This article explains how to set up a default travel approval process — a catch-all process that applies to all employees who are not assigned to any other specific approval process.

What a default approval process does

The default approval process in Perk applies at account level to any employee who isn't explicitly assigned to another approval process. Once configured, this ensures every traveler has an approval flow — covering those who haven't been assigned to a specific process.

If a traveler is already assigned to a specific approval process, the default process never applies to them.

How Perk selects an approval process

Before setting up a default approval process, keep in mind how Perk determines which process applies to a trip:

• No assigned approval process → No approval needed.
• One or more assigned approval processes → Manual processes are applied first, then automated.

When the default approval process is set, the first behaviour changes:

• No assigned approval process → Default approval process is applied.
• One or more assigned approval processes → Manual processes are applied first, then automated.

Setting up the default approval process

To set up a default approval process for travel:

1. Go to Settings > Travel management > Travel approvals.
2. Click New approval process.
3. Enter a name for the process.
4. Under Who is this approval process for?, select Account. This is what designates the process as the default — it applies to any traveler not already assigned to another process.
   
   
    
5. Under Is approval needed when booking?, select Yes.
6. Under Approval rules, click Request approval.
7. Click select setting and choose which types of bookings require approval. In-policy and out-of-policy rules depend on your travel policies. 
8. To require approval for specific cost objects, select the relevant cost object. You can also add a trip price condition so trips above a specified amount are automatically sent for approval. If additional review is required, add a second-level approver to the approval rule. This extra level of approval is available for Pro accounts only.
9. Under Approvals for changes to booked trips, select one of the options or set up your own rules.
10. Click Create approval process.

Note: There can only be one default approval process. 

How the default process applies to travelers

For example, Alex is assigned to a process that only requires approval when a specific cost object is selected. Alex books a trip without selecting that cost object — the rule doesn't apply, so no approval is needed. The default process doesn't apply either, because Alex is already assigned to a specific process. The default only applies to travelers with no process assigned at all.

For more information, see Travel approval processes in Perk.