Prohibited and Restricted Products and Services
Last update 1 November 2022
Our eligibility criteria:
To meet internal and external obligations, some industries may be prohibited or restricted from working with Adyen. This is based on a range of factors including but not limited to the following:
Local, national and international laws.
Requirements of our payment partners (e.g. card networks).
Level of assessed risk (e.g. chargebacks, fraud).
Reputational impact to Adyen and cost aspects associated with this.
Additional restrictions and/or prohibitions to this list may be applicable.
This can be due to including, but not limited to legality of certain products in certain jurisdictions, use of payment methods, applicability of scheme rules or compatibility with Adyen's Platform Solutions.
If you require additional information about the specific onboarding requirements and restrictions applicable to your business, please talk to your Adyen representative or get in touch.
Business Model
Depending on your business model product or services restrictions or prohibitions may apply. First, define if you are operating a ‘Merchant’ business model or a ‘Platform / Partner business’. Then check if any restrictions or prohibitions are applicable to your business in the list in the next section.
A business that sells products / services to its customers in its own name and on its own responsibility
Platform / Partner business
Any partner or platform merchant connected to Adyen enabling another party (third party or Adyen sub-merchant) to use the Adyen services to sell their products and services through the services of such platform or partner.
If your business is connected to Adyen through a Platform / Partner business, the restrictions in this category also apply to you.
E.g. a grocery store or online retailer that sells products from various brands. Includes franchisees
Platform / Partner business
E.g. a marketplace / platform, staged digital wallet operator, payment facilitator. Restrictions also apply to sub-sellers.
Restricted and Prohibited Products and Services
The list below shows all the products and services that are restricted or prohibited from using Adyen services for ‘Merchant’ business models and ‘Platform / Partner business’ models.
This symbol indicates that your products or services offering is restricted. We will require additional documentation prior to onboarding. When Adyen agrees to provide its services for a broad category of services (e.g. DVDs) it does not imply that consent is given for subcategories within that category which are prohibited or restricted as per this list (e.g. counterfeit DVDs).
The fact that Adyen agrees to provide its services for a particular product or service should not be interpreted as an advice or opinion as to the legality of a merchant’s products and services and of the intended use of the services therefore. Merchant is and remains solely responsible to ensure that their products and services and those of their affiliates are compliant with Applicable Laws, regulations and scheme rules.
This symbol indicates that the business or service is prohibited from using Adyen’s services. When entering into an agreement with Adyen and using Adyen's services you are confirming that you are not offering or are affiliated to the products or services listed as prohibited.
The scheme owners of local payment methods may have more stringent restrictions with respect to certain products or services. Businesses should check current restrictions or prohibitions applicable to the relevant payment method when using it to ensure compliance.
If you require additional information about the onboarding requirements and restrictions applicable to your business talk to your Adyen representative or get in touch.
Adult
Adult goods (excluding fetish products)
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Fetish products
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Content: Books, magazines, audio, videos, websites, streaming services and other content formats deemed offensive or of a sexual nature
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Entertainment: Gentleman's clubs, topless bars, strip clubs, sexually oriented massage parlors, saunas, escort agencies or any sexually-related services
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Financial Businesses
Bearer share entities
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Binary options
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Buy now pay later / Installment payment methods
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Credit repair and credit protection business
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Debt repayment and collection agency
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
E-wallet or e-money that can be monetized, re-sold or converted to physical and digital goods and services or otherwise exit the virtual world
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Financial service or money service business, including but not limited to: traveler checks, money orders, Foreign Exchange, check cashing, virtual currencies, and cash advances by non-financial institutes
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Fines or penalty collections of any kind
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Independent or unlicensed financial advisors
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Insurance sales and services (life)
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Insurance sales and services (non-life)
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Money transfer and remittance businesses
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Payday loans, unsecured loans and loans originating from non FDIC insured banks
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Payroll, invoice and business services
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Provider or seller prepaid access/stored value
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Shell banks
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Intellectual Property (IP)
Counterfeit products, replicas or designed infringements of them including products designed to circumvent IP
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Essay mills, paper mills where the intent is to falsely submit documents as their own work
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Products designed to circumvent copyright protection techniques or to otherwise facilitate the unlicensed use of copyrighted material
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
The use of Adyen's logo and IP without express permission or in a way that creates reputation risk for Adyen
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Marketing Practices
Business investment opportunities operating as ‘get rich quick schemes’
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Business models that use ransom or extortion like practices
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Business practices that are designed to evade excessive chargeback monitoring programs
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Data Pass
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Deceptive marketing tactics related to disclosure, false or inaccurate claims, before/after claims, endorsements, cancellation or refunds avoidance, pre-checked opt-ins, poorly disclosed negative options, misappropriation of incentives, disproportionate rebates, sweepstakes
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Fake references and other services or products that foster deception
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Inbound telemarketing for postcard or mailings
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Products or services that promote hate, violence, discrimination, terrorism, harassment or abuse in any shape or form
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Pyramid selling, chain letters or other financial scams
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Not-for-Profit
Charities
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Crowdfunding
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Other Products and Services
Airlines
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Ancestry research
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Animals and wildlife products classified as endangered or protected
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Art dealers and galleries
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Auction houses
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Bail bonds and bankruptcy lawyers
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Bidding fee and penny auctions
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Casual dating services
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Car and truck rental / sales / importers / car parts
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Certain social media business (e.g. click farms)
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Cloud storage, VPN, file sharing, (high-risk) cyber lockers
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Cruise Lines
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Direct Marketing, Inbound teleservices, outbound telemarketing and travel-related arrangement services, Insurance services, catalog merchants, door-to-door sales
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Drop shipping
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Governmental services, such as embassies or consulates
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Hazardous materials (B2B), including but not limited to: Hydrofluoric acid, products containing cyanide, prohibited ozone-depleting substances (ODS), nitric acid, peptides, research chemicals, and bacteria cultures or other products containing E-coli or Escherichia coli
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Hazardous materials (B2C), as described above
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Health practitioners, private medical practices, e-doctors, dental/medical services and facilities
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Human body parts or bodily fluids (excluding hair and teeth)
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Internet product and service providers
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Intravenous therapy (e.g .IV drip bar, vitamin infusions, hangover cures)
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Jewelry, watch, precious stones, metals and silverware stores
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Key-entry telecom merchant
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Live-streaming Services without in-app currency
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Live-streaming Services with in-app donations functionality
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Mail order spouse or international match-making services
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Medical, dental, ophthalmic and hospital equipment and supplies
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Nutraceuticals and food products, not including highly regulated products such as CBD and kava kava
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Nutraceuticals and food products (highly regulated), including, but not limited to CBD and kava kava related products
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Pawn shops
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Political, religious or Social Campaigning
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Real estate services
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Services associated with pseudoscience (e.g. clairvoyance, horoscopes)
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Telemarketing companies selling products or services as an agent for a third party
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Ticket agencies
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Timeshare and timeshare maintenance
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Travel agents and tour operators
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Veterinary practices
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Regulated
Alcohol sales
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Drugs, and tools specifically intended for the production of drugs, drug paraphernalia, illegal drugs, substances designed to mimic illegal drugs and / or other psychoactive products
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Illegal products or services or any service providing peripheral support of illegal activities, including illegal gambling services
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Legal gambling or Game of Skill where participants receive cash or cash equivalents or prizes with/of material value: including but not limited to: Casinos, poker, bingo, slot machines, betting, lotteries, racing, fantasy sports
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Products or services specifically offered or intended to be used to create, produce or grow drugs or drug ingredients
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Pharmaceuticals, prescription medicine and medical devices (including animal pharmaceuticals)
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Tobacco, smoking supplies, e-cigarettes, e-liquids, vaping liquid, vaping accessories (domestic sale)
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Tobacco, smoking supplies, e-cigarettes, e-liquids, vaping liquid, vaping accessories (online sale)
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Trade of fireworks, flammable or radioactive materials
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Trade of weapons, ammunitions, military arms, explosive devices and firearm parts
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Any type of US based gambling services
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Securities and Trading
Cryptocurrency exchange
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
High-risk securities such as: contract for difference (CFD), financial spread betting, initial coin offering (ICO), forex currency options, cryptocurrency options, and trading, and purchases
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Security brokers /investments of any kind including the purchase of: securities, currencies, derivatives, commodities, shares, options, precious metals, and other financial instruments
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Third Party Payment Processing
Aggregators, including but not limited to marketplaces, platforms
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Staged Digital Wallet Operators
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Payment Facilitators or other internet payment or member service providers (IPSP or MPS)
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Payment service companies, including but not limited to peer-to-peer, bill payments, commissary accounts
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business
Technology
Decryption and descrambler products and services, devices designed to block, jam or interfere with cellular and personal communications
Merchant
Platform / Partner Business