How do gift cards get activated?

When you buy a gift card at the store (whether it is a retailer, restaurant, Visa or Mastercard gift card), you take the gift card to the cash register and ask the cashier to load money onto the card. The cashier takes the card, activates it and loads the dollar amount requested onto the card.

How do you activate a prepaid gift card?

Activate Your Visa Gift Card In 3 Simple Steps
  1. Locate the activation instructions. These can be found on a sticker (usually on the front) or printed on the back of the card.
  2. Find the gift card numbers. Activation requires the 16-digit gift card number that is located on the front of the card. …
  3. Activate your card.