Connect platforms using the Payment Methods API

Stripe Connect platform owners can make use of additional payment methods supported with the Payment Methods API. To learn more about creating payments for connected users, and which approach is best for you, refer to our Connect payments and fees documentation.

Creating PaymentMethods directly on the connected account

If you opt for direct charges, make sure that the connected account is onboarded on the payment method you intend to use. Direct charges require creating PaymentMethods on connected accounts. You can do so by passing paymentMethod.stripeAccount with a value of a connected account’s ID when using Stripe.js.

// Set the connected Stripe Account on which the PaymentMethod should be created
var stripe = Stripe(
'pk_test_TYooMQauvdEDq54NiTphI7jx', {
  stripeAccount: '{{CONNECTED_STRIPE_ACCOUNT_ID}}',
});

stripe.createPaymentMethod({
  type: 'card',
  card: cardElement,
  billing_details: {
    name: 'Jenny Rosen',
  },
}).then(function(result) {
  // Handle result.error or result.paymentMethod
});

If you’re creating PaymentMethods from the server, you can make use of authentication using the Stripe-Account header with any of our supported libraries.

Cloning PaymentMethods

You can also create PaymentMethods on your platform and clone them to a connected account to create direct charges there.

After you create a PaymentMethod and attach it to a Customer, you can clone that PaymentMethod on a connected account using the connected account’s ID as the Stripe-Account header. Read more about the Payment Methods API.

curl https://api.stripe.com/v1/payment_methods \
  -u 
sk_test_4eC39HqLyjWDarjtT1zdp7dc
: \
  -d customer=
"{{CUSTOMER_ID}}"
 \
  -d payment_method=
"{{PAYMENT_METHOD_ID}}"
 \
  -H "Stripe-Account: {{CONNECTED_STRIPE_ACCOUNT_ID}}"

If you want reuse PaymentMethods on a connected account, attach them to Customers before using them with PaymentIntents to create charges. You must provide the Customer ID in the request when cloning PaymentMethods that are attached to Customers for security purposes.

It is possible to clone PaymentMethods to connected accounts without previously attaching them to Customers. However, note that the original PaymentMethod will be consumed, since PaymentMethods that aren’t attached to Customers can only be used once.

Onboarding of connected accounts

We’re currently working on enabling Connect platforms to activate payment methods for their users programmatically. If you’re interested in this functionality, get in touch.

As a fallback, if you’re relying on Standard accounts you can direct your users to their payment settings so that they can enable payment methods from the Stripe Dashboard.

Alternatively, you can rely on destination charges with the caveat that your platform is the merchant of record on these payments, not the connected account. When your platform is the merchant of record, the platform’s country and fee structure is used. Additionally, the platform’s name is displayed in the customer’s bank statement.