What Is This Error
When adding a card to Figma or subscribing to Figma Professional or Organisation, you receive a card verification error. The message may say "Card verification failed," "Unable to verify your card," or simply "Your card was declined." The payment doesn't go through and the card is not saved to your account.
Why It Happens
Figma uses Stripe to process payments, so the root causes are the same as for other Stripe merchants.
Prepaid card. Stripe blocks prepaid cards for subscriptions — especially when a merchant has enabled the "block prepaid" flag. Figma has this enabled because it bills on a monthly recurring basis.
Unsupported card country. If your card was issued by a bank in a country Figma doesn't serve, the transaction is blocked before authorization even begins.
AVS mismatch. The Address Verification System compares the billing address you enter with what the bank has on file. Any discrepancy can cause a decline.
3D Secure failure. Figma requires a successful 3DS challenge for cards that have it enabled. If your bank doesn't support 3DS or the challenge fails, the card won't be verified.
Online payment limit set to zero. Your card may be technically active but have a zero limit for foreign online transactions.
Step-by-Step Fix
Confirm your card is not prepaid. Check the card type in your banking app or on the issuer's website. Figma requires a standard debit or credit card with international payment support.
Get a virtual card with a foreign billing address. Marix issues cards with US or EU billing addresses that pass Stripe's AVS check without issues.
Enter the exact billing address. When adding the card in Figma, use the address associated with your card — city, state/country, and zip code must match exactly. Even a single character mismatch can trigger an AVS failure.
Verify 3D Secure is working. Make sure your bank supports 3DS and that you'll receive an SMS or push notification to confirm the payment.
Remove international payment restrictions. Contact your bank or use their app to enable online payments in foreign currencies.
Don't retry multiple times in a row. Each failed attempt increases the risk of a temporary Stripe session block. Wait at least 15 minutes between attempts.
Check Stripe status. Stripe occasionally has technical incidents. Check status.stripe.com before assuming the issue is on your end.
FAQ
Does Figma charge my card during verification? Stripe may place a micro-charge (typically $0–$1) to verify the card. The amount is returned within a few days if it appears.
Can I pay for Figma with PayPal or other methods? Figma only accepts cards through Stripe. There are no alternative payment methods such as PayPal or cryptocurrency.
What if my card is verified but payment still fails? This may be a balance issue or a temporary technical problem. Check your balance and try again after a few hours, or contact Figma support.
Tired of fighting Figma's card declines? Try Marix — virtual cards built for subscriptions to foreign services.