# Reserve funds on a wallet > The reservations.create operation: POST /api/v1/wallets/{id}/reservations in the REST API and the reservations_create tool in the MCP server. Holds an amount of a wallet's credits for usage that is about to happen (spec §17.2): taken in spend order (promo credits first, soonest expiry first) and moved to `reserved`, so nothing else can spend them. Capture what was used (`reservations.capture`) or release the hold (`reservations.release`) before `expiresAt` (`ttlSeconds`, at most an hour); after that the funds go back to the wallet by themselves (`reservation.expired`). Answers 402 `insufficient_funds` when the wallet's spendable credits are less than the amount. A frozen or closed wallet takes no reservations. The same `idempotencyKey` (or `Idempotency-Key`) and request returns the same reservation. For thousands of small charges a minute, use leases instead (§17.3). ## At a glance - **REST:** `POST /api/v1/wallets/{id}/reservations` - **MCP tool:** `reservations_create` - **Operation ID:** `reservations.create` - **Scope:** Brand - **Permission:** `wallets:write` - **Risk tier:** `write` - **Dry run:** Supported (send `Ownrecord-Dry-Run: true`) - **Idempotency:** `Idempotency-Key` required - **Modes:** Test and live - **Plan feature:** `usage_billing.enabled` - **Authentication:** API key with the `wallets:write` scope - **Since:** M6 ## Request ### Path parameters | Field | Type | Description | | ----- | ---------- | --------------------- | | `id` | `wal_…` ID | The wallet (`wal_…`). | ### Body A JSON object (`Content-Type: application/json`): | Field | Type | Required | Description | | ----------------- | ------------------- | -------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `amount` | object | Yes | The amount to hold, in the wallet's currency. | | `amount.amount` | string | Yes | Integer micros as a string (5000000 = 5.00). | | `amount.currency` | string | Yes | ISO 4217 currency code: the wallet's currency. | | `ttlSeconds` | integer (1 to 3600) | Yes | How long the hold lasts, 1 to 3600 seconds. | | `metadata` | object | No | Your own key-value pairs (at most 50 keys, values of at most 500 characters). | | `idempotencyKey` | string | No | Unique per wallet: the same key and request returns the same reservation (default: the request's `Idempotency-Key`). | ## Response `201 Created` with a JSON object: | Field | Type | Description | | ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `id` | string | | | `object` | `"reservation"` | | | `brandId` | `brd_…` ID | | | `livemode` | boolean | | | `walletId` | `wal_…` ID | | | `kind` | one of `single`, `lease` | `single` (§17.2) or `lease` (§17.3). | | `status` | one of `active`, `expired_pending`, `captured`, `released`, `expired` | `active`, `captured`, `released`, `expired` (or `expired_pending` for leases). | | `amount` | money | What was reserved. | | `captured` | money | What was captured so far. | | `outstanding` | money | What is still held: `amount − captured` while open, zero once closed. | | `expiresAt` | date-time | | | `closedAt` | date-time or null | | | `idempotencyKey` | string | | | `metadata` | object | | | `createdAt` | date-time | | | `updatedAt` | date-time | | ## Examples ### Hold €3 for five minutes ```http POST /api/v1/wallets/wal_01m4ty7w2a5qx7mhd9k8w6s0b1/reservations Authorization: Bearer or_test_… Idempotency-Key: 3f1c9a52-7d0e-4b8f-9a61-0c2d5e8b7f14 Content-Type: application/json { "amount": { "amount": "3000000", "currency": "EUR" }, "ttlSeconds": 300, "idempotencyKey": "job-8841", "metadata": { "job": "8841" } } ``` Response (`201`): ```json { "id": "res_01m4ty7w2a5qx7mhd9k8w6s0b4", "object": "reservation", "brandId": "brd_01m4tx5nj8emwbyf7y9vcf47x4", "livemode": false, "walletId": "wal_01m4ty7w2a5qx7mhd9k8w6s0b1", "kind": "single", "status": "active", "amount": { "amount": "3000000", "currency": "EUR" }, "captured": { "amount": "0", "currency": "EUR" }, "outstanding": { "amount": "3000000", "currency": "EUR" }, "expiresAt": "2026-10-16T10:20:00.000Z", "closedAt": null, "idempotencyKey": "job-8841", "metadata": { "job": "8841" }, "createdAt": "2026-10-16T10:15:00.000Z", "updatedAt": "2026-10-16T10:15:00.000Z" } ``` ## Errors | Code | HTTP status | When | What to do | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [`validation_failed`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#validation_failed) | 400 | The amount isn't positive, `ttlSeconds` isn't 1 to 3600, or the metadata or idempotency key is malformed. | Fix the fields listed in `details.issues` and send the request again. | | [`resource_not_found`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#resource_not_found) | 404 | This brand has no such wallet in this mode (wallets belong to one brand and one mode). | Check the ID and that your credentials are scoped to the right organization, entity, brand and mode. | | [`insufficient_funds`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#insufficient_funds) | 402 | The wallet's spendable credits (unexpired, not already reserved) are less than the amount (`details.requested`, `details.available`). HTTP 402. | Reserve or capture a smaller amount, or top up the wallet first. `details.requested` and `details.available` are in integer micros. | | [`wallet_fresh_balance_capped`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#wallet_fresh_balance_capped) | 402 | The wallet has the credits, but the brand caps how much of recently bought credits can be used (`details.freeAt`; §20, WP-M9-risk). HTTP 402. | Ask for less now, or wait until `details.freeAt`: the brand caps how much of a fresh balance can be used (`details.cap`, micros) until the credits are `details.untilAgeHours` hours old. | | [`wallet_currency_mismatch`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#wallet_currency_mismatch) | 400 | The amount isn't in the wallet's currency. | Use the wallet for this currency. A customer has one wallet per currency (`details.expected`, `details.actual`). | | [`wallet_frozen`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#wallet_frozen) | 409 | The wallet is frozen: it takes no new reservations. | Unfreeze the wallet (`wallets.update` with `status: active`) once the review is done. Reservations made before the freeze can still be captured or released. | | [`wallet_closed`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#wallet_closed) | 409 | The wallet is closed. | Reopen the wallet with `wallets.update` (`status: active`). A purchase of credits in its currency reopens it, too. | | [`idempotency_key_reused`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#idempotency_key_reused) | 409 | The idempotency key was used before for another request. | Use a new Idempotency-Key for a different request, or resend the original request unchanged. | | [`version_conflict`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#version_conflict) | 409 | The wallet changed at the same moment (another reservation, capture or grant); retry. | Fetch the object again and retry the change. | | [`scope_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#scope_required) | 400 | The request names no brand (an org or entity key without `Ownrecord-Brand`). | Call the operation with credentials or a target at its level: an organization, a legal entity, a brand or the platform (`details.required_scope`). | | [`permission_denied`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#permission_denied) | 403 | You can't change this brand's wallets (`wallets:write`: owners, admins and support). | Ask an organization owner or admin for a role or scope that allows this action. | | [`livemode_not_allowed`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#livemode_not_allowed) | 403 | You have no live-mode access, so you can't use live wallets. | Use test mode, or credentials for the target's mode. Developers need live access granted by an organization owner or admin. | | [`entitlement_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#entitlement_required) | 403 | The organization's plan doesn't include usage billing (`usage_billing.enabled`). | Upgrade the organization's plan, or remove something to get back under the limit. | It can also return these [common errors](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference.md#common-errors): [`api_version_unsupported`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#api_version_unsupported), [`invalid_json`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#invalid_json), [`unsupported_media_type`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#unsupported_media_type), [`authentication_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#authentication_required), [`api_key_invalid`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#api_key_invalid), [`idempotency_key_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#idempotency_key_required), [`idempotency_in_progress`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#idempotency_in_progress), [`approval_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#approval_required), [`approval_rejected`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#approval_rejected), [`approval_expired`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#approval_expired), [`stale_approval`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#stale_approval), [`approval_policy_denied`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#approval_policy_denied), [`rate_limited`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#rate_limited), [`internal_error`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#internal_error).