Guide

Club membership cards: going digital

Sports clubs, golf clubs, social clubs, supporters’ clubs and associations have issued plastic member cards for decades - and reprinted them every season. A digital club card in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet does the same job, costs nothing to post, and updates when a member renews. This guide covers what to put on the card, how to issue it, and how to run renewals.

Last updated October 9, 2026. Facts about Apple Wallet and Google Wallet were checked against Apple’s and Google’s own documentation, linked in the sources.

The short answer

A digital club membership card is a member card saved in the member’s phone wallet. It shows their name, member number, membership type and expiry, with a QR code or barcode for check-in. You design it once, create a card for every member from your member list, and update it when they renew - no reprinting, no postage.

Which clubs use member cards

Sports clubs: football, cricket, tennis, rugby, running and cycling clubs.
Golf and country clubs, where cards show the membership category and handicap or member number.
Social and hobby clubs: car clubs, book clubs, photography and community groups.
Supporters’ and fan clubs, where membership brings ticket priority, discounts or events.
Associations and professional bodies, where a card proves membership for events, discounts and voting.

Why go digital

No printing or postage, which matters most for clubs that renew every season.
Always with the member, on the phone they already carry.
Renewals update the same card instead of needing a new one.
You can reach every member with a message about fixtures, events or renewal deadlines.
Nothing to download: the card goes into Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.

What to put on a club card

Club crest and colors, so the card feels like the club’s.
Member name and member number.
Membership type: full, junior, senior, family, social or life.
Season or expiry date, such as “2026/27” or “Valid till 31 March”.
A QR code or barcode with the member number, for check-in.

On the back, add the club’s address, contact details, website and membership terms. For layout rules, see our wallet pass best practices guide.

Issuing cards to every member

Design one card with the club’s branding and the fields above.
Use placeholders such as @name, @number and @type, so each member gets their own version of the one design.
Export your member list from your spreadsheet or membership system and upload it to create every card at once.
Email each member their own link to add the card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
Add new members as they join, one at a time or automatically from your joining form or payment page.

Renewals and seasons

When members renew

Move the expiry or season on their card forward. The card on their phone updates - no new card to send.

When they don’t

An expiry date makes the card show as expired in the wallet after the deadline. Send a reminder a couple of weeks before, and another close to the date.

Season changes

If your club’s design changes each season, update the design once and every member’s card changes, each keeping its own name and number.

Using the card at the club

Check-in: staff or volunteers scan the QR code with the club’s membership or check-in app, or simply look at the name and expiry for small events.
Member prices: show the card at the bar, shop or ticket desk.
Guest and event passes: issue separate passes for one-off visitors so member cards stay members-only.
Announcements: send fixture changes, AGM reminders or event news to the lock screen, sparingly.

Tips for volunteer-run clubs

Start with one season and keep the old method as a backup.
Use the spreadsheet you already have rather than a new membership system.
Write a two-line “how to add your card” for the renewal email, and link to our guide on adding a pass to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
Share access with the treasurer or membership secretary, so the cards don’t depend on one person.

More on the card itself in how to make QR code membership cards, or get started for free.

Frequently asked questions

What is a club membership card?+

A club membership card identifies a member of a club or association. It usually shows the member’s name, a member number, their membership type and when it expires, and it’s shown to get in, to vote, or to claim member prices and perks.

Can a small club afford digital membership cards?+

Usually, yes. A digital card costs nothing to print or post, and many clubs already spend more on plastic cards and postage each season than a pass tool costs.

What if some members don’t have a smartphone?+

Keep a simple alternative, such as a printed card or a name check against the member list at the door. Digital cards can cover most members while the rest use the old method.

How do digital club cards handle renewals?+

When a member renews, move their expiry date forward and the card on their phone updates. Members who haven’t renewed see their card show as expired, and you can send a reminder before the deadline.

Can family or junior memberships have their own cards?+

Yes. Give each person in a family or junior membership their own card with their own name and member number, and show the membership type, such as “Family” or “Junior”, on each.

Sources

Apple’s newer developer pages load dynamically, so where a number comes from Apple it is taken from its Wallet Developer Guide and support pages. If Apple’s or Google’s current documentation differs, follow theirs.