---
title: "Setting approval workflows for card requests"
slug: "setting-approval-workflows-for-card-requests"
description: "Define approval workflows for employee card requests in Payhawk spend management platform: assign approvers, set thresholds and automate notifications."
updated: 2026-10-27T15:55:39Z
published: 2026-10-27T15:55:39Z
canonical: "payhawk.com/setting-approval-workflows-for-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.

# Setting approval workflows for card requests

[All employees can request new Payhawk cards](/help/submitting-and-canceling-card-requests). The right to approve the request and issue the card, however, needs to be explicitly defined by Payhawk Administrators.

To define the card request workflow in Payhawk:

1. In the [Payhawk Web Portal](https://portal.payhawk.com), go to the **Settings** > **Workflows** > **Card requests** tab.
2. Click on **Edit workflow** next to the desired card type.
3. For the **Approve** step, define the desired approval depending on the [required conditions and custom workflow](/help/workflow-conditions-and-custom-workflows).
4. For the **Issue** step, define the desired approver.

(Optional) If you want to enable the automatic issuance of single-use cards for purchases below a certain amount, switch on the **Auto-issue** toggle and enter the desired amount.

![The Issue panel of a card workflow with Auto-issue switched on for the Payhawk system up to a set amount, and Any administrator issuing everything.](https://cdn.payhawk.com/Help%20desk%20images%20moved/Setting_approval_workflows_for_card_requests_20250429_manual.png)
5. Click on **Save**.
6. Click on **Publish** to apply all the changes you've made.

![Single-use card workflow with a Team manager approval step and an Issue step with auto-issue up to a set amount.](https://cdn.payhawk.com/Help%20desk%20images%20moved/Setting_approval_workflows_for_card_requests_20250508_manual.jpg)

## Useful resources

- [Defining custom approval workflows](/help/workflow-conditions-and-custom-workflows)