The virtual card is a digital version of your card, with its own number and security code, created in your bank's app for internet purchases. Safe use depends on a few precautions: create one card per store or subscription, delete the ones you no longer use, and monitor your statement.
What is a virtual card
The virtual card doesn't exist in plastic. It appears only on your app screen, with a 16-digit number, expiration date, and security code (CVV) different from those printed on your physical card.
Although it has its own numbers, it's linked to the same account. A R$ 300 purchase made with the virtual card uses R$ 300 of your credit card limit and appears on the same statement as purchases made with the physical card. There's no extra limit or separate statement.
Most banks and payment institutions offer the feature at no cost. Generally, you just need to open the app, go to the card section, and look for the option to create a virtual card.
What it's used for
The idea is simple: prevent your physical card number from circulating on websites and apps. If an online store suffers a data breach, anyone with access to the information finds a number that can be deleted in seconds, without your main card needing to be canceled.
The most common uses are these:
- Purchases at online stores, especially ones you're using for the first time.
- Subscriptions to streaming, music, apps, and services charged every month.
- Payments through ride-sharing and food delivery apps.
- Purchases on foreign websites, when your card has international use enabled.
- Hotel reservations and ticket bookings made online.
Types of virtual card
The names vary from one app to another, but there are basically two formats.
The temporary virtual card is valid for a short time or for a single purchase. After being used or after a few hours pass, it stops working. It's best for one-time purchases on unfamiliar sites.
The fixed virtual card stays active until you delete it. It's for subscriptions and recurring charges, because the company needs to charge the same number every month. If you create a temporary card for a streaming subscription, next month's charge will be declined.
Some apps also show a dynamic CVV, which changes over time. In that case, the code needs to be checked in the app at the time of purchase.
How to create and use: step by step
- Open your bank's app and go to the credit card section.
- Look for the virtual card option. It's usually in the card menu, with names like "virtual card" or "digital cards".
- Choose the type. Temporary for a single purchase, fixed for subscriptions.
- Give the card a name. Something like "streaming" or "clothing store" helps you know where each charge comes from later.
- Copy the details at the time of purchase. Number, expiration date, and CVV appear in the app. Avoid writing it down on paper or saving a screenshot in your gallery.
- Check the purchase on your statement. The transaction appears like any other, with the store name.
- Delete the card when you no longer need it. This doesn't affect your physical card or other purchases already made.
Security precautions that still apply
The virtual card reduces the damage from a breach, but doesn't prevent fraud. If you type your details on a fake website, the scammer can use that number while it's active.
That's why some habits remain necessary. Check the website address before typing any details and be suspicious of prices well below market value, which are usually the bait of fake stores. Also be wary of links received by message with last-minute offers.
On your phone, keep your bank app protected by password or biometrics. Anyone who gets your unlocked phone can create virtual cards and make purchases with them. Turning on purchase notifications helps you notice any unusual charge within minutes.
Virtual card for subscriptions
Subscriptions are where the virtual card helps most with budget control. With one card for each service, it's easy to see how much each one costs per month and cancel the ones you don't use.
Think of someone with four subscriptions at R$ 40 each, totaling R$ 160 per month. If one continues charging after cancellation, just delete the virtual card for that service to block future charges.
Deleting the card, however, doesn't cancel the contract. If the service has a lock-in period or cancellation fee, the debt remains and the company can charge through other means. The best approach is to cancel the subscription through the service itself and then delete the card.
If a purchase appears that you didn't make
First, delete or block the virtual card used for the purchase. Next, dispute the charge through the app or the bank's customer service, stating the date and amount. Keep your service ticket number.
The bank analyzes the case and, when it confirms fraud, refunds the amount or removes the charge from your statement. If the response takes too long or doesn't resolve the issue, the consumer can file a complaint on Consumidor.gov.br and also through the Central Bank's complaint channel.
For purchases you made that went wrong, like a product that didn't arrive, start by complaining to the store. For purchases made outside a physical establishment, such as online, the Consumer Protection Code guarantees the right to withdraw within seven days from the purchase date or product receipt, with a refund of the amount paid.
Installments, credit limit, and other questions
Installment purchases work the same way as a physical card. A R$ 600 purchase in 6 installments with a virtual card uses R$ 600 of your limit and appears as six R$ 100 installments in the next statements, even if the virtual card is deleted afterward.
Some apps allow you to set a limit for each virtual card. This helps avoid surprises, especially with cards used by other family members or registered in many apps.
Virtual cards can also be registered in your phone's digital wallets to pay by proximity in physical stores. In this case, each wallet usually generates its own number for the device, which adds another layer of protection.
Is it worth using?
For anyone who shops online regularly, yes. The virtual card costs nothing at most banks, takes less than a minute to create, and saves you the hassle of canceling your physical card and waiting for a new one by mail when a number leaks.
A good approach is to keep one fixed card for each subscription, use temporary ones for one-off purchases, and review your list of active cards every few months, deleting the ones that no longer make sense.