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Payments · Guide9 min readUpdated November 2, 2026

Stripe Declined Payments: Codes and Fixes

Every Stripe decline code grouped by what to do next: fix the data, authenticate, retry later or stop. Plus advice codes, retry limits and Radar blocks.

Nick Bonnassies, CMO at Tagada · checked against 7 sources

Article summary

TL;DR

A Stripe decline comes from the card issuer, from Stripe's own fraud tools, or from bad data. Check the payment's outcome type first. Then read the decline code: fix the data, authenticate, retry later, or stop. Stripe recommends at most 8 retries per charge, and `generic_decline` can mean Stripe blocked the payment itself.

  • Stripe names three failure types: issuer declines, blocked payments and invalid API calls.
  • When Stripe blocks a payment, "it doesn't obtain authorization from the card issuer".
  • `generic_decline` covers an unknown issuer reason or a payment that "Stripe Radar or Adaptive Acceptance blocked".
  • Stripe recommends "a maximum of eight retries" per charge; Visa allows up to 20 attempts in 30 days, none after a category 1 code.
  • Stripe Billing doesn't retry 9 hard decline codes, including `lost_card`, `authentication_required` and `highest_risk_level`, until the customer adds a new card.
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On this page

This page covers Stripe's codes and tools only. For Visa's two-digit codes and retry categories at any processor, see declined payments: decline codes and retry rules. More Stripe guides are in the Stripe hub.

First, find out who said no

Not every Stripe decline reaches the bank. The outcome of the charge tells you which of three gates refused it1Stripe Docs, Declines, read November 2, 2026.

Fig. 1Three places a Stripe payment can fail

approved declined or closed routing step

  1. Your integrationtype: invalid, not sent to network
  2. checked byRadar and Adaptive Acceptancetype: blocked, not sent to network
  3. sent toCard issuertype: issuer_declined, with a codeDeclined

read outcome.type before the code

Failure types and fields from Stripe Docs, Declines, read November 2, 2026. Simplified path.
outcome.typenetwork_statusWho refusedWhat it tells you
issuer_declineddeclined_by_networkThe card issuerA decline code, plus the network's own code and advice code1Stripe Docs, Declines, read November 2, 20262Stripe Docs, Card declines, read November 2, 2026
blockednot_sent_to_networkRadar, your rules, or Adaptive AcceptanceA reason such as highest_risk_level or low_probability_of_authorization1Stripe Docs, Declines, read November 2, 2026
invalidnot_sent_to_networkYour integrationThe request was wrong; the payment never ran1Stripe Docs, Declines, read November 2, 2026

Adaptive Acceptance blocks apply to accounts on IC+ pricing. Stripe says they avoid "unnecessary network costs" such as excessive retry penalties, on payments with a low chance of approval1Stripe Docs, Declines, read November 2, 2026.

Stripe decline codes, grouped by what you do next

Stripe lists about 50 card decline codes3Stripe Docs, Decline codes, read November 2, 2026. Most of them call for one of eight actions:

What to doStripe decline codesRetry the same card?
Ask the customer to correct the dataincorrect_number, invalid_number, incorrect_cvc, invalid_cvc, invalid_expiry_month, invalid_expiry_year, incorrect_zip, incorrect_address, expired_cardOnly with corrected details3Stripe Docs, Decline codes, read November 2, 2026
Run authenticationauthentication_required, authentication_not_handledAfter 3D Secure; off-session, bring the customer back3Stripe Docs, Decline codes, read November 2, 2026
Offer another card or methodinsufficient_funds, withdrawal_count_limit_exceeded, card_velocity_exceeded, card_not_supported, currency_not_supported, invalid_amountLater, within the limits below3Stripe Docs, Decline codes, read November 2, 2026
Try again shortlyissuer_not_available, processing_error, reenter_transaction, approve_with_idOnce, then the customer calls the issuer3Stripe Docs, Decline codes, read November 2, 2026
Customer calls the bankgeneric_decline, do_not_honor, call_issuer, no_action_taken, not_permitted, security_violation, service_not_allowed, transaction_not_allowed, invalid_account, new_account_information_availableSparingly; Billing never retries transaction_not_allowed3Stripe Docs, Decline codes, read November 2, 20264Stripe Docs, Automate payment retries, read November 2, 2026
Stop, show a generic messagelost_card, stolen_card, pickup_card, restricted_card, fraudulent, merchant_blacklistNo3Stripe Docs, Decline codes, read November 2, 20264Stripe Docs, Automate payment retries, read November 2, 2026
Stop billing this cardrevocation_of_authorization, revocation_of_all_authorizations, stop_payment_orderNoThe customer withdrew consent at the bank3Stripe Docs, Decline codes, read November 2, 20264Stripe Docs, Automate payment retries, read November 2, 2026
Check for a double chargeduplicate_transactionOnly if no recent payment exists3Stripe Docs, Decline codes, read November 2, 2026

Source: Stripe Docs, Decline codes, and Automate payment retries, read November 2, 20263Stripe Docs, Decline codes, read November 2, 20264Stripe Docs, Automate payment retries, read November 2, 2026. do_not_try_again and try_again_later as decline codes are deprecated3Stripe Docs, Decline codes, read November 2, 2026.

To apply Visa's retry categories, read network_decline_code, not the Stripe code. Its meaning "differs based on the card network", so check the card brand first2Stripe Docs, Card declines, read November 2, 2026.

Advice codes: Stripe's own next step

Next to the decline code, Stripe adds an advice_code in the outcome2Stripe Docs, Card declines, read November 2, 2026. When it's there, follow it before your own logic.

Fig. 2Stripe's three advice codes

  1. do_not_try_again

    Don't use the card again for this transaction. Ask for another card or method.

  2. try_again_later

    The issuer allows a retry. If it fails again, the customer contacts the issuer.

  3. confirm_card_data

    Some details are wrong. The customer checks the card and re-enters them.

the shortest route to the right next step

Stripe Docs, Card declines, read November 2, 2026.

Mastercard also sends Merchant Advice Codes, which Stripe passes as network_advice_code2Stripe Docs, Card declines, read November 2, 2026. A blocked payment always carries do_not_try_again1Stripe Docs, Declines, read November 2, 2026.

generic_decline and do_not_honor

These two mean "no reason given", and most declines end up there: "Card issuers categorize most declines as generic"2Stripe Docs, Card declines, read November 2, 2026. Stripe describes both as "declined for an unknown reason"3Stripe Docs, Decline codes, read November 2, 2026. Work through this list before asking the customer to call:

If a Radar rule blocked a customer you know, "Add to allow list" in the Dashboard stops it from blocking future matching payments. It doesn't retry the blocked one1Stripe Docs, Declines, read November 2, 2026.

How many times you can retry on Stripe

Fewer than the network allows. Stripe recommends "a maximum of eight retries for charges that permit retries", because issuers "might see creating additional retries as potential fraud"2Stripe Docs, Card declines, read November 2, 2026. Visa's limit is wider: up to 20 attempts in 30 days for categories 2 to 4, and none after category 1, such as lost, stolen or closed account5Visa Core Rules and Visa Product and Service Rules, sections 1.7.2.1 and 7.3.6.3, edition October 24, 2026.

On Stripe Billing, Smart Retries picks the timing. You set a number of tries over 1 week to 2 months; "the recommended default setting is 8 tries within 2 weeks"4Stripe Docs, Automate payment retries, read November 2, 2026. After a hard decline, retries stay scheduled but only run once a new payment method is added4Stripe Docs, Automate payment retries, read November 2, 2026.

An Acquirer, a Merchant, a Payment Facilitator, or a VisaNet Processor that reattempts an Authorization Request following a Decline Response [...] must not intentionally manipulate any data elements from the original Authorization Request.

Visa Core Rules and Visa Product and Service Rules, October 24, 2026, section 1.7.2.1

Sending a declined card to another processor is still a reattempt: a category 1 code stays final there too5Visa Core Rules and Visa Product and Service Rules, sections 1.7.2.1 and 7.3.6.3, edition October 24, 2026. Spacing and schedules: smart retries. Renewals that fail: subscription payment failures.

Why high-risk merchants see more declines on Stripe

Some of it is the issuer, some of it is Stripe. Here is how to tell them apart.

Fig. 3Decline patterns on high-risk Stripe accounts

  1. Many "blocked" with highest_risk_levelRadar scores your traffic as riskyReview rules and allow-list known customers; don't loosen everything
  2. Declines concentrated on foreign cardsCard issued in another country than your accountStripe suggests accounts in your larger markets
  3. do_not_honor on large first ordersIssuer fraud models on big, new purchases3D Secure, CVC and postal code at checkout
  4. authentication_required on renewalsOff-session payment needs the customerEmail a link to pay and authenticate

half of these are fixable on your side

Based on Stripe Docs, Declines, Card declines and Monitoring programs, read November 2, 2026.

A few more causes Stripe documents:

How to measure progress: Stripe says to analyze unique declines and "exclude failed retries"1Stripe Docs, Declines, read November 2, 2026. More on the metric: authorization rate. Balancing fraud blocks and approvals: fraud and 3D Secure.

What to tell the customer

Something neutral, every time. The person at your checkout may not be the cardholder.

Watch out

For lost_card, stolen_card, fraudulent and merchant_blacklist, Stripe says not to give details and to present them "in the same manner as generic_decline"3Stripe Docs, Decline codes, read November 2, 2026. A message such as "Your bank declined this payment. Try another card or contact your bank" works for all of them.

After a decline, step by step

  1. Read outcome.type: blocked, invalid or issuer_declined1Stripe Docs, Declines, read November 2, 2026.
  2. Read advice_code and follow it when present2Stripe Docs, Card declines, read November 2, 2026.
  3. Read the decline code and match it to an action in the table above3Stripe Docs, Decline codes, read November 2, 2026.
  4. On issuer_declined, read network_decline_code to apply the network's retry rules2Stripe Docs, Card declines, read November 2, 20265Visa Core Rules and Visa Product and Service Rules, sections 1.7.2.1 and 7.3.6.3, edition October 24, 2026.
  5. On-session: prompt the customer to try again or use another method2Stripe Docs, Card declines, read November 2, 2026.
  6. Off-session: notify the customer by email or in-app to come back and pay2Stripe Docs, Card declines, read November 2, 2026.
  7. Retry within limits: at most 8 times at Stripe, never after category 1 or a hard decline2Stripe Docs, Card declines, read November 2, 20264Stripe Docs, Automate payment retries, read November 2, 20265Visa Core Rules and Visa Product and Service Rules, sections 1.7.2.1 and 7.3.6.3, edition October 24, 2026.

Based on Stripe Docs (Declines, Card declines, Decline codes, Automate payment retries), read November 2, 2026, and Visa Core Rules, October 24, 2026.

By industry

IndustryWhat changesGuide
SupplementsBig bundles, new customers from ads and renewals on cards that changed trigger more issuer declinesReducing payment declines for supplement brands
SkincareBeauty checkouts already lose many shoppers; wallets and a clear descriptor matter moreReducing payment declines for skincare brands
FitnessBig equipment orders that issuers flag as unusual, and refills charged to cards that changedReducing payment declines for fitness brands
Info productsHigh prices and foreign cards fail at the first checkout, then installments and membership renewalsReducing payment declines for info product businesses
Online pharmacyHSA and FSA cards the store isn't set up for, and authorizations that expire during prescription reviewReducing payment declines for online pharmacies
TelehealthCapture after the clinician's review must fall within the 7-day hold; refill charges fail on changed cardsReducing payment declines for telehealth companies

How Tagada helps

A second route when Stripe says no

Tagada follows Visa and Mastercard rules and the laws that apply to payments. A category 1 decline stays final on every route. Tagada CRM plans are on the pricing page.

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A second route when Stripe says no

Updated on November 2, 2026

Nick Bonnassies

CMO at Tagada

CMO at Tagada. Before Tagada, Nick built direct-to-consumer brands that generated over $115M in sales, raised over $25M in crowdfunding and sold two of them. He also works as a fractional CMO on marketing operations and AI systems.

Frequently asked questions

What does generic_decline mean on Stripe?

The issuer declined without saying why, or Stripe blocked the payment itself through Radar or Adaptive Acceptance. Check the outcome type: `blocked` means Stripe's side, `issuer_declined` means the bank. In the second case, the customer has to contact the card issuer for the reason.

What does do_not_honor mean on Stripe?

The card issuer refused the payment "for an unknown reason." It's a generic decline, not a sign of fraud on your side. Check CVC and address results, the amount and the card country, then ask the customer to call the bank or use another card. Retry sparingly, within Stripe's limit of 8.

Why does Stripe keep declining my customers' cards?

Look at the outcome type. Many `blocked` payments point to Radar rules or risk scores; many issuer declines on foreign cards point to cross-border issuers; many `authentication_required` point to missing 3D Secure. Each has a different fix, listed in Stripe's declines guide.

How many times can I retry a declined payment on Stripe?

Stripe recommends no more than 8 retries per charge, and Smart Retries defaults to 8 tries within 2 weeks. Visa allows up to 20 attempts in 30 days, none after category 1 codes. Stripe Billing doesn't retry hard declines such as `lost_card` until a new card is added.

Is a Stripe decline the same as a Stripe account restriction?

No. A decline concerns one payment. A restriction concerns your account: Stripe pauses charges or payouts after a review. If every payment fails at once with a notice in the Dashboard, see our guide on a restricted Stripe account.

Sources

Checked November 2, 2026
  1. Stripe Docs, Declines, read November 2, 2026
  2. Stripe Docs, Card declines, read November 2, 2026
  3. Stripe Docs, Decline codes, read November 2, 2026
  4. Stripe Docs, Automate payment retries, read November 2, 2026
  5. Visa Core Rules and Visa Product and Service Rules, sections 1.7.2.1 and 7.3.6.3, edition October 24, 2026
  6. Stripe Docs, Dispute and fraud card monitoring programs, read November 2, 2026
  7. TagadaPay, tagadapay.io, read November 2, 2026

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