Smart Tap is Google Wallet's NFC redemption protocol — the Android equivalent of Apple VAS. The application flow is separate from Apple, but most modern terminals support both.
Yes. Apple VAS and Google Smart Tap are separate programs with separate approvals and separate keys. The good news: VAS-capable terminals from Verifone, Ingenico, Castles, and Square almost always speak Smart Tap as well — you provision both certs into the same reader.
Apply at pay.google.com/business/console with your business details. Google reviews business identity and use case.
From the Wallet Console, open your issuer account and request Smart Tap. Provide your terminal partner (Verifone, Ingenico, Castles, etc.) and expected merchant volume. Approval is typically a few weeks.
In the Wallet Console: Issuer → Smart Tap → "Add key version". Google issues a Collector ID and a key version; you generate the EC P-256 key pair. Keep the private key with your terminal vendor.
For each loyaltyClass, giftCardClass or genericClass, set enableSmartTap: true and configure redemptionIssuers. PilotPR does this automatically when Smart Tap is enabled in Settings.
Send the public key + collector ID to your terminal vendor. They flash the cert into your readers (most VAS-capable readers also speak Smart Tap; the certs are separate from Apple).
Settings → Wallet NFC → Google Smart Tap. Paste the base64 EC public key, set the Collector ID and expiry, toggle Enable.
Save a pass to Google Wallet on a real Android device, tap it on your provisioned terminal, and confirm your POS receives the redemption payload before going live.
3–6 weeks end-to-end. Wallet Console approval + terminal provisioning dominate.