How long does an authorization last?

The validity period of an authorization varies depending on the card scheme (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc.) and sometimes the Merchant Category Code (MCC) of your business (e.g., hotels often have longer authorization periods).

Adyen generally expires (pre-)authorization requests automatically after 28 days from the day the payment is authorized. However, this can vary significantly, below some common examples:

• American Express: Typically 7 days.
• Visa: Can range from 5 days for standard transactions to 30 days for pre-authorizations in specific categories like lodging or vehicle rental.
• Diners: Can range from 7 days to 30 days, with lodging generally falling into the 30-day category.