Clearing windows for advanced authorisation
This reference provides detailed information about clearing windows for pre-authorisation and incremental authorisation across different card schemes.
What are clearing windows
A clearing window (also called "authorisation validity period") is the time period during which a payment authorisation remains valid for capture. After this period expires, the authorisation is automatically cancelled and funds are released back to the customer's card. To allow time for clearing processes, always capture at least 24 hours before the window expires.
Clearing windows are relevant across all advanced authorisation features, with different behaviors and durations:
- Capture later: Separates authorisation from capture with a standard 7-day window
- Pre-authorisation: Extends clearing windows up to 30 days (depending on card scheme and Merchant Category Code)
- Incremental authorisation: Increases authorised amounts during service, with different window behaviour per scheme
Understanding clearing windows is essential for ensuring successful payment capture and avoiding expired authorisations.
Mastercard clearing windows
Mastercard provides extended clearing windows for pre-authorisation and supports clearing window extension through incremental authorisation.
Authorisation validity
| Card type | Auth type | MCC | Validity | Extension with increments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mastercard | Final auth | All (except 5542, 5552) | 7 days* | — |
| Mastercard | Pre-auth | All (except 5542, 5552) | 30 days* | Yes, +30 days per increment |
| Maestro | Final auth, Pre-auth | All (except 5542, 5552) | 7 days* | No |
* To allow time for clearing processes, capture at least 24 hours before the window expires.
Clearing window extension
Each successful incremental authorisation extends the clearing window by 30 days from the date of the increment (except for special MCCs 5542 and 5552).
Example progression:
| Action | Amount | Expiry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 0 | Initial pre-authorisation | £100 | Day 30 |
| Day 15 | First increment | £150 | Day 45 |
| Day 35 | Second increment | £200 | Day 65 |
| Before day 65 | Capture | — | — |
Maestro card limitations
Maestro cards only support Card Not Present (CNP) transactions with a 7-day clearing window for all MCCs (except 5542, 5552). Clearing windows do not extend with incremental authorisations.
Visa clearing windows
Visa clearing windows are Merchant Category Code (MCC) dependent and do not extend with incremental authorisations. The clearing window is fixed from the time of initial authorisation.
Authorisation validity
| Card type | Auth type | MCC category | Validity | Extension with increments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | Pre-auth | Cruise (4411) | 30 days* | No |
| Visa | Pre-auth | Lodging (7011, 3500-3999) | 30 days* | No |
| Visa | Pre-auth | Vehicle rental (3300-3499) | 30 days* | No |
| Visa | Pre-auth | Other rentals (see list below) | 10 days* | No |
| Visa | Pre-auth | All other MCCs | 10 days* | No |
| Visa | Incremental auth** | All MCCs | 5 days* | No |
| Vpay | — | — | — | — |
* To allow time for clearing processes, capture at least 24 hours before the window expires.
** All incremental authorisations with Visa cards are treated as Merchant-initiated Transactions (MITs) by the card scheme, which means they have a fixed 5-day clearing window regardless of MCC. This is shorter than the pre-authorisation windows shown above.
Clearing window extension
Unlike Mastercard, Visa clearing windows do NOT extend when you perform incremental authorisations. The clearing window is fixed from the initial authorisation date.
Example (Visa MCC 7011 - Lodging, 30-day window):
| Action | Amount | Expiry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 0 | Initial pre-authorisation | £100 | Day 30 |
| Day 15 | First increment | £150 | Day 30 (no extension) |
| Day 25 | Second increment | £200 | Day 30 (no extension) |
| Before day 30 | Capture | — | — |
MCC category details
30-day clearing window
These MCCs receive the longest Visa clearing window (30 days):
| MCC | Description |
|---|---|
| 4411 | Cruise lines |
| 7011 | Hotels, motels |
| 3500-3999 | Lodging (range) |
| 3300-3499 | Vehicle rental |
10-day clearing window
These rental-related MCCs receive a 10-day window:
| MCC | Description |
|---|---|
| 7999 | Recreational services |
| 4457 | Boat rentals and leases |
| 7296 | Clothing rental (tuxedos, costumes, formal wear) |
| 7841 | Video entertainment rental (DVD, game rentals) |
| 7394 | Equipment rental (tools, party equipment, furniture) |
| 7519 | Motor home and RV rental |
| 7033 | Trailer parks and campgrounds |
5-day clearing window
Default window for most other merchant categories not listed elsewhere.
Key differences between Mastercard and Visa
| Feature | Mastercard | Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Standard pre-auth window | 30 days (most MCCs) | 5-30 days (MCC dependent) |
| Window extension | Yes, +30 days per increment | No, fixed from initial auth |
| MCC dependency | Minimal (except 5542, 5552) | High - determines window length |
| Maestro support | Limited (CNP, 7-day window) | — |
| Vpay support | — | Not supported |
What's next
Explore related guides:
- Advanced authorisation introduction - Overview of advanced features
- Pre-authorisation - Learn how to implement pre-authorisation
- Incremental authorisation - Learn how to increase authorised amounts
API references:
Related resources: