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Partial Authorizations — Participation Update (Visa)
Visa updated its Partial Authorization Participation Guidelines effective April 13, 2024, requiring merchants in specified MCCs to support partial authorizations. This article explains the affected MCCs, merchant responsibilities, and recommended next steps.
Overview
A partial authorization occurs when an issuer authorizes only a portion of a transaction because the cardholder’s available balance or credit is insufficient for the full amount. The issuer returns the approved amount (the partial authorization), and the merchant must collect the remaining balance by requesting an alternate payment method or completing a split-tender transaction.
Visa revised its Partial Authorization Participation Guidelines—effective April 13, 2024—to mandate compliance for certain merchant categories. Merchants in those categories must ensure they can accept and process partial authorizations according to Visa’s requirements.
| Partial Authorization Service – Required Merchant Participation | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Region / Country | Required Merchants (MCCs) | Product Type Supported | Environment |
| Europe | 5542 — Automated Fuel Dispensers | All Products |
Card-Present Card-Absent |
| LAC |
4121 — Taxicabs and Limousines 5399 — Miscellaneous General Merchandise 5411 — Grocery Stores and Supermarkets 5499 — Miscellaneous Food Stores 5541 — Service Stations 5542 — Automated Fuel Dispensers 5552 — Electric Vehicle Charging 5812 — Eating Places and Restaurants 5814 — Fast Food Restaurants 5912 — Drug Stores and Pharmacies 5999 — Miscellaneous and Specialty Retail Stores |
Debit Card Prepaid Card |
Card-Present Card-Absent |
| United States | 5542 — Automated Fuel Dispensers | All Products |
Card-Present Card-Absent |
|
Effective Date: 18 October 2025 Reference: Visa Product and Service Rules, Section 7.3.9.4 (Edition: Oct 2025 | Last Updated: Oct 2024) |
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Merchant / customer view — what you see at the POS
Scenario: Customer attempts a $45.50 purchase, card has only $30.00 available.
How the terminal typically presents it
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A single message on the terminal/POS such as:
“APPROVED — PARTIAL $30.00. REMAINING $15.50. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PAYMENT.” -
The terminal shows the approved amount (what the issuer will cover) and the remaining amount the customer must pay by another tender (second card, cash, gift card, or split-tender).
-
The POS will then prompt the clerk/customer to select an alternate payment method for the remainder.
Receipt example (merchant or customer copy)
AUTH CODE: A12345 AUTHORIZED: $30.00 (Partial Authorization) REMAINING BALANCE: $15.50 TOTAL PURCHASE: $45.50 NOTE: Please collect remaining $15.50 using another payment method.
Some POS systems print a line like “PARTIAL AUTH — APPROVED $30.00 — REMAINING $15.50” on the receipt.
Clerk workflow
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Ring the full sale ($45.50).
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Terminal returns partial approval and displays approved amount ($30.00).
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Clerk selects “accept remaining payment” → collect additional tender(s).
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Finalize sale (capture approved amount + capture any additional tenders separately or as multiple captures per processor rules).