Currency codes and minor units

In your API requests, you need to provide transaction amounts by specifying a currency code and a value. For most APIs the value must be specified in minor units, given the number of decimals of the currency. This page lists the supported currency codes and explains what minor units are.

Currency codes

Minor units

With the exception of Terminal API, our APIs expect you to submit transaction amount values in minor units: the smallest unit of a currency, depending on the number of decimals.

Most currencies have two decimals. Some currencies do not have decimals, and some have three decimals. For example:

• GBP 10: GBP has two decimals, so in minor units you need to submit an amount of 1000
• JPY 10: JPY has no decimals, so in minor units you need to submit an amount of 10
• BHD 10: BHD has three decimals, so in minor units you need to submit an amount of 10000

Different number of decimals

For CLP, CVE, IDR, and ISK the ISO 4217 standard has a different number of decimals than shown in our currency codes table. When submitting amounts in minor units, the decimals in the table on this page are leading.

For example, ISK has zero decimals in the ISO 4217 standard, but to submit an ISK amount to Adyen you have to use two decimals as shown in the table.

Currency conversion rates and fees

Sometimes sums have to be converted from one currency to another, for example when the transaction currency differs from the settlement currency. When currency conversions take place, a foreign exchange (FX) reference rate and management fee apply.

FX reference rate

Adyen applies a foreign currency exchange rate when a currency conversion takes place. This is called the FX reference rate.

FX management fee

Adyen also charges a fee for managing the exchange of currency conversions. This is called the FX management fee, or spread. How this fee is calculated is included in your contract with Adyen.

By default, the FX management fee differs based on the currency category:

• Category one currencies: AUD, CAD, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, NOK, NZD, PLN, SEK, USD, ZAR.
• Category two currencies: all other currencies.

Your company can also choose an alternative setup, where the FX management fee is based on a scheme rate. This is currently available for Visa and Mastercard. The FX management fee for other payment methods is based on the currency category.