Nintendo eShop Card

Four checks before you buy

How to redeem a Nintendo eShop card

The card's code is 16 characters. Nintendo doesn't use the letters O, I and Z or hyphens, so those keys are disabled on the console keyboard — if you think you see an O, it's a zero.

On Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch

1. Make sure the console is online.
2. Open Nintendo eShop from the HOME Menu and pick the account that should receive the funds.
3. Confirm your password or PIN if user verification is on.
4. Select Enter Code on the left, type the 16 characters and select OK.

On the web, away from the console

1. Go to ec.nintendo.com/redeem and sign in with your Nintendo Account.
2. Check the username in the top-right corner is the right one.
3. Enter the code, select Next, re-enter your password and select Redeem.
4. Nintendo emails a confirmation to the address on the account.

Nintendo describes eShop cards as all-or-nothing: the entire value moves to the account in one go, and a card has either its full balance or none. To see the result, follow our Nintendo eShop balance guide.

Can you use a US eShop card in another country?

The country a card belongs to is printed on its back, and it only works on a Nintendo Account set to that country. Nintendo says it is unable to exchange a card made for one country for another's and suggests going back to the retailer, or giving the card to someone it does work for.

• US account, living abroad: the card still matches the account, so it redeems.
• Mexican, Canadian or European account: a US card won't work, even though Mexico and Canada share Nintendo's Americas support site.
• A friend overseas: buy a card sold for their country, or ask them which store their account uses before you buy.

Rewarding people in several countries at once runs into the same wall — see our guide to bulk gift cards for employees for how companies handle it.

What the balance buys

Nintendo's card terms say the balance is redeemable using a Nintendo Account on Nintendo eShop and other Nintendo shopping services. The common uses:

Limits, expiry and fees

For parents: stop surprise purchases

Spending controls sit on the Nintendo Account website, not on the console. Only a parent or guardian account in a Nintendo family group can set them:

1. Sign in to the parent account and open the family group.
2. Select the child's account.
3. Under Spending Restrictions, tick the box to turn off purchases and auto-renewal on Switch 2, Switch and the Nintendo Store.
4. Optionally set Age-Based Content Restrictions to limit what the child sees in the eShop, then select Save changes.

A common setup: the parent redeems the card, keeps spending restricted, and lifts the restriction for a specific purchase.

Errors and fixes

• “This Code Has Already Been Used” — the card was redeemed before, possibly on another account in the household.
• Code refused on a non-US account — region mismatch. Talk to the retailer; Nintendo won't exchange it.
• Error 9001-5508 — the balance would go over $800. Spend some funds first.
• Can't redeem on the website — the account must have opened Nintendo eShop on a Switch 2 or Switch at least once. Do that, then try ec.nintendo.com/redeem again.

FAQ