Test Users API

Overview

The Test Users API allows you to create test user accounts for Mercado Pago’s sandbox environment. Test users are essential for testing payment flows without processing real transactions or using real money.

This endpoint is only available in local and testing environments when MERCADOPAGO_ENABLE_DEMO_ROUTES=true. It is automatically disabled in production.

Test users created through this endpoint can be used to obtain test credentials and simulate complete payment flows in Mercado Pago’s sandbox environment.

Create Test User

Creates a new test user for a specific Mercado Pago site/country.

Endpoint

POST /api/mercadopago/test-users

Request Parameters

site_id

string

required

Mercado Pago site/country identifier. Must be one of:

MLA - Argentina
MLB - Brazil
MLC - Chile
MLM - Mexico
MLU - Uruguay
MCO - Colombia
MPE - Peru

description

string

Optional description to identify the test user (e.g., “QA Testing User”, “Buyer Account”)

Request Example

{
  "site_id": "MLA",
  "description": "Usuario de prueba para QA"
}

Response

boolean

Indicates if the request was successful

data

object

The test user object returned by Mercado Pago

Show Test user properties

integer

Unique test user identifier

nickname

string

Test user nickname/username

string

Test user email address

site_id

string

Site/country identifier

site_status

string

Account status for the site

date_created

string

Test user creation timestamp

description

string

Test user description if provided

Response Example

{
  "ok": true,
  "data": {
    "id": 123456789,
    "nickname": "TESTUSER123456",
    "password": "qatest123",
    "site_status": "active",
    "site_id": "MLA",
    "email": "[email protected]",
    "date_created": "2024-03-10T10:30:00.000-04:00",
    "description": "Usuario de prueba para QA"
  },
  "meta": []
}

cURL Example

curl --request POST \
  --url http://localhost:8000/api/mercadopago/test-users \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '{
    "site_id": "MLA",
    "description": "Usuario de prueba para QA"
  }'

Error Response

{
  "ok": false,
  "message": "The site_id field must be one of: MLA, MLB, MLC, MLM, MLU, MCO, MPE."
}

Supported Countries

Test users can be created for the following Mercado Pago markets:

Site ID	Country	Currency
`MLA`	Argentina	ARS (Argentine Peso)
`MLB`	Brazil	BRL (Brazilian Real)
`MLC`	Chile	CLP (Chilean Peso)
`MLM`	Mexico	MXN (Mexican Peso)
`MLU`	Uruguay	UYU (Uruguayan Peso)
`MCO`	Colombia	COP (Colombian Peso)
`MPE`	Peru	PEN (Peruvian Sol)

Use Cases

Creating Test Users for Different Scenarios

Create multiple test users for comprehensive testing:

# Create seller/merchant test user
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/api/mercadopago/test-users \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"site_id": "MLA", "description": "Seller Account"}'

# Create buyer test user
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/api/mercadopago/test-users \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"site_id": "MLA", "description": "Buyer Account"}'

Obtaining Test Credentials

After creating a test user:

Use the returned email and password to log into the Mercado Pago Developers dashboard
Navigate to Your integrations → Credentials
Copy the test access_token and public_key
Use these credentials in your local/testing environment

Automated QA Setup

use Fitodac\LaravelMercadoPago\Services\TestUserService;

// In your test setup
class MercadoPagoTestCase extends TestCase
{
    protected string $testUserId;
    
    protected function setUp(): void
    {
        parent::setUp();
        
        $testUserService = app(TestUserService::class);
        $testUser = $testUserService->create([
            'site_id' => 'MLA',
            'description' => 'Automated test user'
        ]);
        
        $this->testUserId = $testUser['id'];
        
        // Use test user credentials for testing
    }
}

Implementation Notes

Availability

This endpoint is protected by the mercadopago.demo middleware and only responds when:

MERCADOPAGO_ENABLE_DEMO_ROUTES=true in configuration
Application environment is local or testing

In production or when demo routes are disabled, this endpoint returns 404.

Validation Rules

The endpoint validates:

site_id is required and must be one of: MLA, MLB, MLC, MLM, MLU, MCO, MPE
description is optional and must be a string

Controller Reference

Implemented in: src/Http/Controllers/Api/TestUserController.php:13 Request validation: src/Http/Requests/CreateTestUserRequest.php:17

TestUserService - Service layer for test user operations

Testing with Sandbox - Complete guide on sandbox testing
Test Cards - Available test cards for each country

Best Practices

Multiple Users: Create separate test users for different roles (buyer, seller) to test complete payment flows.

Sandbox Only: Test users are only for sandbox/testing. Never use test credentials in production environments.

Credential Management: Save the returned test user credentials securely. You’ll need them to obtain test access tokens from Mercado Pago’s dashboard.

Testing Workflow

Create test users for your target country
Log in to Mercado Pago with test user credentials
Obtain test credentials (access token, public key)
Configure your application with test credentials
Run test transactions using test cards
Verify webhooks and payment flows

Example Production Controller

use Fitodac\LaravelMercadoPago\Services\TestUserService;

final class TestUserManagementController
{
    public function store(
        Request $request,
        TestUserService $testUserService
    ): JsonResponse {
        // Restrict to authorized users only
        if (!$request->user()->isAdmin()) {
            abort(403, 'Unauthorized');
        }
        
        $payload = $request->validate([
            'site_id' => ['required', 'string', Rule::in([
                'MLA', 'MLB', 'MLC', 'MLM', 'MLU', 'MCO', 'MPE'
            ])],
            'description' => ['sometimes', 'string'],
        ]);

        $testUser = $testUserService->create($payload);
        
        // Log test user creation for audit
        activity()
            ->by($request->user())
            ->log("Created test user: {$testUser['email']}");

        return response()->json($testUser, 201);
    }
}

Testing Different Scenarios

Success Payment Flow

Create a test user
Use test cards that simulate successful payments
Verify payment status is approved

Rejected Payment Flow

Create a test user
Use test cards that simulate rejections
Verify appropriate error handling

Pending Payment Flow

Create a test user
Use payment methods that require manual approval
Test webhook notifications for status changes

Test Cards by Country

After creating a test user, use these test cards for simulating different payment scenarios. Refer to Mercado Pago’s official documentation for complete test card lists.

Common Test Cards

Card Network	Number	CVV	Expiry
Visa	4509 9535 6623 3704	123	11/25
Mastercard	5031 7557 3453 0604	123	11/25
Amex	3711 803032 57522	1234	11/25

Troubleshooting

Invalid site_id Error

Error: The site_id field must be one of: MLA, MLB, MLC, MLM, MLU, MCO, MPE. Solution: Ensure you’re using a valid site ID. Check the Supported Countries section.

Endpoint Returns 404

Cause: Demo routes are disabled or environment is production. Solution:

Set MERCADOPAGO_ENABLE_DEMO_ROUTES=true
Ensure APP_ENV is local or testing
Run php artisan config:clear

Cannot Access Test Credentials

Issue: Can’t find test credentials in Mercado Pago dashboard. Solution:

Log in to Mercado Pago with the test user email and password
Navigate to Developers → Your integrations
Select your application
Go to Production and test credentials
Copy the Test credentials

Services

Demo Endpoints

Configuration

Overview

Create Test User

Endpoint

Request Parameters

Request Example

Response

Response Example

cURL Example

Error Response

Supported Countries

Use Cases

Creating Test Users for Different Scenarios

Obtaining Test Credentials

Automated QA Setup

Implementation Notes

Availability

Validation Rules

Controller Reference

Best Practices

Testing Workflow

Example Production Controller

Testing Different Scenarios

Success Payment Flow

Rejected Payment Flow

Pending Payment Flow

Test Cards by Country

Common Test Cards

Troubleshooting

Invalid site_id Error

Endpoint Returns 404

Cannot Access Test Credentials

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Services

Demo Endpoints

Configuration

​Overview

​Create Test User

​Endpoint

​Request Parameters

​Request Example

​Response

​Response Example

​cURL Example

​Error Response

​Supported Countries

​Use Cases

​Creating Test Users for Different Scenarios

​Obtaining Test Credentials

​Automated QA Setup

​Implementation Notes

​Availability

​Validation Rules

​Controller Reference

​Related Services

​Related Guides

​Best Practices

​Testing Workflow

​Example Production Controller

​Testing Different Scenarios

​Success Payment Flow

​Rejected Payment Flow

​Pending Payment Flow

​Test Cards by Country

​Common Test Cards

​Troubleshooting

​Invalid site_id Error

​Endpoint Returns 404

​Cannot Access Test Credentials

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Overview

Create Test User

Endpoint

Request Parameters

Request Example

Response

Response Example

cURL Example

Error Response

Supported Countries

Use Cases

Creating Test Users for Different Scenarios

Obtaining Test Credentials

Automated QA Setup

Implementation Notes

Availability

Validation Rules

Controller Reference

Related Services

Related Guides

Best Practices

Testing Workflow

Example Production Controller

Testing Different Scenarios

Success Payment Flow

Rejected Payment Flow

Pending Payment Flow

Test Cards by Country

Common Test Cards

Troubleshooting

Invalid site_id Error

Endpoint Returns 404

Cannot Access Test Credentials