# Quick Start Guide
source: https://developer.mastercard.com/platform/documentation/getting-started-with-mastercard-apis/quick-start-guide/index.md

## Create a Mastercard Developers account {#create-a-mastercard-developers-account}

1. Create a [Mastercard Developers account](https://developer.mastercard.com/account/sign-up)
2. Activate your account by opening the link sent to your email address

## Request access (if needed) {#request-access-if-needed}

[APIs](https://developer.mastercard.com/apis) with a lock icon require permission to view their documentation and create a project. To gain access to these services, you will need to submit an access request form. Once submitted, you will receive an email confirmation approving or denying your access.

## Create a new project {#create-a-new-project}

Once you have found the API that is right for you, it's time to create a project and download your Sandbox credentials.

Create a project on your [My Projects](https://developer.mastercard.com/dashboard) page:

1. Name your project
2. Indicate whether you are creating a project on behalf of a client Note: Check "yes" if you are creating an API integration project for a customer. For example, you could be an integrator, a processor, or a service provider and the customer can be a merchant, issuer, acquirer.
3. Provide the client company name and client company address (if applicable)
4. Select the service you intend to integrate with
   1. If you're creating a project for the Open Finance service, you'll be prompted to select the region where you're doing business.

![create-project](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/platform/img/border-control-create-project.png)

6. Fill out additional details that the service requires (if applicable). These details can be modified later, though the specific fields you can edit will vary depending on the service. To learn more about updating service and project information, see [Editing Service Details](https://developer.mastercard.com/platform/documentation/managing-your-project/editing-service-details/index.md) and [Editing Project Details](https://developer.mastercard.com/platform/documentation/managing-your-project/editing-project-details/index.md).

7. Enter your Sandbox key alias and keystore password

![create-project](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/platform/img/create-project-oauth-project-key.png)

8. Save your Sandbox credentials

![create-project](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/platform/img/create-project-download-key.png)

9. Begin testing

## Adding a new service to an existing project {#adding-a-new-service-to-an-existing-project}

If you want to integrate an additional service to a project, you can follow the below steps:

1. Open your project on Mastercard Developers
2. On the project dashboard summary page, click *Add a new API to this project*
3. Pick the API that you would like to add, fill out any necessary consents, and create/download your keys

Your project will show the newly added API, and you can use the same keys and credentials to access any/all APIs in your project.

![add-api-service](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/platform/img/add-api-service.png)

## Integrate {#integrate}

Tip: You can use an API Interface Tool like Insomnia or Postman to test your Sandbox keys. Read our [blog post](https://developer.mastercard.com/blog/a-mastercard-plugin-for-insomnia-rest-client/) and accompanying [tutorial](https://developer.mastercard.com/platform/tutorial/use-insomnia-rest-client-for-mastercard-apis/index.md) to learn about using Insomnia app to interact with Mastercard APIs

### Option 1: Generate Your Own API Client {#option-1-generate-your-own-api-client}

1. Navigate to the API documentation page
2. Download the API specification (OpenAPI or Swagger)
3. Generate and configure an API client for this API
4. Configure your client using our client libraries

For detailed step-by-step guide see [Generating and Configuring a Mastercard API Client](https://developer.mastercard.com/platform/documentation/getting-started-with-mastercard-apis/generating-and-configuring-a-mastercard-api-client/index.md)

### Option 2: Use the Provided SDKs {#option-2-use-the-provided-sdks}

1. Navigate to the API documentation page
2. Go to the "SDK Reference" section
3. Select your coding language and use the provided code snippets and samples

## Go Live {#go-live}

After you have tested your implementation in our Sandbox environments, it is time to move to Production. The "Request Production Access" button will become available once you complete pre-requisite tasks.

1. Within your project, select "Request Production Access"

![move-to-prod](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/platform/img/project-dashboard.png)

2. Select which services you want to request production access for

![select-service](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/platform/img/services-selection.png)

3. Fill out additional details that the service requires (if applicable). These details can be modified later, though the specific fields you can edit will vary depending on the service. To learn more about updating service and project information, see [Editing Service Details](https://developer.mastercard.com/platform/documentation/managing-your-project/editing-service-details/index.md) and [Editing Project Details](https://developer.mastercard.com/platform/documentation/managing-your-project/editing-project-details/index.md).

4. Enter your Production key alias and keystore password

![move-to-prod](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/platform/img/prod-project-credentials.png)

5. Save your key alias and keystore password for future reference
6. Confirm and download your Production keys

Note: Production Credentials are generated instantaneously, but they still need to be approved for Production environment access before you can go live. Once your Production access request has been reviewed, you will receive a notification confirming your access has been approved or denied.

## FAQs {#faqs}

A service may not appear in the Add service dropdown when creating or updating your project if it is private and you don't have access. In this case, you must submit an access request to the service before it can be added to your project.

Additionally, a service may not appear if it is documentation-only.
Keys generated on Mastercard Developers are valid for 13 months.

You will receive multiple email reminders to replace or renew your keys before they expire. These reminders are sent 60, 30, 15, 5, and 1 day prior to expiration.
Some services require approval before granting access to their Sandbox environment. If your Sandbox access shows as Under Review, your request is pending review by the service team. Once reviewed, the status will be updated to Approved or Declined based on their decision. Company verification will be required before requesting Production access to APIs. To verify your company, follow the steps outlined in the [Company Verification documentation](https://developer.mastercard.com/platform/documentation/account-management/company-verification-via-connect-linking/).

You won't be able to submit a Production access request until your company verification is complete. Verification only needs to be completed once per account, **not** per service.