Cellulant Tingg Checkout API

Tingg Checkout 3.0 — a single integration to collect payments across 25+ African markets via Express Checkout (hosted/modal), Custom Checkout (host-to-host), and the Direct Card API (3DS / 3DS-less / 2D). Supports mobile money, cards, direct bank transfer, and 283+ payment methods.

Cellulant Tingg Checkout API is one of 3 APIs that Cellulant publishes on the APIs.io network, described by a machine-readable OpenAPI specification.

This API exposes 1 machine-runnable capability that can be deployed as REST, MCP, or Agent Skill surfaces via Naftiko and 1 JSON Schema definition.

Tagged areas include Payments, Checkout, Mobile Money, Cards, and Bank Transfer. The published artifact set on APIs.io includes API documentation, an OpenAPI specification, a JSON-LD context, sample payloads, 1 Naftiko capability spec, and 1 JSON Schema.

OpenAPI Specification

cellulant-checkout-api-openapi.yml Raw ↑
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
  title: Cellulant Tingg Checkout API
  description: |
    Tingg Checkout 3.0 — accept payments across 25+ African markets through
    a single integration. Supports Express Checkout (hosted/modal) and Custom
    Checkout (host-to-host) for mobile money, cards, and direct bank transfer.
  version: "3.0.0"
  contact:
    name: Cellulant Developer Support
    url: https://developer.tingg.africa
    email: [email protected]
  license:
    name: Cellulant Terms of Service
    url: https://www.cellulant.io/terms
servers:
  - url: https://api.tingg.africa
    description: Production
  - url: https://api-approval.tingg.africa
    description: Sandbox
security:
  - BearerAuth: []
    ApiKeyAuth: []
tags:
  - name: Authentication
    description: OAuth 2.0 access token issuance for Tingg API calls.
  - name: Express Checkout
    description: Create hosted checkout sessions returning short and long URLs.
  - name: Custom Checkout
    description: Host-to-host checkout flow for merchant-controlled UX.
  - name: Acknowledgement
    description: Acknowledge successful or partial payments back to the platform.
paths:
  /v1/oauth/token/request:
    post:
      summary: Request OAuth Access Token
      description: Exchange clientId, clientSecret, and apiKey for a bearer access token used to authorize subsequent Tingg API requests.
      operationId: requestAccessToken
      tags:
        - Authentication
      requestBody:
        required: true
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              $ref: '#/components/schemas/TokenRequest'
            examples:
              TokenRequestExample:
                $ref: '#/components/examples/TokenRequestExample'
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Token issued
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/TokenResponse'
              examples:
                TokenResponseExample:
                  $ref: '#/components/examples/TokenResponseExample'
        '4XX':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ErrorResponse'
  /v3/checkout-api/checkout-request/express-request:
    post:
      summary: Create Express Checkout Request
      description: Create a hosted checkout session. The response includes both short_url and long_url that the merchant can present to the end-user (use short_url to avoid truncation in SMS or WhatsApp).
      operationId: createExpressCheckout
      tags:
        - Express Checkout
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/ApiKey'
      requestBody:
        required: true
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              $ref: '#/components/schemas/ExpressCheckoutRequest'
            examples:
              ExpressCheckoutRequestExample:
                $ref: '#/components/examples/ExpressCheckoutRequestExample'
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Checkout created
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/ExpressCheckoutResponse'
              examples:
                ExpressCheckoutResponseExample:
                  $ref: '#/components/examples/ExpressCheckoutResponseExample'
        '4XX':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ErrorResponse'
  /v3/checkout-api/checkout-request/custom-request:
    post:
      summary: Initiate Custom Checkout Request
      description: Initiate a host-to-host checkout where the merchant collects payment details and posts them to Tingg directly, retaining control of the UX.
      operationId: initiateCustomCheckout
      tags:
        - Custom Checkout
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/ApiKey'
      requestBody:
        required: true
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              $ref: '#/components/schemas/CustomCheckoutRequest'
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Custom checkout initiated
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/CustomCheckoutResponse'
        '4XX':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ErrorResponse'
  /v3/checkout-api/checkout-request/charge:
    post:
      summary: Initiate Charge Request
      description: Post a charge request to debit the customer for an initiated custom checkout. Used to push USSD/STK prompts or card charges from the merchant's backend.
      operationId: initiateChargeRequest
      tags:
        - Custom Checkout
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/ApiKey'
      requestBody:
        required: true
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              $ref: '#/components/schemas/ChargeRequest'
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Charge accepted
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/ChargeResponse'
        '4XX':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ErrorResponse'
  /v3/checkout-api/query-status:
    get:
      summary: Query Request Status
      description: Retrieve the current status of a previously raised checkout or charge request by merchant_transaction_id.
      operationId: queryRequestStatus
      tags:
        - Custom Checkout
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/ApiKey'
        - name: merchant_transaction_id
          in: query
          required: true
          schema:
            type: string
        - name: service_code
          in: query
          required: true
          schema:
            type: string
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Status retrieved
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/StatusResponse'
        '4XX':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ErrorResponse'
  /v3/checkout-api/acknowledgement/request:
    post:
      summary: Acknowledge Payment
      description: Send the final or partial delivered status for a checkout transaction back to the platform.
      operationId: acknowledgePayment
      tags:
        - Acknowledgement
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/ApiKey'
      requestBody:
        required: true
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              $ref: '#/components/schemas/AcknowledgementRequest'
            examples:
              AcknowledgementRequestExample:
                $ref: '#/components/examples/AcknowledgementRequestExample'
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Acknowledgement logged
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/AcknowledgementResponse'
        '4XX':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ErrorResponse'
components:
  securitySchemes:
    BearerAuth:
      type: http
      scheme: bearer
      bearerFormat: JWT
    ApiKeyAuth:
      type: apiKey
      in: header
      name: apikey
      description: Merchant apiKey issued in the Tingg integration dashboard.
  parameters:
    ApiKey:
      name: apikey
      in: header
      required: true
      description: Merchant API key issued in the Tingg integration dashboard.
      schema:
        type: string
  responses:
    ErrorResponse:
      description: Error response
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
  schemas:
    TokenRequest:
      type: object
      required: [grant_type, client_id, client_secret]
      properties:
        grant_type:
          type: string
          enum: [client_credentials]
        client_id:
          type: string
        client_secret:
          type: string
    TokenResponse:
      type: object
      properties:
        access_token:
          type: string
        token_type:
          type: string
          example: Bearer
        expires_in:
          type: integer
          description: Lifetime in seconds.
    ExpressCheckoutRequest:
      type: object
      required: [merchant_transaction_id, service_code, country_code, currency_code, request_amount, callback_url]
      properties:
        merchant_transaction_id:
          type: string
          description: Unique merchant transaction id.
        service_code:
          type: string
          description: Tingg service code identifying the merchant's product line.
        country_code:
          type: string
          description: ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code (KE, UG, TZ, NG, GH, ...).
        currency_code:
          type: string
          description: ISO 4217 currency code.
        request_amount:
          type: number
          format: double
        request_description:
          type: string
        account_number:
          type: string
        msisdn:
          type: string
          description: Customer phone in E.164 format.
        customer_first_name:
          type: string
        customer_last_name:
          type: string
        customer_email:
          type: string
          format: email
        due_date:
          type: string
          format: date-time
        callback_url:
          type: string
          format: uri
        success_redirect_url:
          type: string
          format: uri
        fail_redirect_url:
          type: string
          format: uri
        payment_option_code:
          type: string
        language_code:
          type: string
          example: en
    ExpressCheckoutResponse:
      type: object
      properties:
        status_code:
          type: integer
        status_description:
          type: string
        checkout_request_id:
          type: string
        long_url:
          type: string
          format: uri
        short_url:
          type: string
          format: uri
    CustomCheckoutRequest:
      allOf:
        - $ref: '#/components/schemas/ExpressCheckoutRequest'
        - type: object
          properties:
            payer_client_code:
              type: string
            payer_mode:
              type: string
              enum: [MOBILE, BANK, CARD]
    CustomCheckoutResponse:
      type: object
      properties:
        status_code:
          type: integer
        checkout_request_id:
          type: string
        merchant_transaction_id:
          type: string
    ChargeRequest:
      type: object
      required: [checkout_request_id, payment_option_code, msisdn]
      properties:
        checkout_request_id:
          type: string
        merchant_transaction_id:
          type: string
        service_code:
          type: string
        payment_option_code:
          type: string
        msisdn:
          type: string
        amount:
          type: number
          format: double
        currency_code:
          type: string
    ChargeResponse:
      type: object
      properties:
        status_code:
          type: integer
        status_description:
          type: string
        cpg_transaction_id:
          type: string
    StatusResponse:
      type: object
      properties:
        checkout_request_id:
          type: string
        merchant_transaction_id:
          type: string
        request_status_code:
          type: string
        request_status_description:
          type: string
        request_amount:
          type: number
          format: double
        payments:
          type: array
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Payment'
        failed_payments:
          type: array
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Payment'
    Payment:
      type: object
      properties:
        cpg_transaction_id:
          type: string
        payer_transaction_id:
          type: string
        customer_name:
          type: string
        msisdn:
          type: string
        amount_paid:
          type: number
          format: double
        currency_code:
          type: string
        payment_mode:
          type: string
        hub_overall_status:
          type: string
        payment_status:
          type: string
    AcknowledgementRequest:
      type: object
      required: [acknowledgement_type, acknowledgment_reference, merchant_transaction_id, service_code, status_code, currency_code]
      properties:
        acknowledgement_amount:
          type: number
          format: double
          description: Required when acknowledgement_type is Partial.
        acknowledgement_type:
          type: string
          enum: [Full, Partial]
        acknowledgement_narration:
          type: string
        acknowledgment_reference:
          type: string
        merchant_transaction_id:
          type: string
        service_code:
          type: string
        status_code:
          type: integer
          description: 183 = successful, 180 = rejected, 188 = received, will be acknowledged later.
        currency_code:
          type: string
    AcknowledgementResponse:
      type: object
      properties:
        status_code:
          type: integer
        status_description:
          type: string
    Error:
      type: object
      properties:
        status_code:
          type: integer
        status_description:
          type: string
        errors:
          type: array
          items:
            type: object
            properties:
              code:
                type: string
              message:
                type: string
  examples:
    TokenRequestExample:
      summary: OAuth token request
      value:
        grant_type: client_credentials
        client_id: 1234567890abcdef
        client_secret: clsec_abcdefghijklmnopqr
    TokenResponseExample:
      summary: OAuth token response
      value:
        access_token: eyJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9...
        token_type: Bearer
        expires_in: 3599
    ExpressCheckoutRequestExample:
      summary: Create express checkout for KES 1500
      value:
        merchant_transaction_id: MX-2026-05-24-0001
        service_code: TINGGSVC001
        country_code: KE
        currency_code: KES
        request_amount: 1500
        request_description: Order #42 — Premium subscription
        account_number: ACC-42
        msisdn: '254712345678'
        customer_first_name: Wanjiru
        customer_last_name: Mwangi
        customer_email: [email protected]
        callback_url: https://merchant.example.co.ke/tingg/ipn
        success_redirect_url: https://merchant.example.co.ke/checkout/success
        fail_redirect_url: https://merchant.example.co.ke/checkout/failed
        language_code: en
    ExpressCheckoutResponseExample:
      summary: Express checkout created
      value:
        status_code: 200
        status_description: Successful
        checkout_request_id: '99887766'
        short_url: https://online.tingg.africa/checkout/Abc12
        long_url: https://online.tingg.africa/checkout/express?accessKey=abcdef1234567890...
    AcknowledgementRequestExample:
      summary: Acknowledge a successful payment
      value:
        acknowledgement_type: Full
        acknowledgement_narration: Goods delivered
        acknowledgment_reference: ACK-001
        merchant_transaction_id: MX-2026-05-24-0001
        service_code: TINGGSVC001
        status_code: 183
        currency_code: KES