Airtime Recharge (Virtual Top up)

Overview
Supported Services
Getting Started
Authentication
Integration Flow
Step-by-Step Implementation
Airtime vs Data Bundle Recharge
Telco-Specific Details
Field Reference
Response Codes
Test Data
Implementation Examples
Best Practices
Troubleshooting
API Summary

Overview

The Airtime & Data Recharge API (also known as Virtual Top-Up or VTU) enables merchants to programmatically purchase airtime and data bundles for all major Nigerian telecommunications networks. This service provides real-time airtime and data top-up functionality directly integrated into your applications.

Key Features

✅ Instant Delivery: Airtime and data credited within seconds
✅ All Major Networks: MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile, and more
✅ Flexible Amounts: Airtime supports any amount within network limits
✅ Data Bundles: Purchase specific data packages
✅ Bulk Recharge: Support for multiple recharges
✅ Real-time Status: Query transaction status instantly
✅ Commission Earnings: Earn commission on every recharge

How It Works

The diagram below explains further:

Process Flow:

Customer requests airtime/data recharge on your app.
You identify the telco and payment item to obtain the PaymentCode.
You submit the recharge request to the API.
The telco credits the customer's phone.
Your virtual card is debited.
You earn commission.

Note: Customer validation is not required for airtime and data recharge.

Supported Services

Airtime Recharge (VTU)

MTN Airtime — Any amount from ₦50 to ₦10,000
Airtel Airtime — Any amount from ₦50 to ₦10,000
Glo Airtime — Any amount from ₦50 to ₦10,000
9mobile Airtime — Any amount from ₦50 to ₦10,000

Data Bundle Recharge

MTN Data Bundles — Daily, weekly, monthly plans
Airtel Data Bundles — Daily, weekly, monthly plans
Glo Data Bundles — Daily, weekly, monthly plans
9mobile Data Bundles — Daily, weekly, monthly plans

Getting Started

Prerequisites

Before integrating, ensure you have:

✅ Active merchant account with Interswitch
✅ Terminal ID for authentication
✅ OAuth credentials (Client ID and Secret)
✅ Virtual card linked to your account
✅ Valid test phone numbers

Base URLs

Environment	Base URL
QA/Testing	`https://qa.interswitchng.com/quicktellerservice/api/v5`
Production	`https://interswitchng.com/quicktellerservice/api/v5`

Amount Convention

All monetary amounts are in the minor unit of the currency (kobo for NGN).

10000 = ₦100.00

100000 = ₦1,000.00

Multiply Naira by 100 to get kobo.

Authentication Endpoint

POST https://passport-sandbox.interswitchng.com/passport/oauth/token

Authentication

All API requests require a Bearer token. Generate your access token using OAuth 2.0 client credentials flow.

Token Generation

Request:

curl --location 'https://passport-sandbox.interswitchng.com/passport/oauth/token' \
--header 'Authorization: Basic <BASE64_ENCODED_CREDENTIALS>' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded' \
--data-urlencode 'scope=profile' \
--data-urlencode 'grant_type=client_credentials'

Headers:

Header	Value	Description
`Authorization`	`Basic <credentials>`	Base64 encoded `client_id:client_secret`
`Content-Type`	`application/x-www-form-urlencoded`	Request format

Response:

{
    "access_token": "eyJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9...",
    "token_type": "bearer",
    "expires_in": 43199,
    "scope": "profile",
    "merchant_code": "MX52988",
    "terminalId": "3PBL0001",
    "env": "TEST",
    "client_name": "QTSVA UAT"
}

Important: Tokens expire after approximately 12 hours. Implement token refresh in production.

Integration Flow

Step 1: Get Categories
    │
    ▼
Step 2: Get Telcos/Billers (Category ID: 4)
    │
    ▼
Step 3: Get Payment Items
    │
    ▼
Step 4: Process Recharge
    │
    ▼
Step 5: Query Transaction Status

Note: Customer validation is not required for airtime and data recharge.

Step-by-Step Implementation

Step 1: Get Categories

Purpose: Retrieve all available service categories to identify where airtime and data recharge is located.

Description: This step returns all service categories. For airtime and data recharge, look for the "Mobile/Recharge" category with ID: 4.

Endpoint: GET /services/categories

Request:

curl 'https://qa.interswitchng.com/quicktellerservice/api/v5/services/categories' \
-H 'Authorization: Bearer <TOKEN>' \
-H 'terminalId: <YOUR_TERMINAL_ID>' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-X GET

Response:

{
    "BillerCategories": [
        {
            "Id": 1,
            "Name": "Utility Bills",
            "Description": "Pay your utility bills here",
            "Billers": []
        },
        {
            "Id": 2,
            "Name": "Cable TV Bills",
            "Description": "Pay for your cable TV subscriptions here",
            "Billers": []
        },
        {
            "Id": 4,
            "Name": "Mobile/Recharge",
            "Description": "Recharge your phone",
            "Billers": []
        }
    ],
    "ResponseCode": "90000",
    "ResponseCodeGrouping": "SUCCESSFUL"
}

Key Point: Note the Id for "Mobile/Recharge" — this is 4.

Step 2: Get Telcos/Billers

Purpose: Retrieve all available telecom providers (billers) within the Mobile/Recharge category.

Description: This step returns all telcos (MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile, etc.) with their unique biller IDs and configuration details. Use categoryId=4 for airtime/data services.

Endpoint: GET /services?categoryId={id}

Parameters:

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`categoryId`	Integer	Yes	Use 4 for Mobile/Recharge

Request:

curl 'https://qa.interswitchng.com/quicktellerservice/api/v5/services?categoryId=4' \
-H "Authorization: Bearer <TOKEN>" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "TerminalId: <YOUR_TERMINAL_ID>" \
-X GET

Response:

{
    "BillerList": {
        "Count": 25,
        "Category": [
            {
                "Id": 4,
                "Name": "Mobile/Recharge",
                "Description": "Recharge your phone",
                "Billers": [
                    {
                        "Id": 109,
                        "Name": "MTN e-Charge Prepaid",
                        "ShortName": "MTNVTU1",
                        "Narration": "Purchase MTN Virtual Airtime",
                        "CustomerField1": "Phone Number",
                        "CurrencyCode": "566",
                        "CurrencySymbol": "NGN",
                        "AmountType": 2,
                        "CategoryId": 4,
                        "CategoryName": "Mobile/Recharge",
                        "NetworkId": "628051043",
                        "ProductCode": "628051043",
                        "Type": "MO"
                    },
                    {
                        "Id": 120,
                        "Name": "Etisalat Recharge Top-Up",
                        "ShortName": "ETILAT",
                        "Narration": "Buy Etisalat recharge",
                        "CustomerField1": "Phone No",
                        "CurrencyCode": "566",
                        "CurrencySymbol": "NGN",
                        "AmountType": 0,
                        "CategoryId": 4,
                        "CategoryName": "Mobile/Recharge",
                        "NetworkId": "6280510425",
                        "ProductCode": "6280510490",
                        "Type": "MO"
                    },
                    {
                        "Id": 402,
                        "Name": "Glo QuickCharge",
                        "ShortName": "GLOQCK",
                        "Narration": "Mobile Top-Up",
                        "CustomerField1": "Mobile number",
                        "CurrencyCode": "566",
                        "CurrencySymbol": "NGN",
                        "AmountType": 0,
                        "CategoryId": 4,
                        "CategoryName": "Mobile/Recharge",
                        "NetworkId": "628051045",
                        "ProductCode": "628051045",
                        "Type": "MO"
                    },
                    {
                        "Id": 687,
                        "Name": "Airtel Data Bundles",
                        "ShortName": "Airtel",
                        "Narration": "Airtel Data",
                        "CustomerField1": "Phone Number",
                        "CurrencyCode": "566",
                        "CurrencySymbol": "NGN",
                        "AmountType": 0,
                        "CategoryId": 4,
                        "CategoryName": "Mobile/Recharge",
                        "NetworkId": "6280510425",
                        "ProductCode": "6280510425",
                        "Type": "MP"
                    }
                ]
            }
        ]
    },
    "ResponseCode": "90000",
    "ResponseCodeGrouping": "SUCCESSFUL"
}

Key Fields:

Field	Description
`Id`	Unique biller ID (e.g., 109 for MTN)
`Name`	Telco name
`ShortName`	Abbreviation (e.g., MTNVTU1)
`CustomerField1`	Input label for phone number
`AmountType`	0=Any Amount, 2=Fixed (see Amount Types)
`NetworkId`	Network identifier (internal)
`ProductCode`	Product code (internal)
`Type`	MO=Mobile Operator, MP=Mobile Product

Important: NetworkId and ProductCode are internal fields. Use the PaymentCode obtained from the payment items endpoint for recharge requests.

Step 3: Get Payment Items

Purpose: Retrieve specific data bundle options or fixed airtime denominations, and obtain the PaymentCode required for recharge.

Description: This step returns available packages with specific amounts and payment codes. It is required for data bundles and fixed-amount airtime. For any-amount airtime (AmountType 0), a payment item may still return the payment code to use.

When to Use:

Data Bundles: Required — returns specific data plans.
Fixed Airtime: Required — returns specific denominations.
Any-Amount Airtime: Use to retrieve the applicable payment code.

Endpoint: GET /services/options?serviceid={billerid}

Parameters:

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`serviceid`	Integer	Yes	The biller ID from Step 2

Request:

curl 'https://qa.interswitchng.com/quicktellerservice/api/v5/services/options?serviceid=687' \
-H "Authorization: Bearer <TOKEN>" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "TerminalID: <YOUR_TERMINAL_ID>" \
-X GET

Response (Data Bundle Example):

{
    "PaymentItems": [
        {
            "Id": "01",
            "Name": "Airtel 100MB Daily",
            "BillerName": "Airtel Data Bundles",
            "ConsumerIdField": "Phone Number",
            "Code": "01",
            "BillerType": "MP",
            "ItemFee": "0",
            "Amount": "10000",
            "BillerId": "687",
            "BillerCategoryId": "4",
            "CurrencyCode": "566",
            "CurrencySymbol": "NGN",
            "IsAmountFixed": true,
            "PaymentCode": "10903",
            "AmountType": 2,
            "PaydirectItemCode": "6280510425"
        },
        {
            "Id": "02",
            "Name": "Airtel 1.5GB Monthly",
            "BillerName": "Airtel Data Bundles",
            "ConsumerIdField": "Phone Number",
            "Code": "02",
            "BillerType": "MP",
            "ItemFee": "0",
            "Amount": "100000",
            "BillerId": "687",
            "BillerCategoryId": "4",
            "CurrencyCode": "566",
            "CurrencySymbol": "NGN",
            "IsAmountFixed": true,
            "PaymentCode": "10904",
            "AmountType": 2,
            "PaydirectItemCode": "6280510426"
        }
    ],
    "ResponseCode": "90000",
    "ResponseCodeGrouping": "SUCCESSFUL"
}

Key Fields:

Field	Description
`PaymentCode`	Critical — Use this for recharge requests
`Amount`	Amount in kobo (e.g., 10000 = ₦100)
`IsAmountFixed`	If true, amount cannot be changed
`Name`	Human-readable bundle name

Step 4: Process Recharge

Purpose: Submit the airtime or data bundle recharge request.

Description: This is the main transaction endpoint. Upon success, the phone number is credited with airtime or data, and your virtual card is debited for the transaction amount.

Endpoint: POST /Transactions

Request:

curl 'https://qa.interswitchng.com/quicktellerservice/api/v5/Transactions' \
-H "Authorization: Bearer <TOKEN>" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "TerminalID: <YOUR_TERMINAL_ID>" \
-d '{
    "TerminalId": "3PBL0001",
    "paymentCode": "10903",
    "customerId": "234805673157",
    "customerMobile": "234805673157",
    "customerEmail": "[email protected]",
    "amount": "100000",
    "requestReference": "145300000001"
}' \
-X POST

Request Body Fields:

Field	Type	Required	Description
`TerminalId`	String	Yes	Your terminal ID
`paymentCode`	String	Yes	Payment code from Step 3
`customerId`	String	Yes	Phone number to recharge
`customerMobile`	String	Yes	Customer's mobile number (same as customerId)
`customerEmail`	String	No	Customer's email for receipts
`amount`	String	Yes	Amount in kobo (e.g., "100000" for ₦1,000)
`requestReference`	String	Yes	Unique reference (max 20 chars)

Amount Conversion:

₦100 = "10000" (multiply by 100)
₦500 = "50000"
₦1,000 = "100000"
₦5,000 = "500000"

Response:

{
    "TransactionRef": "PBL|Web|3PBL0001|MTNVTU1|010223180453|4WNYQJ3NDB",
    "ApprovedAmount": "100000",
    "AdditionalInfo": {
        "network": "MTN",
        "phoneNumber": "234805673157",
        "amountCredited": "1000.00"
    },
    "ResponseCode": "90000",
    "ResponseDescription": "Success",
    "ResponseCodeGrouping": "SUCCESSFUL"
}

Response Fields:

Field	Description
`TransactionRef`	Unique transaction reference (save this!)
`ApprovedAmount`	Amount processed in kobo
`AdditionalInfo`	Transaction details
`ResponseCode`	`90000` = Success
`ResponseDescription`	Human-readable status

Transaction Flow:

Submit recharge request.
API validates request.
Telco processes recharge.
Phone is credited (usually within 5-10 seconds).
Your virtual card is debited.
Commission is credited to your wallet.

Step 5: Query Transaction Status

Purpose: Check the status of a recharge transaction.

Description: Use this endpoint to verify transaction status, especially useful for handling timeouts or when you need to confirm successful delivery of airtime/data.

Endpoint: GET /Transactions?requestRef={requestReference}

Parameters:

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`requestRef`	String	Yes	The request reference from Step 4

Request:

curl 'https://qa.interswitchng.com/quicktellerservice/api/v5/Transactions?requestRef=145300000001' \
-H "Authorization: Bearer <TOKEN>" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "TerminalID: <YOUR_TERMINAL_ID>" \
-X GET

Response:

{
    "BillPayment": {
        "biller": "MTN",
        "customerId1": "234805673157",
        "customerId2": null,
        "paymentTypeName": "Airtime",
        "paymentTypeCode": "10903",
        "billerId": "109"
    },
    "amount": "100000",
    "currencyCode": "566",
    "customer": "234805673157",
    "customerEmail": "[email protected]",
    "customerMobile": "234805673157",
    "paymentDate": "01/02/2023 18:04:53",
    "requestReference": "145300000001",
    "serviceCode": "10903",
    "serviceName": "MTN Airtime",
    "serviceProviderId": "109",
    "status": "Completed",
    "surcharge": "0",
    "transactionRef": "PBL|Web|3PBL0001|MTNVTU1|010223180453|4WNYQJ3NDB",
    "transactionResponseCode": "90000",
    "transactionSet": "BillPayment"
}

Status Values:

Status	Description
`Completed`	Recharge successful
`Pending`	Recharge is processing
`Failed`	Recharge failed
`Reversed`	Transaction was reversed

Airtime vs Data Bundle Recharge

Airtime Recharge (Any Amount)

Characteristics:

AmountType: 0 (Any Amount)
Amount Range: ₦50 to ₦10,000 (network dependent)
Use the payment code returned by the payment items endpoint for the selected telco.

Example:

{
    "paymentCode": "10903",
    "customerId": "234805673157",
    "amount": "100000"  // ₦1,000
}

Data Bundle Recharge

Characteristics:

AmountType: 2 (Fixed Amount)
Specific packages only
Required Step 3 (get payment items)
Use PaymentCode from payment item

Example:

{
    "paymentCode": "10903",  // From Step 3
    "customerId": "234805673157",
    "amount": "100000"  // Fixed amount for 1.5GB
}

Telco-Specific Details

MTN Nigeria

Field	Value
Biller ID	109
Short Name	MTNVTU1
Type	MO (Mobile Operator)
AmountType	2 (Fixed for data), varies for airtime
Network ID	628051043
Product Code	628051043
Customer Field	Phone Number
Min Amount	₦50
Max Amount	₦10,000

Test Number: 234805673157
Test Payment Code: 10903

Airtel Nigeria

Field	Value
Biller ID	687 (Data), 120 (Airtime)
Short Name	Airtel, ZainPIN
Type	MO/MP
Network ID	6280510425
Product Code	6280510425
Customer Field	Phone Number

Glo Nigeria

Field	Value
Biller ID	402
Short Name	GLOQCK
Type	MO
Network ID	628051045
Product Code	628051045
Customer Field	Mobile number

9mobile (Etisalat)

Field	Value
Biller ID	120
Short Name	ETILAT
Type	MO
Network ID	6280510425
Product Code	6280510490
Customer Field	Phone No

Field Reference

Category Fields

Field	Type	Description
`Id`	Integer	Category ID (4 for Mobile/Recharge)
`Name`	String	Category name
`Description`	String	Category description
`Billers`	Array	List of billers (empty in categories endpoint)

Biller Fields

Field	Type	Description
`Id`	Integer	Unique biller ID
`Name`	String	Biller/telco name
`ShortName`	String	Abbreviation
`Narration`	String	Service description
`CustomerField1`	String	Phone number input label
`CurrencyCode`	String	566 = NGN
`CurrencySymbol`	String	NGN
`AmountType`	Integer	0=Any, 2=Fixed
`NetworkId`	String	Network identifier (internal)
`ProductCode`	String	Product code (internal)
`Type`	String	MO=Mobile Operator, MP=Mobile Product

Important: ProductCode and NetworkId are internal fields. Do not use them as PaymentCode in recharge requests.

Payment Item Fields

Field	Type	Description
`PaymentCode`	String	Required for recharge
`Amount`	String	Amount in kobo
`Name`	String	Package name
`IsAmountFixed`	Boolean	If amount can be changed
`BillerId`	String	Associated biller ID

Transaction Request Fields

Field	Type	Required	Description
`TerminalId`	String	Yes	Your terminal ID
`paymentCode`	String	Yes	Payment code
`customerId`	String	Yes	Phone number
`customerMobile`	String	Yes	Phone number (confirmation)
`customerEmail`	String	No	Email for receipt
`amount`	String	Yes	Amount in kobo
`requestReference`	String	Yes	Unique reference

Response Codes

For a complete list of response codes, their meanings, and resolutions, see the Response Codes documentation.

Common response codes for airtime and data recharge:

Code	Description	Action
`90000`	Transaction successful	Recharge successful
`90001`	Invalid customer/phone number	Check phone number format
`90002`	Customer not found	Verify phone number is active
`90003`	Invalid amount	Check amount is within limits
`90004`	Insufficient funds	Check virtual card balance
`90005`	Duplicate transaction	Use unique request reference
`90006`	Service unavailable	Retry after some time
`90007`	Invalid payment code	Verify payment code
`90008`	Validation failed	Check all fields
`90009`	Network error	Telco network issue, retry
`90010`	Timeout	Query transaction status

Response Code Grouping

Grouping	Description
`SUCCESSFUL`	Request processed successfully
`FAILED`	Request failed
`PENDING`	Request is being processed

Test Data

Test Credentials

Field	Value
Terminal ID	`3PBL0001`
Request Reference Prefix	`1453`
Initiating Entity Code	`PBL`

Test Virtual Card

Field	Value
Card Number	`6280511000000095`
Expiry Date	`12/2026`
CVV	`000`
PIN	`0000`

Test Phone Numbers

Telco	Test Number	Payment Code	Category
MTN	`234805673157`	`10903`	Mobile/Recharge (4)
Airtel	`234805673157`	`10903`	Mobile/Recharge (4)
Glo	`234805673157`	`10903`	Mobile/Recharge (4)
9mobile	`234805673157`	`10903`	Mobile/Recharge (4)

Test Scenarios

Scenario 1: Successful MTN Airtime Recharge

Payment Code: 10903
Phone Number: 234805673157
Amount: 100000 (₦1,000)
Expected: Success (90000)
Expected: Phone credited within 5-10 seconds

Scenario 2: Invalid Phone Number

Payment Code: 10903
Phone Number: 234000000000
Amount: 100000
Expected: Failed (90001)

Scenario 3: Amount Below Minimum

Payment Code: 10903
Phone Number: 234805673157
Amount: 1000 (₦10 - too low)
Expected: Invalid amount (90003)

Scenario 4: Duplicate Transaction

Payment Code: 10903
Phone Number: 234805673157
Amount: 100000
Request Reference: 145300000001 (same as previous)
Expected: Duplicate transaction (90005)

Implementation Examples

Example 1: Complete MTN Airtime Recharge

async function rechargeMTNAirtime(phoneNumber, amountInNaira) {
    // Step 1: Get categories (cached usually)
    // Step 2: Get MTN biller
    const billers = await fetchBillersByCategory(4);
    const mtn = billers.find(b => b.Name.includes("MTN"));

    // Step 3: Get payment items and select the airtime payment code
    const items = await fetchPaymentItems(mtn.Id);
    const airtimeItem = items.find(i => i.Name.includes("Airtime") || i.AmountType === 0);

    // Step 4: Process recharge
    const amountInKobo = amountInNaira * 100;
    const reference = `1453${Date.now()}`;

    const transaction = await processRecharge({
        TerminalId: "3PBL0001",
        paymentCode: airtimeItem.PaymentCode,
        customerId: phoneNumber,
        customerMobile: phoneNumber,
        customerEmail: "[email protected]",
        amount: amountInKobo.toString(),
        requestReference: reference
    });

    return {
        success: transaction.ResponseCode === "90000",
        transactionRef: transaction.TransactionRef,
        amount: amountInNaira,
        phoneNumber: phoneNumber
    };
}

// Usage
rechargeMTNAirtime("234805673157", 1000)
    .then(result => console.log(result))
    .catch(error => console.error(error));

Example 2: Airtel Data Bundle Purchase

async function purchaseAirtelDataBundle(phoneNumber, bundleId) {
    // Step 2: Get Airtel Data biller
    const billers = await fetchBillersByCategory(4);
    const airtelData = billers.find(b => 
        b.Name.includes("Airtel") && b.Name.includes("Data")
    );

    // Step 3: Get available data bundles
    const bundles = await fetchPaymentItems(airtelData.Id);
    const selectedBundle = bundles.find(b => b.Id === bundleId);

    if (!selectedBundle) {
        throw new Error("Invalid bundle ID");
    }

    // Step 4: Process purchase
    const reference = `1453${Date.now()}`;

    const transaction = await processRecharge({
        TerminalId: "3PBL0001",
        paymentCode: selectedBundle.PaymentCode,
        customerId: phoneNumber,
        customerMobile: phoneNumber,
        amount: selectedBundle.Amount,  // Fixed amount
        requestReference: reference
    });

    return {
        success: transaction.ResponseCode === "90000",
        bundleName: selectedBundle.Name,
        transactionRef: transaction.TransactionRef
    };
}

// Usage
purchaseAirtelDataBundle("234805673157", "02")
    .then(result => console.log(result))
    .catch(error => console.error(error));

Best Practices

1. Phone Number Handling

✅ Always use full international format: 234 + 10 digits
✅ Remove leading zero if present: 0805... → 234805...
✅ Validate phone number length (13 digits with 234 prefix)
✅ Strip non-numeric characters before sending

2. Amount Handling

✅ Convert Naira to Kobo (multiply by 100)
✅ Respect minimum amount limits (₦50 for most networks)
✅ Respect maximum amount limits (₦10,000 for most networks)
✅ For data bundles, use the exact amount from payment items

3. Request Reference

✅ Generate unique reference for each transaction
✅ Use consistent prefix (e.g., 1453 for test, your code for prod)
✅ Include timestamp or sequence number
✅ Store reference for reconciliation

4. Error Handling

✅ Implement retry logic for network errors
✅ Query transaction status on timeouts
✅ Show user-friendly error messages
✅ Log all errors for debugging

5. Security

✅ Never expose OAuth credentials in frontend
✅ Use HTTPS for all API calls
✅ Validate phone numbers before submission
✅ Implement rate limiting

6. User Experience

✅ Show loading state during recharge
✅ Display confirmation before processing
✅ Show success message with transaction reference
✅ Provide option to retry on failure
✅ Send SMS/email receipt to customer

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Issue 1: Transaction times out

Cause: Network latency or telco delay
Solution: Query transaction status after 30 seconds
Action: Use Step 5 to check status

Issue 2: Phone not credited

Cause: Invalid phone number or network issue
Solution: Check transaction status
Action: If failed, retry with correct number

Issue 3: Insufficient funds error

Cause: Virtual card balance too low
Solution: Fund your virtual card
Action: Contact Interswitch support

Issue 4: Duplicate transaction error

Cause: Reusing request reference
Solution: Generate new unique reference
Action: Use timestamp or UUID

Issue 5: Invalid payment code

Cause: Wrong payment code for telco or product
Solution: Verify payment code from Step 3
Action: Check biller configuration

Debugging Checklist

Is the token valid and not expired?
Is TerminalId correct?
Is phone number in correct format (234...)?
Is amount in kobo (not Naira)?
Is requestReference unique?
Is paymentCode correct for the telco/product?
Is the virtual card funded?

API Summary

Endpoint	Method	Description
`/services/categories`	GET	Get all categories
`/services?categoryId=4`	GET	Get telcos (Mobile/Recharge)
`/services/options?serviceid={id}`	GET	Get payment items
`/Transactions`	POST	Process recharge
`/Transactions?requestRef={ref}`	GET	Query transaction status

Support

For technical support:

Email: [email protected]
Documentation: https://docs.interswitchgroup.com

Document Version: 2.0
Last Updated: 2026-09-29
API Version: v5

Table of Contents

Overview

Key Features

How It Works

Supported Services

Airtime Recharge (VTU)

Data Bundle Recharge

Getting Started

Prerequisites

Base URLs

Amount Convention

Authentication Endpoint

Authentication

Token Generation

Integration Flow

Step-by-Step Implementation

Step 1: Get Categories

Step 2: Get Telcos/Billers

Step 3: Get Payment Items

Step 4: Process Recharge

Step 5: Query Transaction Status

Airtime vs Data Bundle Recharge

Airtime Recharge (Any Amount)

Data Bundle Recharge

Telco-Specific Details

MTN Nigeria

Airtel Nigeria

Glo Nigeria

9mobile (Etisalat)

Field Reference

Category Fields

Biller Fields

Payment Item Fields

Transaction Request Fields

Response Codes

Response Code Grouping

Test Data

Test Credentials

Test Virtual Card

Test Phone Numbers

Test Scenarios

Implementation Examples

Example 1: Complete MTN Airtime Recharge

Example 2: Airtel Data Bundle Purchase

Best Practices

1. Phone Number Handling

2. Amount Handling

3. Request Reference

4. Error Handling

5. Security

6. User Experience

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Debugging Checklist

API Summary

Support