Getting Started

Step 1: Request a Sandbox Account

All sandbox accounts are created by the Payarc Support team. To request access, email [email protected] with the following information:

You must include:

The type of sandbox account you are requesting:
1. Partner / Agent sandbox account (for onboarding and managing merchants)
2. Merchant sandbox account (for testing payment processing)
A brief description of the actions you intend to test, such as:
1. Merchant application management, onboarding, and activation
2. Payment processing and supported payment methods
3. Refunds, voids, or reporting

Please refer to our API Reference for a breakdown of the operations supported by our gateway.

Providing this information helps ensure the sandbox environment is configured correctly for your testing needs.

Step 2: Review API Authentication Documentation

Before making any API calls, review the API Authentication documentation to understand how credentials, environments, and request requirements are handled.

As you review the guide, pay particular attention to:

How API keys and bearer tokens are generated and secured
The differences between sandbox and production authentication, including environment-specific keys
Where to retrieve credentials based on your account type (Merchant vs. Partner/Agent)
Required request headers, rate limits, and pagination behavior
The correct sandbox base URL for test requests

Taking the time to understand these requirements upfront will help prevent common authentication errors and ensure your integration works correctly.

Step 3: Review the FAQ

Ensure to review our FAQ to familiarize yourself with common questions and concepts that frequently come up during integration.

The FAQ covers topics such as:

Using test cards for transaction testing
Interpreting transaction response codes
When and how to use idempotency keys

Reviewing this information upfront can help you troubleshoot issues more quickly and avoid common setup or testing challenges as you work through the sandbox.