Authorisation and capture

Authorisation is the step in which the customer's bank confirms that a card is valid and the amount is available; that amount is then reserved. Only at capture is it actually charged. In Shopify Payments you have 7 days to capture an authorised payment. Read more about the full payment process in our guide to Shopify payments.

In short

Authorisation reserves the amount, capture charges it.

Settlement is the clearing between the banks; your payout follows after that.

Shopify Payments gives you 7 days to capture; on Plus that can be up to 30 days for some cards.

If you capture manually after 7 days with an extended authorisation, you pay an extra 1.75%.

What is the difference between authorisation and capture?

During authorisation the customer's bank checks the card, the balance and often the customer's identity via 3D Secure. The amount is blocked but not yet transferred. The authorised amount is the maximum you can collect later. At capture you actually submit the payment for processing, and only then does the money head towards your payout. A pre-authorisation is the same reservation without immediate capture, as with a hotel or car rental.

Capture options in Shopify

Automatically at checkout (default): the customer is charged straight away.

Automatically when the entire order is fulfilled: capture as soon as the whole order has shipped, within the authorisation period.

Per fulfilment (Shopify Plus only): items are charged as they ship.

Manually: you capture yourself, in full or in part, within the period.

How long does an authorisation stay valid?

In Shopify Payments, 7 days. On Plus an extended authorisation is possible, depending on the card:

If you capture manually after the standard 7-day period, Shopify charges an extra 1.75% on top of the normal rate (checked in October 2026). Once an authorisation expires, you can no longer collect that amount. A cancelled reservation can remain visible on the customer's statement for up to 30 days.

After capture: settlement and payout

Settlement is the clearing between the banks. After capture the acquirer batches the payments, the payment scheme settles them with the issuers and the money arrives at your payment provider. Only then can your provider pay it out. In Shopify Payments you see this as a payment that is pending first and then lands in a payout. In Belgium and the Netherlands that takes at least 3 business days. With a new account or a higher risk, Shopify can hold a payout for longer.

Example in a Shopify context

A Belgian furniture store sells made-to-order pieces with a three-week lead time. If the brand chooses capture on fulfilment, the authorisation expires long before delivery. Better options are capturing immediately or, on Plus, taking a deposit through a draft order. How refunds work after that is covered in refunds in Shopify; when the money reaches your account, in payouts in Shopify Payments.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between authorisation and capture?

Authorisation reserves the amount on the customer's card. Capture actually charges it and sets the payment in motion.

How long does an authorisation stay valid on Shopify?

In Shopify Payments, 7 days. On Shopify Plus an extended authorisation for Visa, Mastercard and American Express can run up to 30 days.

What happens when an authorisation expires?

You can no longer collect the amount. Shopify recommends cancelling the order and creating a new one.

What is a pre-authorisation?

A reservation of an amount on a card without an immediate charge, which is later collected or released.

What is settlement in a payment?

The clearing between the banks after capture. Only after settlement can your payment provider pay the money out to you.