Skip to main content

Live & Test Region Restrictions

Question: If we send a terminal to another region to do some testing for us, could they come across any issue due to this?

Melissa Good avatar
Written by Melissa Good
Updated over 3 weeks ago

Yes, Adyen does enforce region-based restrictions in both testing (test/sandbox) and live environments for POS terminals—especially in terms of:


🌍 1. Terminal Shipment & Activation

Adyen terminals are region-locked at the time of shipping.

• When you order a terminal, it’s registered to a specific region or country.

• The terminal can only be activated in the region it was intended for unless special exceptions are made.

Example:

A V400m shipped for use in the U.S. cannot be activated in Europe unless Adyen explicitly configures it for multi-region use.


🔐 2. Store Configuration (Merchant Account Level)

• Each store/merchant account is tied to a specific country code (e.g., US, GB, AU).

• Your terminal’s configuration must match the region of the store it’s linked to in Adyen.

• Attempting to use a terminal in the wrong country may block activations or transactions.


🧪 3. Testing (Test Environment) Limitations

• Even in test mode, terminals are assigned to specific regions.

• You can simulate transactions, but network behavior and local scheme rules may not reflect the real-world setup in other regions.

• Certain payment methods (e.g., Interac in Canada, Girocard in Germany) may not be available in the test environment or may only work within specific region setups.


🚫 4. Connectivity Rules and Restrictions

• Some mobile or Wi-Fi networks may block or throttle Adyen’s services, especially if used outside the approved deployment country.

• Firewalls, DNS, or VPNs in restricted regions may interfere with activation or log uploads.


✅ Best Practices

• Always order terminals specific to the region where they will be used.

• If your platform operates across countries (e.g., U.S. + Canada), request multi-region enablement during onboarding with Adyen.

• For test environments, ensure your stores and accounts match the test region and consult Adyen for region-specific terminal behavior.


Did this answer your question?