File Import Timelines (DEF Files)
This article explains how transaction data flows from your card issuer into Visa Commercial Pay's platform and when you can expect it to be available. Understanding these timelines will help you identify genuine issues and avoid raising unnecessary support cases.
Note
What is a DEF file?
A DEF file is a Daily Extract File that the card issuer generates and sends to Visa Commercial Pay on a daily basis. It contains the raw transaction data for all card activity that occurred on that issuer's cards.
The data flow works in three stages:
DEF file received
Processed by Visa Commercial Pay
Statement files available to you
Stage | Expected Time (UTC) |
|---|---|
DEF file received from card issuer | 02:00 – 03:00 |
File processing begins and completes | 10:30 – 11:30 |
Statement files available (AGT / CLI) | After 11:30 |
Note
These times are based on standard business day processing. See the section below on exceptions.
Minor delays of up to 30–60 minutes beyond the windows above are not unusual and do not require action. Your data is likely queued and will appear shortly.
You should only raise a support case if:
No DEF file has been received by 03:30 UTC — this suggests an issue at the issuer end
Processing has not completed by 11:30 UTC — this suggests a platform processing issue
Your statement files (AGT / CLI) have not appeared in Visa Commercial Pay Reporting by 12:30 UTC