This article explains what "Authorized" means, where your funds sit, and what statuses it can update to.
📖 Overview
"Authorized" is an intermediate status meaning the payment has been sent to the merchant and is being processed, but final settlement has not yet occurred.
💸 Where Are My Funds?
During authorization, the amount is temporarily held from your available balance, awaiting the merchant's final settlement or refund. While in this state:
The held funds cannot be used again.
But the funds have not actually left your account.
🔄 What Status Comes Next?
"Authorized" eventually updates to one of two outcomes:
Successful transaction → updates to "Settled"; funds are formally transferred to the merchant.
Refund requested → first updates to "Settled"; once the refund arrives, a separate "Consumption Refund" entry appears in your history.
⏱️ How Long Until It Clears?
Most merchants settle within hours to a few days. However, some merchants may take up to 30 days, including:
Hotels and car rentals (pre-authorization)
Gas stations
Cross-border merchants with batched settlement
It is normal for the status to remain "Authorized" during this window.
🔗 Related Articles
Understanding card transaction statuses
How do I refund a "Settled" transaction?