---
title: "Subscription with initial payment"
slug: "subscription-with-initial-payment"
updated: 2026-04-09T12:11:29Z
published: 2026-04-09T12:11:29Z
canonical: "docs.xendit.co/subscription-with-initial-payment"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.xendit.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Subscription with initial payment

## Overview

Some business models require a one-time payment at the start of a subscription. Instead of just linking a payment method, the user pays for an initial item or service fee and simultaneously authorizes Xendit to save their payment method for future recurring billings.

This is achieved by using a **Payment Session** with the session type to `PAY_AND_SAVE` followed by the creation of a **Subscription Plan** from the generated payment token from payment session.

### Use Cases

- **ISP / Telecom**: Paying for a router or installation fee upfront, followed by monthly internet service fees.
- **Gym Memberships**: Paying an initial registration/joining fee followed by monthly dues.
- **SaaS with Setup Fees**: Paying for professional services or data migration upfront, then a monthly software subscription.

## How to integrate

The integration follows a two-stage process:

1. Initial Payment: Collect the one-time fee and tokenize the payment method.
2. Plan Creation: Use the authorized token to start the automated subscription schedule.

Example payload:

1. Create the payment session with `"session_type": "PAY"` and `"allow_save_payment_method": "FORCED"` to the payment with saving the payment as mandatory process. The amount created here should follow the upfront payment to the end user

| Request - POST /sessions ```json { "reference_id": "TEST_{{$timestamp}}", "customer": { "reference_id": "test-{{$timestamp}}", "type": "INDIVIDUAL", "individual_detail": { "given_names": "TEST" } }, "session_type": "PAY", "allow_save_payment_method": "FORCED", "currency": "IDR", "amount": 20000, "mode": "PAYMENT_LINK", "country": "ID", "locale": "en", "description": "Insurance Plan Registration", "success_return_url": "https://xendit.co/success", "cancel_return_url": "https://xendit.co/failure" } ``` | Response - POST /sessions ```json { "payment_session_id": "ps-69d6110ada22a3584993eb78", "created": "2026-04-08T08:25:46.775Z", "updated": "2026-04-08T08:25:46.775Z", "status": "ACTIVE", "reference_id": "TEST_1775636746", "currency": "IDR", "amount": 20000, "country": "ID", "expires_at": "2026-04-08T08:55:46.413Z", "session_type": "PAY", "mode": "PAYMENT_LINK", "locale": "en", "business_id": "5f1e60a0abb3a70ffd45e485", "customer_id": "cust-dad50e22-8d62-4d56-b888-5f66bfdf5627", "capture_method": "AUTOMATIC", "description": "Insurance Plan Registration", "success_return_url": "https://xendit.co/success", "cancel_return_url": "https://xendit.co/failure", "payment_link_url": "https://dev.xen.to/1aNZ0Iq7", "allow_save_payment_method": "FORCED" } ``` |
| --- | --- |

1. You will receive webhooks `payment.succeeded` to indicate the payment process success and `payment_token.activated` to retrieve the `payment_token_id`
2. Create the subscription plan using the retrieved `payment_token_id` and the same customer_id

| Request - POST /recurring/plans ```json { "reference_id": "plan-{{$timestamp}}", "customer_id": "cust-dad50e22-8d62-4d56-b888-5f66bfdf5627", "currency": "IDR", "amount": 10000, "payment_tokens": [ { "payment_token_id": "pt-8e6dc396-3a83-4829-900d-b9baac71ccc0", "rank": 1 } ], "schedule": { "interval": "MONTH", "interval_count": 1, "anchor_date": "2026-04-09T23:23:52+07:00", "total_recurrence": 100, "retry_interval": "DAY", "retry_interval_count": 5, "total_retry": 7, "failed_attempt_notifications": [ 1, 3, 5 ] }, "immediate_payment": false, "failed_cycle_action": "RESUME", "notification_channels": [ "EMAIL", "EMAIL" ], "locale": "en", "payment_link_for_failed_attempt": true, "metadata": { "customKey": "customValue" }, "description": "Subscription Example 01" } ``` | Response - POST /recurring/plans ```json { "id": "repl_88583554-7e7b-47ec-9b2b-6dcdda984402", "reference_id": "plan-1775640035", "customer_id": "cust-dad50e22-8d62-4d56-b888-5f66bfdf5627", "failed_cycle_action": "RESUME", "recurring_cycle_count": 0, "country": "ID", "currency": "IDR", "amount": 10000, "status": "ACTIVE", "created": "2026-04-08T09:20:35.704Z", "updated": "2026-04-08T09:20:35.704Z", "payment_tokens": [ { "payment_token_id": "pt-8e6dc396-3a83-4829-900d-b9baac71ccc0", "rank": 1 } ], "schedule": { "interval": "MONTH", "interval_count": 1, "total_recurrence": 100, "anchor_date": "2026-04-09T23:23:52+07:00", "retry_interval": "DAY", "retry_interval_count": 5, "total_retry": 7, "failed_attempt_notifications": [ 1, 3, 5 ], "created": "2026-04-08T09:20:35.704Z", "updated": "2026-04-08T09:20:35.704Z" }, "immediate_payment": false, "locale": "en", "notification_channels": [ "EMAIL", "EMAIL" ], "metadata": { "customKey": "customValue" }, "description": "Subscription Example 01", "items": null, "payment_link_for_failed_attempt": true, "failure_code": null } ``` |
| --- | --- |
3. Once the end user successfully links their payment method, Xendit will send a `recurring.plan.activation` webhook to confirm the activation of the subscription plan.
4. Listen to the cycle webhooks `recurring.cycle`) to track the status of each subscription cycle. Continue monitoring until all cycles are completed to ensure seamless execution and visibility into the subscription process.