Guide 10 / Grading companies · 7 minute read · Requirements checked 31 August 2026

Quick answer: TAG grades licensed standard-size cards from 1989 onward, up to 50pt thick, and eligibility also depends on the game and language: German-language Pokémon, for example, was not accepted when this guide was checked. TAG's DIG (Digital Imaging and Grading) report is viewable online via the slab's code, but features such as the 1,000-point TAG Score and DIG+ differ by service. Check eligibility first, reporting second, packing third.

TAG's digital reports can be appealing to collectors who want to examine a grading result in more detail. Before choosing a service, however, check whether the exact card is eligible and which reporting features the order includes.

Availability checked 31 August 2026: TAG's live site flagged regular tiers as paused and pointed to limited Priority availability. Its backlog tracker described limited submission releases rather than unrestricted access. Check the current pricing and capacity pages before purchasing or dispatching.

Step 1: Pass the TAG eligibility check first

TAG's published baseline covers licensed standard-size cards from 1989 onward, with limits on thickness and materials. The familiar size is 2.5 × 3.5 inches, and its published maximum stock thickness is 50 points. Being recent or valuable does not make a card eligible.

Use TAG's current eligibility page for the exact game, language and release. It lists exclusions including Yu-Gi-Oh!, metal cards, memorabilia cards and various non-standard formats. Do not force a smaller card into a standard holder and assume that resolves eligibility.

When a product is close to a thickness limit or has an unusual construction, ask TAG before purchasing the service. Do not clamp or compress a card to obtain a measurement.

Language is part of the card's identity

The current chart accepts Pokémon in English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, but not German. It also distinguishes languages across other games; for example, Japanese One Piece is listed, while Japanese Weiss Schwarz is not. Consult the full current chart rather than extrapolating from one accepted language.

For a European collection, this check should happen before you spend time preparing a mixed-language order. If TAG's older help text and the live eligibility chart appear inconsistent for a particular release, obtain written clarification.

Autographs and existing slabs need separate checks

TAG's eligibility guidance distinguishes manufacturer-certified autographs from signatures obtained in person, which it does not authenticate through ordinary grading. It also says cards already encapsulated by another grading company are not accepted as enclosed crossover submissions. That is not a reason to crack a valuable holder at home without a considered plan.

Step 2: Understand the TAG DIG report you are buying

DIG stands for Digital Imaging and Grading. TAG's report is accessible online through the slab's code. A regular report, TAG Score and DIG+ should not be treated as identical products.

In particular, do not advertise every TAG card as carrying a full 1,000-point overall score and all detailed subscores. TAG's service documentation distinguishes those features and the tiers or upgrades that provide them. Ask yourself:

  • Do you want the standard grade and an explanation of significant issues?
  • Do you also want an overall TAG Score?
  • Do you want the more detailed metrics and annotations associated with DIG+?
  • Are the extra features worth the price for this particular card?

A more detailed report can help you inspect the explanation. It is not proof that any assessment system is incapable of error.

Step 3: Price the whole submission

Confirm the current service is open, the card qualifies and the reporting option matches your objective. Include grading, optional services, supplies or a kit, both shipping legs, appropriate coverage and any international costs. For resale, compare realistic sale evidence for the exact TAG designation and card; do not substitute a different grader's top-label sale.

Step 4: Create the order and complete card entry

TAG's process includes purchasing a submission and completing the card-identification stage in its order portal. Payment alone is not proof that all required card details have been completed.

Prepare the identity information in advance: set, release, number, name, language, variant and any serial number. Keep your own list and photographs, and maintain the same sequence in the order, the prepared holders and the packing record.

Step 5: Choose kit or self-packed submission

TAG offers an optional submission-kit service with its own equipment and instructions. TAG describes its SafeCase kit service as a one-time submission process rather than a case returned for you to keep. The kit's easy-pull sleeves belong to that specific workflow; their use does not establish that every third-party pull-tab sleeve is approved, and it does not change the rules of PSA or another grader.

For self-packing, TAG currently calls for soft sleeves and semi-rigid holders measuring 3 5/16 × 4 7/8 inches. Its guidance excludes toploaders, magnetic and screw-down holders, and sealing individual holders with tape or stickers. Check that the sleeve and holder fit without force.

Step 6: Inspect, prepare and reconcile

Complete a physical inspection before the final transfer. Use clean, dry hands, a clean work area and one exposed card at a time. Do not rub, polish or press the card. Before sealing, verify that every card in the box is eligible, listed and purchased under the intended service.

Step 7: Ship and keep the evidence

Use the current TAG instructions or the specific kit directions, including the correct address, paperwork and outer protection. Check transit coverage and any international documentation independently of the grading order. See our shipping guide.

Step 8: Use the report as part of the return check

Match the physical card, slab, certificate and digital report. Confirm the identity and grade designation before relying on a saved screenshot or sharing a sales listing. For an apparent discrepancy, retain the holder and shipping materials and contact TAG through its current process.

Frequently asked questions

Can I submit German Pokémon cards to TAG?

Not under the language eligibility shown when this guide was checked. Use the live chart before ordering because eligibility can change.

Does every TAG slab include a 1,000-point overall score?

No. Reporting differs by service and result. Confirm the features of the specific order rather than assuming every TAG report is DIG+.

Can I use a TAG packing method for PSA?

No automatic equivalence should be assumed. A pull-sleeve feature allowed in one workflow does not override another grader's prohibition.

How thick can a card be for TAG grading?

TAG's published maximum stock thickness is 50 points. Ask TAG before ordering if a card is close to that limit.

Eligibility first, reporting second, packing third

That order avoids spending money on an unsuitable service or preparing cards that cannot be accepted. Once those decisions are resolved, keep the handling and inventory routine simple and consistent.

Related guides

Sources and current requirements

Requirements checked 31 August 2026. Use the current official instructions for the service and route you select. Sources: TAG - Current Pricing and Service Availability; TAG - Backlog Tracker and Capacity Updates; TAG - What Can I Grade with TAG?; TAG - Currently Grading; TAG - DIG Report; TAG - Available Grading Services; TAG - Steps of the Grading Process; TAG - Submission Kit Service; TAG - Mailing Cards Without a Submission Kit.

Grade Saver Pro is the grading sub-brand of Saver Pro and is independent of TAG. This is educational guidance, not a grading service or a promise of a result. No grading-company endorsement is implied.