# Create and confirm a withdrawal

Prepare a retry-safe withdrawal, then confirm it to begin execution.

Product: Account API
Guides follow API reference 0.3.0 and event reference 0.2.0.
Canonical page: https://docs.axiym.io/account-api/integration-guide/create-a-withdrawal

## Before submitting

Confirm that the source account and address book entry are active,
compatible, and belong to the authenticated organization. Confirm sufficient
balance for `sourceAmount`, in the source account currency. The fee is deducted
from `sourceAmount`; the recipient receives `destinationAmount`, equal to
`sourceAmount` less `fee`.

## Create the instruction

Call `POST /withdrawals` with `sourceAccountId`, `sourceAmount`, `destinationId`,
and, where needed, `reference` and `externalReference`. Follow the
[API Reference](/account-api/api-reference) for the exact contract.

Include `supportingDocuments` when required by the destination corridor. Each
document contains `documentType`, `name`, and raw file bytes encoded as base64
in `data`, without a data-URL prefix. The response returns document metadata,
not file content.

Use one idempotency key for one withdrawal intent. Persist the key before the
request and reuse it only when retrying the identical operation.

Creation returns the withdrawal in `PENDING_CONFIRMATION` status; it does not
begin execution. Persist the returned `withdrawalId`, initial status, external
reference, request ID, and idempotency key before continuing.

## Confirm the instruction

Review the returned `sourceAccount`, `destination`, `sourceAmount`,
`destinationAmount`, and `fee` against the intended payment. Confirm only
after accepting those details.

Call `POST /withdrawals/{withdrawalId}/confirm` with the identifier returned
by creation. The confirmation has no request body and requires its own
idempotency key. Generate it once for this confirmation and preserve it when
retrying the same request.

The response moves the withdrawal to `PENDING`, which means it is awaiting or
undergoing execution. A successful confirmation is not a completed payment;
continue with [tracking](/account-api/integration-guide/track-a-withdrawal).