---
description: Visa response code 10 means the issuer approved a partial amount due to insufficient funds. Learn how to handle split tender and avoid auth retry errors.
title: Visa Response Code 10 (Partial Approval)
image: https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,height=630,quality=85,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.smartretry.com%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Fog-image.0z0q4_5kazzzo.jpeg
---

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![Visa](https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=96,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.smartretry.com%2Fpayment-providers%2Flogos%2Fvisa.svg)

Visa

# Visa Issuer Response Code 10: Approved, partial

soft decline

Last updated: September 25, 2026

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Table of Contents

## About 10 \- "Approved, partial"

## Key details

Brand

![Visa](https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=256,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.smartretry.com%2Fpayment-providers%2Flogos%2Fvisa.svg)

Code

10

Category

Issuer Response Codes

Response

10

Detailed Response

Approved, partial

soft decline

## What it means

Visa issuer response code 10 indicates a partial approval rather than a conventional decline. It occurs when a card's available balance is insufficient to cover the full purchase, but the merchant's payment request indicated support for partial authorizations. The issuer approves the remaining available balance on the card, requiring the merchant to collect the difference using another payment method.

## Classification & retryability

softRetryable: conditional

Do not retry the original authorization for the full amount, as the issuer has already approved the maximum available balance. Instead, initiate a separate transaction for the remaining balance using a new, alternative payment method provided by the customer.

## Why does code 10 occur?

* The cardholder's available balance is less than the total requested transaction amount.
* The merchant system successfully flagged the transaction as supporting partial authorizations via the Partial Authorization Indicator (Field 60.10).

## How to solve 10?

Calculate the remaining balance by subtracting the partially approved amount (returned in Field 4) from the originally requested amount (returned in Field 54). Prompt the customer to provide an alternative payment method to cover the outstanding balance. If the customer completes this split-tender checkout, clear only the partially approved amount against the original card. If the customer abandons the transaction or cannot provide another payment method, you must send an authorization reversal to release the partially approved funds.

### Solving as a merchant

Ensure your checkout flow or stand-alone terminals correctly support split-tender transactions before sending the Partial Authorization Indicator. Train cashiers or update your e-commerce UI to clearly communicate the partially approved amount and the remaining balance due to the customer. Always reverse the partial authorization if the customer chooses to cancel the order.

### Solving as a customer

Review the partially approved amount and provide a secondary payment method, such as another credit card, to cover the remaining balance. Alternatively, choose to cancel the transaction, which will prompt the merchant to reverse the partial charge and release the held funds.

💡Tip from SmartRetry Never re-attempt the full transaction amount against the same card, as this repeatedly locks up cardholder balance without completing the sale. Instead, automate an immediate authorization reversal if a secondary payment method isn't secured within a strict checkout session window.

[See the full list of Visa's decline codes \>](/payment-providers/visa#statuses)[Find code on Visa's website \>](https://developer.visa.com/request%5Fresponse%5Fcodes/)

### Frequently asked questions about this topic

Can I retry a Visa code 10 to get the full amount?

No. Code 10 means the issuer has already approved the maximum available balance on the card. Attempting to retry the full amount will likely result in an insufficient funds decline.

What happens if the customer cancels after a partial approval?

If the customer cannot or will not provide a secondary payment method for the remaining balance, you must submit an authorization reversal to release the partially approved funds back to the cardholder.

How do I know how much was approved in a code 10 response?

The issuer returns the newly approved partial amount in Field 4 of the authorization response, while your originally requested amount is returned in Field 54.

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Author

##### Kyle Regacho

[![LinkedIn](https://cdn.smartretry.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=32,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.smartretry.com%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Flinkedin.09sdc8tnlrn4a.svg)Find me on Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdregacho/)

Focused on payment recovery, decline codes, and authorization optimization at SmartRetry. Helps payment teams turn failed transactions into recovered revenue

[Read all articles >](/authors/kyle-regacho)

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