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

## 1. Sign up for a Mastercard Developers Account {#1-sign-up-for-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

## 2. Create a Project {#2-create-a-project}

Once you have found the API you want to integrate with, you can create a project and start testing in Sandbox.

1. To start, log in to your Mastercard Developers account and go to the [My Projects](https://developer.mastercard.com/dashboard) page. Click the "Create new project" button in the top right corner.

2. Select the APIs you're integrating with and complete the steps in the flow.

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

3. When you reach the final step in the flow, your project will be created and your credentials will be generated and ready to download. After you download your credentials, click the "Open project" button. Now you're ready to test in Sandbox.

## 3. Integrate {#3-integrate}

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

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

1. Open the documentation for the API you're integrating with and go to the *API Reference* 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 a detailed step-by-step guide see [Generating and Configuring a Mastercard API Client](https://developer.mastercard.com/platform/documentation/developer-tools/generating-and-configuring-a-mastercard-api-client/index.md)

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

1. Open the documentation for the API you're integrating with and go to the *SDK Reference* page
2. Select your coding language and use the provided code snippets and samples

## 4. Production Prerequisites {#4-production-prerequisites}

Before you can request Production access, you need to complete a few steps located in the *Production access prerequisites* section on your project *Summary* page.

![Production access prerequisites](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/platform/img/prod-access-prereqs.png)

1. First you need to verify your company. This ensures your company is registered to do business with Mastercard. You can follow steps in our [Company Verification guide](https://developer.mastercard.com/platform/documentation/account-management/company-verification/index.md) to complete this step.

2. You also need to provide your "commercial countries" to indicate where you are doing business for this API integration (i.e. where are your end customers located).

## 5. Go Live {#5-go-live}

After you have tested your implementation in Sandbox and completed your Production prerequisite steps, you can move to Production and go live.

1. Open your project and click the "Request Production access" button on the *Summary* page and complete the steps in the flow.

2. When you reach the final step in the flow, your request will be submitted and your credentials will be generated and ready to download. After you download your credentials, click the "Open project" button.

Note: Production credentials are generated instantaneously but they are only activated once your Production request is approved.

3. Once we have reviewed and approved your request, you will receive an approval email. Now your Production credentials are activated and you're ready to go live with your API integration.

## FAQs {#faqs}

A service may not appear in the APIs dropdown if it's private and you don't have access to it. In this case, you must request access 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.