Payment lifecycle

A payment has two distinct phases:

  • Payment request – represents the intent to make a payment, where required input is captured, validated, and pre-processed
  • Transaction – represents the execution phase, where risk screening and routing occur, a payment system or bank is engaged, and funds are transferred

As the payment progresses through these phases, its status updates until it reaches a terminal state.

Checking the current payment status using the API

Send:
GET /payment-request/{id}

You can also receive status updates through Webhooks

Use the tables below to understand the payment lifecycle statuses.

Payment request statuses

Status

Description

Created

The payment request is recorded but not yet submitted for validation.

Invalid

A terminal state. The request contains errors or is missing required data and cannot proceed.

Initiated

The payment request passed validation (where checks are made for errors or missing data) and was accepted.

InputNeeded

For Payee Choice and Vendor Pay payments only. Waiting for required additional information from the recipient.

UnsuccessfulInput

A terminal state for Payee Choice and Vendor Pay payments only. The recipient did not provide required information.

Pending

The request is valid but queued for processing.

Cancelled

A terminal state. The payment request was cancelled before the transaction was processed.
For more information, see Payment request cancellation reasons.

Transaction statuses

Status

Description

Processing

The transaction is currently being executed.

Succeeded

The transaction completed successfully. For most payment types, funds were paid out.
For postal cheques, the cheque is dispatched.
For eChecks, the email containing a link to the payment was sent.

Failed

A terminal state. An error occurred during processing, and the payment was not completed.

Returned

A terminal state. The transaction succeeded but was later reversed or rejected by the payment system or bank.

For more details on status transitions, delays and recovery, see:


Related information