Payments Canada has released the Real-Time Rail (RTR) sandbox API environment, giving developers, vendors and prospective RTR participants access to test data and tools to build, test and visualize integrations before the real-time payments system’s official launch. The sandbox is positioned as an open testing environment with published documentation intended to act as a single source of truth, enabling safe experimentation with RTR API functionality and supporting smoother onboarding at go-live. Payments Canada reiterated that the RTR is intended to enable real-time, irrevocable account-to-account funds transfers and support faster payments 24/7/365. RTR API specifications are designed with ISO 20022 in mind, supported by RTR-specific ISO 20022 message specifications to help participants and vendors update applications for enhanced remittance data, improved transparency and global interoperability. Developers, vendors and prospective participants are invited to register on Payments Canada’s developer portal to begin using the sandbox APIs and prepare for the RTR launch.