Short answer: no. In the United States, Nintendo eShop cards do not expire, and the funds they add to your account balance do not expire either. You can buy a card today and redeem it months from now, and once it's on your account the balance stays there until you spend it.
A US Nintendo eShop card has no printed expiration date. Whether you redeem it the day it arrives or hang onto the code for a future game, it stays valid. That makes eShop cards a safe gift — there's no rush for the recipient to use it.
After you redeem the code, the money becomes part of your Nintendo account balance. It won't evaporate after a set period — it simply waits until your next eShop purchase, whether that's a full game, DLC, or a Switch Online membership.
Don't confuse an eShop card with a Nintendo Switch Online membership card. A membership card grants a fixed term — 3 months or 12 months — and that clock starts when you redeem it (or when your current membership ends). The unredeemed membership card itself doesn't expire, but once active, the membership runs for its term. See our eShop card vs Switch Online guide for the full difference.
Because the code is as good as cash, treat the PDF we email you like a receipt: don't post the code publicly and don't share it until you're ready to redeem. If you ever have trouble, our support team can help.
No deadline, no pressure — buy a Nintendo eShop card now and redeem it whenever you're ready.