As a security measure, you may be asked to authenticate your credit card. Credit card authentication helps reduce online fraud and increases the security of Elance transactions. We use this process to ensure that you are the owner of the card with complete access to the account information.

If your preferred payment method is PayPal, there is no authentication required.  Click here for more information on using PayPal on Elance.

Elance authentication is only available for credit cards with billing addresses in the supported countries listed below. If your credit card country is not supported, you have the option of using PayPal or sending funds via check or wire transfer.

Step by step instructions to complete authentication

To authenticate your credit card, log in to your Elance account and follow the steps below:

1. Click on the Manage tab in the top navigation and select the Financial Accounts link.
2. If there is no credit card listed, click on the Enter New Credit Card button and enter your credit card information. If you already have a credit card listed, click on the Authenticate link to the right of your credit card number.
3. On the next page, you will see the approximate amounts as well as the date that the charges were made.   
4. Review your credit card statement or contact your credit card issuer to retrieve the EXACT amounts. Note these amounts will be refunded to you within 10 business days. However, if you are completing credit card authentication as part of the Payment Verified process, these amounts will not be refunded.
5. When you have the 2 charge amounts, click the Confirm Authentication link next to the credit card number. Enter the exact amounts as they are on your credit card statement regardless of your local currency. If the amounts are correct, you will see a confirmation page stating that your card has been authenticated.

The two amounts charged to your credit card may not show up immediately in your credit card account. Visa and MasterCard may take up 3 or 4 business days. American Express may take up to 5 business days.

You have up to 90 days to complete the authentication process. If 90 days have passed and you still want to authenticate your credit card, you will need to start the process again.

Note: Once you've added a new authenticated credit card or PayPal account, it will be assigned as your default payment method.  For more information about default payment methods, please click here.

Supported Countries

Elance supports credit card authentication for the countries listed below. If your country is not in the supported list, you may fund your Elance account by ACH Transfer, Wire Transfer, or check deposit.

• Andorra
• Argentina
• Armenia
• Aruba
• Australia
• Austria
• Bahamas
• Bangladesh
• Belgium
• Bermuda
• Bolivia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Brazil
• Brunei Darussalam
• Canada
• Cayman Islands
• Chile
• China
• Costa Rica
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Dominican Republic
• Egypt
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• France, Metropolitan
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Greece
• Greenland
• Guam
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Latvia
• Luxembourg
• Pakistan
• Palestine
• Panama
• Peru
• Philippines
• Macedonia
• Marshall Islands
• Mexico
• Monaco
• Montenegro
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Pakistan
• Palestine
• Panama
• Peru
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Puerto Rico
• Romania
• Russia
• Saint Kitts And Nevis
• San Marino
• Saudi Arabia
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Slovak Republic
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan, Province of China
• Thailand
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom (including Scotland and Wales)
• United States of America
• United States Minor Outlying Islands
• Venezuela
• Vietnam
• Virgin Islands (U.S. or British)