GOV.UK Pay technical documentation
Use this technical documentation to find out how to:
- use the GOV.UK Pay API
- integrate your service with GOV.UK Pay
You can read non-technical information about:
- creating a GOV.UK Pay service and selecting a payment service provider (PSP)
- managing your account with Stripe, GOV.UK Pay’s PSP
- using the Apple Pay and Google Pay digital wallets
- security and compliance
Contact us if you have any questions or feedback.
How much GOV.UK Pay costs
There’s no charge to use the GOV.UK Pay API.
You’ll still need to pay your PSP’s transaction fees. If you use GOV.UK Pay’s PSP, we’ll automatically deduct the transaction fee from each payment.
Documentation updates
These are the most recent changes to this documentation.
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| 15 October 2026 | Updated recurring payments guidance to explain how to check that a recurring payment agreement for Adyen is active before taking subsequent payments. |
| 15 October 2026 | Corrected wallet card expiry guidance to explain that card_details.expiry_date is returned as null when the value is unavailable for Adyen payments. |
| 15 October 2026 | Updated dispute guidance to explain how dispute fees differ for payments processed by Stripe and Adyen. |
| 15 October 2026 | Added mock card details for Adyen to support payment testing. |
| 15 October 2026 | Updated refund guidance and the API reference to explain refund statuses, fees and reconciliation for payments processed by Adyen. |
| 13 October 2026 | Updated the payment API reference to explain payment amount limits, response attributes and when values become available for payments processed by Adyen. |
| 12 October 2026 | Added notices to the API reference, integration and testing guidance about switching from Stripe to Adyen. |
| 9 October 2026 | Added guidance on switching a GOV.UK Pay service from Stripe to Adyen, including preparing for onboarding. |
| 7 October 2026 | Added guidance on how switching from Stripe to Adyen affects integrations with GOV.UK Pay. |
| 10 September 2026 | Expanded API key security guidance and added warnings and links from relevant pages. |
| 2 September 2026 | Clarified MOTO and PCI DSS guidance about the Attestation of Compliance requirement. |
| 5 May 2026 | Updated integration testing guidance to explain successful test outcomes and what to do after testing. |
| 11 March 2026 | Updated testing guidance to reflect the ‘not live yet’ and sandbox testing modes, with revised mock cards and payment service provider-specific guidance. |
| 11 March 2026 | Clarified the prerequisites for going live with Worldpay and grouped the requirements in one place. |
| 17 February 2026 | Corrected a Mastercard mock card number in the integration testing guidance. |
| 27 January 2026 | Updated MOTO guidance to emphasise PCI DSS compliance and the need for an Attestation of Compliance. |