3D Secure authentication

Reduce fraud and meet regulatory requirements through 3D Secure (3DS) authentication.

(3DS) is an authentication protocol that adds an additional security layer to card transactions. 3DS verifies that the person making a purchase is the legitimate cardholder. This helps protect both your business and your customers from fraudulent activity.

When 3DS is activated, the issuing bank might request cardholders authenticate through a familiar security prompt. Common authentication methods include:

  • Password or PIN entry
  • One-time code sent to mobile device
  • Biometric verification (fingerprint or face recognition)

Customers may recognize the authentication flow through card network branding such as Visa Secure, Mastercard Identity Check, or American Express SafeKey.

Regional Requirements

The (SCA) regulation requires 3DS in certain regions. Understanding these requirements helps you implement compliant payment flows.

RegionRegulation3DS RequiredStatus
EEA (European Economic Area)PSD2 / SCA✅ YesRequired since September 2019
United KingdomSimilar to PSD2✅ YesRequired (post-Brexit)
IndiaRBI Guidelines✅ YesMandatory for card payments
JapanJFSA✅ YesPhased implementation
Australia-⚠️ RecommendedOptional but encouraged
United States-❌ OptionalFraud prevention tool
3DS is required for card payments in the EEA, UK, India, and Japan. Failure to implement 3DS may result in declined transactions in these regions.
Enable 3DS even in optional regions to reduce fraud and build customer trust. You can use exemptions to minimize friction for low-risk transactions.

How It Works

Choose Your Integration

Authenticate with 3D Secure natively
Add real-time 3D Secure authentication to your payment flow with Onerway's native integration.
SCA Exemptions
Use SCA exemptions and Data Only to reduce cardholder friction on eligible transactions.
Standalone 3D Secure
Run 3D Secure on Onerway while processing the subsequent payment on a third-party gateway.

Strong Customer Authentication (SCA)

A European regulatory requirement introduced by PSD2 to reduce fraud and make online and contactless offline payments more secure

Authenticate with 3D Secure

Integrate 3D Secure (3DS) into your checkout flow for enhanced payment security and liability shift.