EMV Chip Swap™ Procedure
“No Heat” EMV Chip Transplant
Updated: 12.06.25
EMV Chip Swap™ Procedure – How We Personalize Your Card
Our EMV Chip Swap™ Procedure is the controlled, workshop-level process we use to personalize your existing payment card into a premium metal body. We treat your card as a one-of-a-kind item and work within the limits of the technology your bank has already issued to you.
Metal-CreditCard.com does not issue new payment cards or change your account terms. We simply upgrade the physical form factor of the card you already own.
Step 1: Card Intake and Inspection
When your card arrives at our lab, our technicians:
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Verify that the card matches your order information.
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Inspect the EMV chip and magnetic stripe for visible damage.
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Confirm that the card is compatible with our metal card format.
If your card is not a good candidate (for example, due to a rare or incompatible chip type; see list below), we will pause work and contact you before proceeding.
Step 2: Preparing the Metal Card Body
We prepare a precision-cut metal card body that matches the layout of your original card:
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Chip window placement
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Orientation and magnetic stripe area
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Engraving or laser-marked artwork and text you’ve chosen
At this stage, we are setting up the metal body to accept the existing technology from your card — not altering your account or issuing a new card.
Step 3: Careful Relocation of Chip Module
For compatible cards, our technicians carefully relocate the existing EMV chip module from your original plastic card into the metal card body:
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The goal is to maintain the chip’s original orientation and contact surface so it can continue to communicate with EMV terminals as designed by your issuer.
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We do not modify your chip’s internal programming or change your account credentials.
If we determine that relocating the chip would compromise its integrity or your ability to use the card, we will stop the process and discuss options with you.
Step 4: Magnetic Stripe Alignment
Where applicable, we align the magnetic stripe data area on your metal card so that it can be read by standard stripe-based terminals, consistent with your original card’s behavior.
Our equipment is designed to transfer the necessary data from your original card to the new metal body without storing it long-term. We do not generate additional working cards for the same account.
Step 5: Final Quality Check & Return Shipping
Before we ship:
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We perform a physical check to confirm the chip is seated properly and that the metal card body is free from defects that would affect normal use at chip-insert or swipe terminals.
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We photograph your finished custom metal credit or debit card for your order record.
We then return your upgraded metal card and, when applicable, your original plastic card via the shipping method associated with your order, including tracking.
Important Notes & Customer Responsibilities
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Issuer relationship – Your relationship is with your bank or card issuer. You must comply with your cardholder agreement and all issuer policies when using a third-party personalization service.
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No guarantees of universal acceptance – While many customers successfully use their upgraded cards at standard EMV and swipe terminals, acceptance ultimately depends on your issuer, terminal hardware, and the settings at each merchant location.
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Tap-to-Pay (NFC) – Tap-to-pay features may not transfer to a metal body in the same way as your original plastic card. We generally recommend using your mobile wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.) for contactless payments where supported.
**RFID Contactless Touch Pass/ Pay Wave Logo. -
Card replacements – If your bank issues you a new card number, expiration date, or chip, your metal body will no longer match the updated credentials. In that case, you may need to order another personalization to continue using a metal card.
Large EMV Chip Types
The following Large EMV Chip types can be processed by MCC; with two exceptions. See list below. Large chips are 13 mm by 12 mm approximately.
