Send a virtual Visa gift card by email

A Visa Virtual Account is a prepaid card number with no plastic. You choose an amount between $10 and $250, add a message, and the recipient gets an email with a confirmation link.

That link opens an activation screen, and the recipient can also type the gift activation code into the activation page by hand. Once claimed, the 16-digit number can be used on the internet and over the phone at any merchant that accepts Visa debit cards.

The card is meant for people who shop at many different stores. Instead of picking one retailer for them, you hand over a balance that follows them to online shops and phone orders.

Some limits are worth knowing before you buy. It cannot be used for purchases outside the US, funds cannot be moved onto a physical card, and it is not accepted for gambling, money transfers or recurring payments.

Giftcards.com runs a rewards program on select cards, so check the store for points before you pay. It is one of the reasons to buy from the official shop rather than guessing at a third party.

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