Understanding token limitations and best practices for recurring payments
Tokens are used to securely process payments without exposing sensitive card data.
However, token usage depends on whom issued the token and the payment flow in which it is used.
Tokenization
Tokenization is a process that replaces sensitive payment credentials with an algorithmically generated payment token. It is a fraud-prevention measure designed to protect sensitive payment data, such as:
Card number
Cardholder name
Card expiration date
Payment tokens are issued in real time during payment processing by Solidgate Vault or card network
Guide Visa and Mastercard tokenization to streamline payments and boost security.tokenization
services. Tokens issued by card networks (Visa Token Service, Mastercard Secure Card) are also known as network tokens.
Solidgate vault is a PCI-compliant token vault that securely stores payment instruments, including cards, network tokens, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other payment methods.
Payment tokens can be used in future payments to represent sensitive payment credentials in transaction processing without exposing the actual payment card details.
When
Guide Token migration transfers stored card data to Solidgate.migrating
from another processor, securely export stored card data and transfer it to Solidgate for tokenization. Solidgate issues new tokens, and you map them to your customers.
Solidgate tokens
When Solidgate handles tokenization, a payment token is returned in the payment response that can be used for follow-up payments:
one-click when your customer uses previously stored credentials to initiate a payment
unscheduled or regular subscription-based payments
Token usage flow
To use Solidgate tokens
A customer provides payment credentials during the checkout process on the merchant's side.
Payment credentials are sent to the Solidgate vault without ever hitting the merchant's server in one of the following ways:
Charge
API
request with Primary Account Number (PAN)
Guide Simplify checkout and enhance security with Apple Pay for seamless digital transactions.Apple Pay
or
Guide Learn how to integrate Google Pay and ensure secure payment processing.Google Pay
payment via Solidgate's hosted Payment Page
Apple Pay request with
Guide Decrypt and handle Apple Pay tokens for payments.decryption
on the Solidgate side
Google Pay request
Guide Decrypt and handle Google Pay tokens for payments.decryption
on the Solidgate side
Solidgate securely saves payment credentials and links them to a token generated by Solidgate vault.
The response includes a token that represents the stored payment method.
If the payment fails due to a network error or a decline from the issuing bank, the token is returned, allowing merchants to use the
Guide Enhance payment success with retry logic for declined charges.retry logic
on their end without re-collecting card data.
Save the token and use it for follow-up payments via the
Recurring
API
request.
Run
Guide Simulate payments to test your integration before launching in production.test
to validate recurring token payments in the sandbox environment before production.
The token received after Apple Pay and Google Pay payments can be used only for merchant-initiated payments
Guide MIT are payments initiated by the merchant without the customer being present, typically for recurring or scheduled payments.
(MIT).
If a customer is present during checkout, the Apple Pay or Google Pay buttons must be displayed.
Network tokens
Payment network tokens replace real card details during transactions to enhance security. Visa and Mastercard support various types of tokens:
Device-based tokens work only on the device they were issued to, for example,
Guide Apple Pay offers a secure and convenient payment option for iOS device owners.Apple Pay,Guide Google Pay enhances checkout experiences on Android and web platforms.Google Pay
Non-device-based tokens can be used from any device, typically by e-commerce merchants or apps where customers buy subscriptions
Solidgate acts as:
Visa and Mastercard tokenization services provider. On behalf of the merchant (OBO Merchant), Solidgate opens access to these services without any extra effort on the merchant’s side to integrate with card schemes’ tokenization services
Network token processor without acting on behalf of the merchant card schemes’ tokenization services provider.
Merchant’s service provider
To use network tokens on behalf of the (OBO) Merchant service provider
A customer provides payment credentials and PAN during the checkout process on the merchant's side.
Payment credentials are sent to the Solidgate vault without ever hitting the merchant's server with
Charge
API
request with PAN.
Solidgate securely saves payment credentials and links them to a token generated by Solidgate's tokenization service.
If a merchant is involved in
Guide Visa Token Service (VTS) provides secure tokenization for Visa cards.VTS
and
Guide Secure Card on File (SCOF) enables secure storage and tokenization of card credentials.SCOF,
the payment credentials are tokenized in the VTS or SCOF as soon as the issuing bank approves the tokenization request, and the network token is stored in the Solidgate vault linked to the Solidgate token.
The Digital Primary Account Number (DPAN) of the network token is used in payment processing.
The payment response includes a token that represents the stored payment method (card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay).
The merchant saves the token and uses it for follow-up payments via the
Recurring
API
request.
Recurring
API
requests from merchants using VTS and SCOF services are automatically processed with network tokens through the connector account for the same websites and mobile apps where the initial charge, Apple Pay, or Google Pay transaction occurred.
Processing network tokens
If you or your provider receives network tokens directly from Visa or Mastercard, you can process them through Solidgate. The same applies if you have your own integration with Apple Pay and Google Pay, and if you decrypt payloads on your end, storing device-based network tokens for subscription-based payments.
Solidgate lets you process payments with these network tokens, so you can continue processing seamlessly when switching providers without generating new network tokens. Key benefits:
Keep tokens with your provider or in your vault while using Solidgate for payment processing
Maintain uninterrupted service during provider transitions
Retain full Apple Pay and Google Pay token support for recurring payments
Preserve your current setup while Solidgate handles processing in the background
However, as in this case, Solidgate does not act in the OBO Merchants’ role. It does not manage the lifecycle of these network tokens.
For this reason, Solidgate does not generate or provide a token in any of the following scenarios. If you need to process one-click or recurring payments, use one of the following:
Charge
API
request supports two types of one-time payments:
pan
Primary Account Number (PAN) original card number
dpan
Digital Primary Account Number (DPAN) replacement card number
You can specify the token type using the optional card_data_type parameter with values like
dpan
, the default is
pan
. When processing payments with a
dpan
, specific parameters must be included depending on the DPAN source and payment scenario.
dpan_source is
required
where the DPAN source:
apple-pay
token from Apple Pay
google-pay
token from Google Pay
vts
tokenization service provided by Visa Token Service (VTS)
mdes
tokenization service provided by Mastercard Digital Enablement Service (MDES)
scof
Secure Card on File (SCOF) tokenization by Mastercard
payment_type is
required
and indicates the payment initiator:
If you accept Apple Pay or Google Pay payments for subscriptions and store device-based tokens, these tokens can only be used for merchant-initiated payments. This includes recurring or scheduled payments.
payment_typemust not be1-click
, and must be one of the
recurring
,
retry
,
installment
, or
rebill
scheme_transaction_id is
required
force3dsmust not betrue
,
Guide This process is designed to enable secure and reliable payment processing through the use of 3D Secure (3DS) with challenge authentication flow.3D Secure
authentication should not be forced
If you want to process CIT, there are two options:
Guide Solidgate can handle the token decryption if you are not PCI DSS-compliant.Handle decryption
by Solidgate
Guide If you are PCI DSS-compliant, you can decrypt Google Pay tokens on your side.Handle decryption
on your side
MIT with DPAN from Visa or Mastercard
If you have direct integration or use a third-party provider or orchestrator that receives, stores, and manages Visa or Mastercard tokens, you can use these tokens for merchant-initiated recurring or scheduled payments.
payment_typemust not be1-click
, and must be one of the
recurring
,
retry
,
installment
, or
rebill
scheme_transaction_id is
required
force3dsmust not betrue
,
Guide This process is designed to enable secure and reliable payment processing through the use of 3D Secure (3DS) with challenge authentication flow.3D Secure
authentication should not be forced
If you have a direct integration or an orchestrator that receives, stores, and manages Visa or Mastercard tokens, you can use these tokens for customer-initiated recurring or scheduled payments.
cryptogram is
required
, you must obtain the cryptogram and send it
eci is
required
, you must get Electronic Commerce Indicator (ECI) from VTS/MDES/SCOF and send it
Payment authentication:
It is highly recommended to set force3dstrue
if you want Solidgate to initiate
Guide This process is designed to enable secure and reliable payment processing through the use of 3D Secure (3DS) with challenge authentication flow.3D Secure
authentication, as this helps optimize payment success rates.
If the payment was already authenticated on your side, send the authentication results inside the external_mpi_data object