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Stripe

Stripe Status method: method

Last updated: November 13, 2026

Key details

Brand
Stripe
Code
requires_payment_method
Category
Status
Response
Requires Payment Method
Detailed Response
The PaymentIntent has been created but no payment method has been attached yet, or the previous payment attempt failed and a new payment method is needed. The merchant/developer must collect and attach a payment method before proceeding.

What it means

The Stripe `method` status is an informational processing state indicating that a PaymentIntent has been created, but no payment method has been attached to it yet. This status also occurs when a previous payment attempt on the PaymentIntent failed, leaving the transaction in a state where a new payment method is required before it can proceed. Because it is a processing status rather than an issuer decline code, the merchant or developer must collect and attach a valid payment method to advance the PaymentIntent.

Why does code requires_payment_method occur?

  • A PaymentIntent was newly created, and a payment method has not been collected or attached to it yet.
  • A previous payment attempt on the PaymentIntent failed, requiring a new payment method to be provided before proceeding.

How to solve requires_payment_method?

Because `method` is a processing status rather than a standalone decline, you move past this state by collecting a payment method from the customer and attaching it to the PaymentIntent. If the PaymentIntent entered this status because a prior payment attempt failed, check the API response outcome or error object for a specific `decline_code` or `advice_code` to understand why the previous attempt was declined, then attach a valid payment method to proceed.

Solving as a merchant

Ensure your checkout or payment flow collects and attaches a payment method to the PaymentIntent before attempting to finalize the transaction. If this status was triggered by a failed previous payment attempt, inspect the associated error or outcome details to see why the original payment method failed, and prompt the customer to supply a new or updated payment method.

Solving as a client

Provide a valid payment method during checkout, or enter a different payment method if your previous payment attempt was declined.

See the full list of Stripe's decline codes >Find code on Stripe's website >

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Kyle Regacho

Author

Kyle Regacho
LinkedInFind me on Linkedin

Focused on payment recovery, decline codes, and authorization optimization at SmartRetry. Helps payment teams turn failed transactions into recovered revenue

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