A user having an account with a payment provider receives an unregistered payment card that is associated with the payment provider, and that includes a magnetic strip encoded with a number unique to the card and a machine readable code such as a QR/barcode embossed thereon. The user may then open an application on the user's mobile device to capture the number associated with the card by, for example, scanning the QR/barcode, capturing an image of the number, speaking the number into the device, or manually entering the number into the user's device. The user may also authenticate with the payment provider by entering login credentials. The user may then confirm a request to link the number of the card with the user's payment provider account, which activates and links the card to the user account so that the user can immediately use the card for purchases.