---
title: "Approving and declining card requests - Payhawk Help Center"
slug: "approving-and-declining-card-requests"
description: "Approve or decline card requests from your team in the Payhawk mobile app or web portal, and find out who gets notified and which card details you can review."
updated: 2026-10-27T13:55:14Z
published: 2026-10-27T13:55:14Z
canonical: "payhawk.com/approving-and-declining-card-requests"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://payhawk.com/help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Approving and declining card requests

Depending on the [defined workflow](/help/workflow-conditions-and-custom-workflows) at your company, you may be assigned as an approver for card requests submitted by your team members.

## Notes on approving and declining card requests

- Based on the type of defined approval workflow, after you approve a card request, all relevant approvers along the approval workflow will be duly notified.
- Once you've declined a card request, the submitter of the request will be notified with a push notification on their phone and an email. They will also be able to view the reason for your rejecting the card request.
- You will be able to approve requests for new virtual American Express Cards only if your company is based in the US and a connection between the American Express and Payhawk systems has been established.
- Depending on the type of requested card, you'll see different fields in the request.
- Only users included in the approval workflow can see the card request in their **Inbox**, and even Payhawk Administrators will not have access to that card request unless they are part of its approval workflow.

## Accessing submitted card requests

- You can access a card request from your phone or computer from the email request notification you have received.
- Alternatively, open the Payhawk Mobile App on your phone or log in to the [Payhawk Web Portal](https://portal.payhawk.com) on your browser, and access the request from your Payhawk **Inbox**.

## Approving card requests in the Mobile App

To approve a submitted card request from the Payhawk Mobile App:

1. In the Payhawk Mobile App, tap **Inbox**. Alternatively, click on the push notification on your mobile phone.
2. Under **Pending**, select the desired card request by tapping it.
3. Tap **Issue**. [Fill in the required data for issuing the Payhawk card](/help/issuing-physical-cards).

If the card request is for a virtual American Express Card, see the article about [issuing virtual American Express Cards](/help/issuing-virtual-american-express-cards).
4. When finished, tap **Issue card**.

![Payhawk Mobile App Inbox: pending card requests, a single-use card request with the Issue and Reject buttons, and the Issue card screen with the card details, funding source, spending limit and the Issue card button.](https://cdn.payhawk.com/Navigation%20images%20Desi_20261001/card_request_issue_mobile_2.png)

## Declining card requests in the Mobile App

To decline a card request from the Payhawk Mobile App:

1. In the Payhawk Mobile App, go to **Inbox**. Alternatively, click on the push notification on your mobile phone.
2. Select the desired card request and tap **Reject**.
3. In the dialog that opens, under **Note**, enter the reason for declining the request.
4. Tap **Reject**.

![Payhawk Mobile App: a pending single-use card request with the Issue and Reject buttons, and the Decline request screen with a note and the Reject button.](https://cdn.payhawk.com/Navigation%20images%20Desi_20261001/card_request_reject_mobile_2.png)

## Approving card requests in the Web Portal

To approve a card request from the Payhawk Web Portal:

1. In the [Payhawk Web Portal](https://portal.payhawk.com), go to **Inbox** > **Requests to me**.
2. Select the desired request by clicking on it.
3. Click on **Issue***.* [Fill in the required data for issuing the Payhawk card](/help/issuing-physical-cards).

If the card request is for a virtual American Express Card, see the article about [issuing virtual American Express Cards](/help/issuing-virtual-american-express-cards).
4. When finished, click on **Issue card**.

![Payhawk Web Portal Inbox: a pending physical card request opened from Requests to me with the Issue and Decline buttons, and the Issue card panel with the card details, limits, settings and the Issue card button.](https://cdn.payhawk.com/Navigation%20images%20Desi_20261001/card_request_issue_portal_2.png)

## Declining card requests in the Web Portal

To decline a card request from the Payhawk Web Portal:

1. In the [Payhawk Web Portal](https://portal.payhawk.com), go to **Inbox** > **Requests to me**.
2. Select the desired card request and click on **Decline**.
3. In the dialog that opens, under **Note**, enter the reason for declining the request.
4. Click on **Decline**.

![Payhawk Web Portal Inbox: a pending physical card request with the Issue and Decline buttons, and the Decline this request dialog with a note and the Decline button.](https://cdn.payhawk.com/Navigation%20images%20Desi_20261001/card_request_decline_portal.png)

## Useful resources

- [Issuing Payhawk cards](/help/issuing-physical-cards)
- [Issuing virtual American Express Cards](/help/issuing-virtual-american-express-cards)