---
title: When does an exchange need a broker's approval? | Pairc Goodman
description: Which exchanges wait for a broker, and what members see while they wait.
canonical: https://pairc-goodman.com/help/brokers/broker_exchanges/broker_exchange_when_approval
generated: 2026-10-24T02:10:48.942Z
---Exchanges and listings

# When does an exchange need a broker's approval?

Which exchanges wait for a broker, and what members see while they wait.

---

An exchange is an agreement between two members to swap time. In some communities a broker must approve an exchange before it can go ahead.

## How it works

1. A member asks to swap time with another member, usually from a listing.
2. The other member accepts.
3. At that point the site checks whether a broker needs to approve it.
4. If so, the exchange waits in Exchanges with the status Pending Broker Approval. Brokers and admins get a notification.

## What decides it

- Safeguarding. If either member chose a safeguarding option that needs broker approval, their exchanges always wait for a broker.
- Your community's rules. An admin can turn on Broker approval required in Configuration. With only that setting on, every exchange waits for a broker.
- Low-risk exchanges. If an admin also turns on Auto-approve low-risk exchanges, most exchanges go ahead without a broker.

Even with auto-approve on, a broker is still needed when:

- the listing has a High or Critical risk tag
- the listing's risk tag says Broker approval required
- the hours are above Max hours without approval

## What members see

While they wait, both members see that the exchange is waiting for a broker. Nothing else happens until a broker approves or rejects it. Please deal with waiting exchanges promptly, because the members cannot start until you do.

[Go to this page](/broker/exchanges)

## More guides in this topic

[How do I approve or reject an exchange?](/help/brokers/broker_exchanges/broker_approve_exchange) [Understanding the Exchanges list](/help/brokers/broker_exchanges/broker_exchange_list) [What can I do when an exchange goes wrong?](/help/brokers/broker_exchanges/broker_exchange_problems) [What is the Match Approvals page?](/help/brokers/broker_exchanges/broker_match_approvals) [Tagging a listing that needs extra care](/help/brokers/broker_exchanges/broker_risk_tags) [Recording insurance certificates](/help/brokers/broker_exchanges/broker_insurance)

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