Digital Wallet Tokenization

Nium supports digital wallet tokenization, allowing eligible payment cards to be added to supported mobile and wearable wallets. This guide explains how tokenization works, compares provisioning methods, and directs you to the relevant Apple Pay and Google Pay integration guides.

Choose your integration guide

Wallet	Integration	Guide
Apple Pay	Native iOS SDK	Apple Pay – Push Provisioning
Apple Pay	Flutter app with native iOS integration	Apple Pay – Flutter SDK
Google Pay	Native Android SDK	Google Pay – Push Provisioning
Google Pay	Flutter app with native Android integration	Google Pay – Flutter SDK

What is tokenization?

Payment tokenization replaces a card's primary account number (PAN) with a payment token that can be used for eligible digital wallet transactions. The token is associated with the underlying card through the payment network's tokenization services. This reduces the need to expose the original card number during wallet transactions.

note

A payment token is not the same as a card's PAN, CVV, or expiry date. The exact token storage and transaction mechanisms depend on the wallet, device, payment network, and transaction type.

How digital wallet provisioning works

When a cardholder adds an eligible card to a digital wallet, the wallet provider, payment network, and issuer participate in the provisioning and verification process. Following successful provisioning, the wallet can use a payment token for supported transactions.

Step 1: Register a payment card in a digital wallet

Step 2: Make a payment using a digital wallet

During a supported wallet payment, tokenized payment credentials are used in the transaction flow. The payment network can associate the token with the underlying card account as part of processing.

Supported digital wallets

Apple Pay

Apple Pay enables eligible cards to be added to Apple Wallet for use on supported Apple devices. Cardholders may add a card directly through Apple Wallet, or through an issuer application that supports push provisioning.

For implementation details, see Apple Pay – Push Provisioning.

Google Pay

Google Pay enables eligible cards to be provisioned to a supported Android wallet experience. Cardholders may add a card directly through the wallet or through an issuer application that supports push provisioning. The underlying credential storage and payment technology may vary by device and implementation.

For implementation details, see Google Pay – Push Provisioning.

Nium tokenization

Nium supports card tokenization to help clients offer eligible cardholders a convenient way to add and use payment cards on supported mobile and wearable devices.

Provisioning methods

Nium describes two methods for adding a payment card to a digital wallet.

Method	Cardholder experience	Client integration
Direct provisioning	The cardholder enters card details or scans an eligible card in the wallet application and completes any required verification.	A dedicated push provisioning SDK integration is not required for this card-entry journey.
Push provisioning	The cardholder starts the Add to Wallet flow from the client's mobile application, reducing the need to enter card details manually.	The client integrates the relevant Nium SDK into its iOS or Android application, including through native platform code in Flutter apps.

Direct provisioning

With direct provisioning, the cardholder initiates card enrollment in the wallet application by entering card details or scanning a physical card, where supported. The wallet provider and issuer may require additional verification before the card is available for payments.

Push provisioning through your mobile app

With push provisioning, the client integrates Nium's iOS or Android SDK to initiate the Add to Wallet experience from within its mobile application. Nium's SDK supports the provisioning integration, while the client remains responsible for its application's user experience and the relevant platform configuration.

Use the Apple Pay integration guide or Google Pay integration guide to get started. Flutter developers can follow the corresponding Apple Pay Flutter SDK or Google Pay Flutter SDK guide.

Before you begin

Before implementing push provisioning, confirm the following with your Nium representative:

• Your card program and intended cards are eligible for the relevant digital wallet.
• The required SDK package, supported versions, and access arrangements are available.
• The wallet-provider entitlement, application approval, or certification requirements applicable to your integration have been identified.
• The SDK's approved authentication and credential-handling approach is documented for your application.
• You have an agreed test plan for supported devices, provisioning outcomes, and error handling.

Wallet-provider approval

Apple and Google may have their own application entitlement, approval, certification, and scheduling requirements. Coordinate the applicable requirements with your Nium representative and the relevant wallet provider before planning a production launch.