At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Also called | VT, web terminal, keyed-in payments |
| French term | Terminal virtuel |
| Where it sits in the payment flow | At the start of the sale, where staff enter the card. The sale then runs through a gateway and your processor |
| Who controls it | Your provider supplies it. You decide which staff get a login |
| Does it cost the merchant | Yes. Keyed-in sales are card-not-present and usually cost more. Some providers add a monthly fee |
How it works
A virtual terminal replaces the card reader with a form. It suits phone orders, deposits and balances paid by phone. It needs an internet connection and a person to type.
- An authorized staff member signs in to the virtual terminal in a browser.
- They enter the amount and the card details the customer gives them.
- The sale goes to your processor and the card network. The issuer approves or declines.
- The result and a receipt are saved with a reference, so staff can match the sale to the order.
A Canadian example
A florist in Montréal takes a $120 phone order and keys in a Visa Classic card. Visa's published interchange for a Classic card not present is 1.40%, so $1.68. The same card tapped in store is 1.25%, or $1.50. The gap is $0.18 a sale. Over 200 phone orders a month, that is $36 more. Network fees and your processor's charges come on top. An example only, not a quote.
What is different in Canada and Québec
- Visa defines card-not-present as a sale where the card and the cardholder are not at your location. A phone order fits. Visa's rates for these sales are higher on most cards.
- The Code of Conduct covers your processing agreement. A virtual terminal from a different company may have its own terms, so read them separately.
- Québec bans charging consumers extra to pay by card. You cannot add a fee for keyed-in payments. See our surcharging guide.
- Québec restaurants must give every bill, takeout and delivery included, from a certified system. A payment screen does not make you compliant. See the mandatory billing guide.
- You can ask for your agreement and your support in French.
What it costs and where it shows on your statement
Keyed-in sales show as card-not-present on your statement. Clover's pricing page shows the way rates are written, with "1.0% + 10¢" in person and "2.0% + 10¢" keyed in. It is an example of the format, not an offer. Your provider may also charge a monthly fee for the virtual terminal or a gateway fee. Ask for each as its own line.
Where CleverPays fits in this step
The virtual terminal is a service from your provider. The card network, the issuer and your processor handle the sale, and CleverPays does not approve or decline cards or set interchange or network fees. CleverPays is operated by Groupe Heo Inc., an Agent of Fiserv Canada Ltd.
We can recommend and set up a virtual terminal with a Clover account or another gateway. We can read a recent statement with you and show the effective rate and each fee line, including keyed-in sales. Clover devices in Canada work only with Fiserv processing. We answer in English and French.
Common mistakes
- Sharing one login among the whole team. Give each person their own, so you can see who took which payment.
- Writing card numbers or security codes on paper or in notes. Type them straight into the screen.
- Keying in a card the customer is holding at your counter. It may be rated as a keyed sale and cost more. Tap or insert it instead.
Related terms
- MOTO: mail order and telephone order, the sales a virtual terminal usually takes.
- Card-not-present: a sale where the card is not at your location.
- Payment link: a web address where the customer enters their own card.
- Payment gateway: the service that carries the sale to your processor.
- Payment terminal: the card reader used at your counter.
- Payment processor: the company that handles the sale with the networks.
Common questions
How is a virtual terminal different from a payment link?
With a virtual terminal, your staff enter the card. With a payment link, the customer enters their own. A link suits invoices and deposits. A virtual terminal suits phone orders.
Do I need a card reader to use one?
No. You need a browser, an internet connection and a login. A reader is only needed for cards presented at your counter.
Can it take every type of card?
That depends on your provider and your account. Confirm which cards and which kinds of sale are supported before you rely on it.
Sources
- Visa Canada, interchange reimbursement fees, read 6 October 2026, for the card-not-present definition and the 1.40% and 1.25% rates.
- Clover Canada, pricing and FAQ, read 24 September 2026, for the rate format and the Fiserv processing rule.
- Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, Code of Conduct for the Payment Card Industry in Canada, read 6 October 2026.
- Office de la protection du consommateur, frais interdits, as cited in our surcharging guide, read 24 September 2026.
- Revenu Québec, mandatory billing, read 24 September 2026.
