Activate your Visa or Mastercard online

How do I activate my Visa or Mastercard gift card?

If you received a plastic Visa or Mastercard gift card issued by PerfectGift, you’ll need to activate it before you can use it.

--> Visit the Activate Your Card Online page  at  perfectgift.com/activate. 

NOTE: Virtual cards do NOT need to be activated. We can only activate cards issued by PerfectGift (check the back of the card for PerfectGift.com).

What you’ll need

Your physical/plastic gift card:

• for on line activation, visit the activation page on https://www.perfectgift.com/activate 
• Locate the UID on the back of your card.
• Enter your 8-character UID in the input field and submit.
• You will see a confirmation message once your card is successfully activated.
   

How to activate your card online

1. Visit perfectgift.com/activate. 
2. Enter the 8-character UID
3. Click the Activate button.
4. Enter the 4-digit activation code (if requested).

If your card was previously activated, you can scroll down to view your transaction history. You can check your balance and transaction history anytime on the Check Balance page.

How to activate your card by phone

1. Have your 16-digit card number and 3 digit CVV ready
2. Call (877) 448-4438 (press 1) - follow the activation prompts

Still having trouble activating?

If you run into an issue, here are a few things to check:

• Check the back of the card to make sure it was issued by PerfectGift.com. We can only activate cards issued by PerfectGift.
• If your gift card is from another issuer, such as Vanilla Visa, you will need to go to that issuer’s site or contact them to activate your card.
• If you have a gift card from a merchant or specific brand, such as Target or Sephora, contact that merchant directly or visit their site for activation. 
• If your card is already activated, you will see the card has been activated and the current card balance.
• Virtual cards do not need to be activated.
• Visa or Mastercards that say Rewards (on the front of the card) typically require a 4-digit activation code. 
  • If an activation code is required and you do not have it, contact the company you received the Rewards card from for the activation code.
  • Our support team cannot provide codes but can provide contact information, if needed.

Why does the website no longer ask for my card number?

We updated our website to use the UID instead of your 16-digit card number and CVV as an added security measure. The UID is a safer way to verify your card online.

If you need to activate or check your balance using your 16-digit card number, you can do so by calling (877) 448-4438 (press 1).  The number is on the back of your card.

I don’t have a UID on my card

Cards issued before 2021 may not have a UID printed on them. If you don’t see a UID on the back of your card:

• Call our automated phone line at the number on the back of your card. You can activate and check your balance using your 16-digit card number.

My UID isn’t working / I’m getting an error

If the website shows an error when you enter your UID:

1. Double-check that you’ve entered all 8 characters exactly as printed on the back of your card — no spaces, no extra characters.
2. Make sure you’re entering the UID field specifically (not your card number or CVV).
3. If the error persists, the page will display a support phone number you can call. You can also activate or check your balance via our automated phone line using your 16-digit card number.

Can I activate or check my balance by phone?

Yes. Call the number on the back of your card and follow the automated prompts. You will be asked to enter your 16-digit card number. This option is available 24/7 and works for all cards, including older cards without a UID.

I have an older card — can I still use it?

Yes. Cards issued before 2021 that don’t have a UID can still be activated and used. Simply call our automated phone line at the number on the back of your card to activate or check your balance using your 16-digit card number.