Update: Visa delayed the billing of the Extended Authorization Service fee for transactions submitted without the extended authorization indicator to October 2024. Monthly billing begins in October 2024 and includes billing from 25 August 2024 through 24 September 2024. However, the Extended Authorization Service fee for transactions with the extended authorization indicator has been billed and included in invoices since May 2024.
Visa will update their authorization validity and clearing time frames in Table 1 starting 13 April 2024. Further details can be seen in the Table 1 below.
The current region or country-specific maximum time frames in Table 2 will not change.
Visa will also introduce the Extended Authorization Service, giving you the option to extend the authorization of card-not-present (CNP) cardholder-initiated transactions for up to 30 days. Visa will charge a 0.08% Extended Authorization Service Fee for an approved CNP cardholder-initiated authorization request. Japan is currently excluded from this service.
Table 1 – Visa New Authorization and Clearing Time Frames
Transaction Type |
Current Time Frame |
New Maximum Time Frame1 |
CNP cardholder-initiated transactions |
7 calendar days |
10 calendar days2 |
CNP cardholder-initiated transactions with extended authorization indicator |
N/A (new) |
30 calendar days |
Transactions with an estimated authorization for cruise line, lodging and vehicle rental merchants |
31 calendar days |
30 calendar days |
Transactions with an estimated authorization for aircraft, bicycle (including electric scooters), boat, clothing and costume, DVD and video, equipment and tool, furniture, motor home and motorcycle rentals as well as trailer parks and campgrounds |
7 calendar days |
10 calendar days |
All other card-present transactions3 |
Day of Approval Response |
5 calendar days |
All merchant-initiated transactions4 |
Day of Approval Response |
5 calendar days |
Table 2 – Visa Unchanged Region/Country-Specific Maximum Time Frames
Region / Country |
Transaction type |
Maximum Time Frame |
India |
All domestic transactions |
4 calendar days |
Malaysia |
All domestic Automated Fuel Dispenser transactions |
2 calendar days |
Europe (all countries) |
All intraregional contactless transactions |
2 calendar days |
1. Time frames begin on the date of a valid authorization.
2. Does not apply to domestic transactions in Japan, which have a minimum processing time frame of 30 calendar days.
3. Automated Fuel Dispenser preauthorization requests need a completion or reversal message sent two hours from the receipt of an approval response.
4. Includes installment transactions, recurring transactions, advance payment instructions, unscheduled credential-on-file transactions, merchandise returns, and credits.
Updated 15 October 2024 | P2024.1562
Published 15 February 2024 | P2023.2046