Payment capture is the process of confirming an authorized payment so the merchant can collect the funds.
In many card payment flows, authorization and capture happen as separate steps. Authorization checks whether the payment can be approved and may place a temporary hold on the customer's funds. Capture confirms that the merchant wants to complete the transaction and move it towards clearing and settlement.
Once the merchant is ready to complete the transaction, it sends a capture request through its payment provider, acquirer, or payment gateway. The captured transaction can then continue through the clearing and settlement process.
Payment capture can happen immediately after authorization or later, depending on the business model and provider setup. For example, an e-commerce merchant may authorize payment at checkout and capture it only after the order is confirmed or shipped.
Immediate capture happens when the payment is captured right after authorization. This is common when the amount is final, and the merchant is ready to complete the sale.
Delayed capture happens when the merchant authorizes the payment first and captures it later. This is useful when the final amount, stock availability, shipment status, booking confirmation, or service outcome needs to be checked before the funds are collected. It is common in e-commerce, travel, hospitality, rentals, subscriptions, and other flows where the merchant may need extra time before completing the transaction.
Partial capture means capturing less than the originally authorized amount. For example, a merchant may authorize a full order amount but capture only the value of items that are available for shipment. The remaining authorized amount may be released, canceled, or handled according to the provider and card network rules.
Partial capture can be useful for split shipments, order adjustments, tips, deposits, or cases where the final charge is lower than the authorized amount.
A capture request can fail if the authorization has expired, the transaction was voided, the capture amount is not allowed, the payment method does not support the requested flow, or the provider returns a technical or processing error.
The allowed capture window and capture rules depend on the payment method, card network, acquirer, issuer, region, transaction type, and provider setup.
If a payment is not captured in time, the authorization hold may expire, and the reserved funds may be released back to the customer’s available balance.
