Also called: Post-Auth, Prior Authorization Capture, Pre-authorization Settlement
What post-authorization is
When your customer pays by card, the issuer can approve the transaction and reserve the approved amount. Post-authorization is the later step where you submit that approved transaction for capture. The reservation is not payment to your business, and approval alone does not put funds in your bank account.
Capture starts the process of collecting the customer's money. Settlement is the later point when funds reach your business bank account. The terms Prior Authorization Capture and Pre-authorization Settlement refer to this later collection step, but capture and settlement are separate events.
An approved card payment is not collected until you capture it, and capture is not the same as settlement.
How capture works
Your payment system can capture a transaction as soon as it is approved or leave it authorized until you are ready to charge the customer. Many systems capture automatically. Businesses that need to confirm fulfillment, a final amount or a risk review can separate authorization from capture.
You generally capture the authorized amount. A smaller capture releases the unused portion of the hold, and collecting more later usually requires a new authorization. Some systems support multiple partial captures when configured for that workflow, so do not assume one approval can be charged repeatedly.
Why capture timing matters
As of 2026, most card authorizations remain valid for about seven days, with the exact window depending on the card network and issuer. If the authorization expires before you capture it, the hold is released and you need a new authorization to collect the payment.
Capture starts settlement, but it is not instant funding. Card settlements typically take 1 to 3 business days. Delayed capture therefore slows cash flow, and a missed authorization deadline can add another payment step for you and your customer.
What you can actually change
Post-authorization does not name a separate card-fee rate. Your practical controls are capture timing, accurate amounts and a clear process for transactions that should not proceed.
- Track authorized transactions that are still awaiting capture, and flag them before the roughly seven-day authorization window closes.
- Capture after fulfillment or final-amount checks when those steps matter, then monitor settlement separately from capture.
- Void an authorization when you will not complete the sale, instead of leaving a hold in place.
- Configure multiple partial captures only when your payment system and sales process require them.
- Monitor pending approvals. Use a daily report to find authorized sales that have not been captured before their approval expires.
- Match capture to fulfillment. Set your workflow so the charge is captured when you know the sale is ready and the amount is correct.
- Clear canceled sales. Void the authorization when the customer will not be charged, then reconcile captured sales against later deposits.
Frequently asked questions
What does post-authorization mean on a card payment?
It means submitting an already approved card transaction for capture. The issuer's approval reserves an amount, while capture starts collection and settlement moves funds to your business bank account.
How long do you have to capture an authorization?
As of 2026, most card authorizations remain valid for about seven days, but the exact window depends on the card network and issuer. If it expires, the hold is released and you need a new authorization to collect the payment.
Is post-authorization the same as a force sale?
No. Post-authorization captures a card transaction that was previously authorized electronically. Post-Authorization (Force Sale) refers to completing a sale after getting authorization by voice, so the starting authorization process is different.