card. Visa gift cards can be accepted anywhere that accepts Visa. When you go to check out online, select the option to pay with a credit or debit card. Do not select the option to pay with a gift card. This option is for store-brand gift cards that only work with that retailer. Enter the 16-digit number, expiration date, and the 3-digit CVV number on the back.

   • Make sure you activate your gift card before you try to use it to make purchases.
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Activate a Visa Gift Card

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1. 
   1
   Call the toll-free number on the card. There should be a sticker with a toll-free number you can contact on the front of the card. Call this number and activate your gift card before attempting to use it.
2. 
   2
   Activate your gift card online. In addition to calling the toll-free number, you can activate a Visa gift card at https://www.visaprepaidprocessing.com/MyGift/Verify/Activate. Have the 16-digit number, expiration date, and CVV number on the back ready.

   • You can activate Vanilla Visa gift cards at https://balance.vanillagift.com/#/
3. 
   3
   Activate the card at the retail store you bought it from. Visa gift cards are typically activated upon purchase. If your card was not activated, you can take it to the store you bought it from and have it activated.
4. 
   4
   Activate Giftcard.com cards online. If you bought a Visa gift card from Giftcards.com, you can activate it by going to https://www.giftcards.com/us/en/self-serve/activate-giftcard and entering the card number.
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Section 3 of 4:

How to Check the Balance on a Visa Gift Card

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1. 
   1
   Call the toll-free number on the card. There should be a toll-free number you can call on the card. Call this number to check the balance of your Visa gift card. Make sure you have the 16-digit number on the card ready.
2. 
   2
   Check with the card issuer's website. You can also check the balance of your card online by going to the card issuer's website. The following are a few websites you can use to check the balance of your Visa gift card:

   • Giftcards
   • Vanilla Visa Gift
   • Gift Card Mall
   • Walmart Visa Gift
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Section 4 of 4:

How to Use a Visa Gift Card to Make a Partial Payment

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1. 
   You may be able to use a Visa gift card to make a partial payment. If the remaining balance on your Visa gift card is less than the total transaction, you'll have to split the payment. Some online retailers provide this as an option, while others don't.

   • To use a Visa gift card for a partial payment on Amazon, add your Visa gift card as a payment option to your Amazon account. Select it as a payment option at checkout, and use your default payment to cover the rest of the balance.
   • Alternatively, use your Visa gift card to buy an Amazon or other retailer gift card. Most online retailers will allow you to split the transaction total between a gift card and a debit or credit card.

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