Legal

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.

Download PDF
  • 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.

    R

    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.


    P

    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

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Fetish products

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Content: Books, magazines, audio, videos, websites, streaming services and other content formats deemed offensive or of a sexual nature

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Entertainment: Gentleman's clubs, topless bars, strip clubs, sexually oriented massage parlors, saunas, escort agencies or any sexually-related services

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P

    • Financial Businesses

      Bearer share entities

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Binary options

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Buy now pay later / Installment payment methods

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Credit repair and credit protection business

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Debt repayment and collection agency

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      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

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      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

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Fines or penalty collections of any kind

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Independent or unlicensed financial advisors

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Insurance sales and services (life)

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Insurance sales and services (non-life)

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Money transfer and remittance businesses

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Payday loans, unsecured loans and loans originating from non FDIC insured banks

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Payroll, invoice and business services

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Provider or seller prepaid access/stored value

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Shell banks

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P

    • Intellectual Property (IP)

      Counterfeit products, replicas or designed infringements of them including products designed to circumvent IP

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Essay mills, paper mills where the intent is to falsely submit documents as their own work

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Products designed to circumvent copyright protection techniques or to otherwise facilitate the unlicensed use of copyrighted material

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      The use of Adyen's logo and IP without express permission or in a way that creates reputation risk for Adyen

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P

    • Marketing Practices

      Business investment opportunities operating as ‘get rich quick schemes’

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Business models that use ransom or extortion like practices

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Business practices that are designed to evade excessive chargeback monitoring programs

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Data Pass

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      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

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Fake references and other services or products that foster deception

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Inbound telemarketing for postcard or mailings

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Products or services that promote hate, violence, discrimination, terrorism, harassment or abuse in any shape or form

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Pyramid selling, chain letters or other financial scams

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P

    • Not-for-Profit

      Charities

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Crowdfunding

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R

    • Other Products and Services

      Airlines

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Ancestry research

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Animals and wildlife products classified as endangered or protected

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Art dealers and galleries

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Auction houses

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Bail bonds and bankruptcy lawyers

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Bidding fee and penny auctions

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Casual dating services

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Car and truck rental / sales / importers / car parts

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Certain social media business (e.g. click farms)

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Cloud storage, VPN, file sharing, (high-risk) cyber lockers

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Cruise Lines

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Direct Marketing, Inbound teleservices, outbound telemarketing and travel-related arrangement services, Insurance services, catalog merchants, door-to-door sales

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Drop shipping

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Governmental services, such as embassies or consulates

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      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

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Hazardous materials (B2C), as described above

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Health practitioners, private medical practices, e-doctors, dental/medical services and facilities

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Human body parts or bodily fluids (excluding hair and teeth)

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Internet product and service providers

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Intravenous therapy (e.g .IV drip bar, vitamin infusions, hangover cures)

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Jewelry, watch, precious stones, metals and silverware stores

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Key-entry telecom merchant

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Live-streaming Services without in-app currency

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Live-streaming Services with in-app donations functionality

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Mail order spouse or international match-making services

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Medical, dental, ophthalmic and hospital equipment and supplies

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Nutraceuticals and food products, not including highly regulated products such as CBD and kava kava

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Nutraceuticals and food products (highly regulated), including, but not limited to CBD and kava kava related products

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Pawn shops

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Political, religious or Social Campaigning

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Real estate services

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Services associated with pseudoscience (e.g. clairvoyance, horoscopes)

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Telemarketing companies selling products or services as an agent for a third party

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Ticket agencies

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Timeshare and timeshare maintenance

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Travel agents and tour operators

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Veterinary practices

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R

    • Regulated

      Alcohol sales

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      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

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Illegal products or services or any service providing peripheral support of illegal activities, including illegal gambling services

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      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

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Products or services specifically offered or intended to be used to create, produce or grow drugs or drug ingredients

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Pharmaceuticals, prescription medicine and medical devices (including animal pharmaceuticals)

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Tobacco, smoking supplies, e-cigarettes, e-liquids, vaping liquid, vaping accessories (domestic sale)

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      R


      Tobacco, smoking supplies, e-cigarettes, e-liquids, vaping liquid, vaping accessories (online sale)

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Trade of fireworks, flammable or radioactive materials

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Trade of weapons, ammunitions, military arms, explosive devices and firearm parts

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Any type of US based gambling services

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P

    • Securities and Trading

      Cryptocurrency exchange

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      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

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Security brokers /investments of any kind including the purchase of: securities, currencies, derivatives, commodities, shares, options, precious metals, and other financial instruments

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P

    • Third Party Payment Processing

      Aggregators, including but not limited to marketplaces, platforms

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Staged Digital Wallet Operators

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Payment Facilitators or other internet payment or member service providers (IPSP or MPS)

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P


      Payment service companies, including but not limited to peer-to-peer, bill payments, commissary accounts

      Merchant

      R

      Platform / Partner Business

      P

    • Technology

      Decryption and descrambler products and services, devices designed to block, jam or interfere with cellular and personal communications

      Merchant

      P

      Platform / Partner Business

      P