--- title: Is it possible to have the substitute approve the request before the main approver? description: Learn how to require a substitute’s approval before the regular approver and configure this approval workflow for each leave type. --- [Skip to content](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/is-it-possible-to-have-the-substitute-approve-the-request-before-the-main-approver#main-content) - [English](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/is-it-possible-to-have-the-substitute-approve-the-request-before-the-main-approver) - [German](https://info.absence.io/de/help-center/kann-ich-einstellen-dass-der-vertreter-den-antrag-zuererst-genehmigen-muss) English Show submenu for translations [![Design ohne Titel (2)](https://info.absence.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Design%20ohne%20Titel%20(2).png?width=210&height=44&name=Design%20ohne%20Titel%20(2).png)](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center?hsLang=en) Open main navigation Close main navigation - - [English](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/is-it-possible-to-have-the-substitute-approve-the-request-before-the-main-approver) - [German](https://info.absence.io/de/help-center/kann-ich-einstellen-dass-der-vertreter-den-antrag-zuererst-genehmigen-muss) English Show submenu for translations - [Contact our support](https://1r1be.share.hsforms.com/2cmG1EH3QR-2fjl6Hg3EKhA) [Contact our support](https://1r1be.share.hsforms.com/2cmG1EH3QR-2fjl6Hg3EKhA) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [absence.io Help Center](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center?hsLang=en) 2. [FAQs](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/faqs?hsLang=en) 3. [FAQ - Absence Management](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/faqs?hsLang=en#faq-absence-management) # Is it possible to have the substitute approve the request before the main approver? This feature is currently in beta testing. Interested? Feel free to reach out to us at support@absence.io. Would you like the substitute to confirm first – for example, for the leave type “Vacation” – that they are actually able to take over the coverage during that period before the regular approver reviews the request? That makes sense! You can easily configure this individually for each leave type. Go to: Settings → Leave Types → Approval Policies and set up this logic. Make sure to activate the toggle “Requires approval by selected substitute(s)”. After that, you can define the regular approval step. For this, you can choose either: "Approvers of user's department” (see screenshot), or “normal Approvers from user” if users have individual approvers independent of their department. ![](https://info.absence.io/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/26310880954908-1.png)   Afterwards, you need to assign this approval policy to the corresponding leave type. ![](https://info.absence.io/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/26311074755356-1.png)   Once a user is selected in the field **“Who will cover you during your absence?”** when submitting a leave request, that person will receive an email as well as a notification via the bell icon. Only after the substitute has approved the request (Felix will then receive a confirmation email) will it be forwarded to the user’s regular approver. Before approving, the substitute also has the option to leave a comment (not mandatory). ![](https://info.absence.io/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/26311181459100-1.png)   This comment is currently still visible to everyone as soon as they open the relevant request in the calendar. There, you can also see the current status of the approval process. In another example, the approval by Anna Admin is still pending. Anja Engel, on the other hand, has already left a comment. You can recognize this by the small green comment icon. If you hover over it with your mouse, the comment will be displayed. ![Bildschirmfoto 2026-08-11 um 12.43.51](https://info.absence.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Helpcenter/Bildschirmfoto%202026-08-11%20um%2012.43.51.png?width=670&height=770&name=Bildschirmfoto%202026-08-11%20um%2012.43.51.png)   Your Team at absence.io! - [Getting started](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content) - [absence.io - Shortly explained](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/getting-started?hsLang=en#absence-io-shortly-explained) - [Intro for your Employees](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/getting-started?hsLang=en#intro-for-your-employees) - [Setting up your account](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/getting-started?hsLang=en#setting-up-your-account) - [FAQs](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/faqs?hsLang=en#main-content) - [FAQ - Absence Management](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/faqs?hsLang=en#faq-absence-management) - [FAQ - Time Tracking](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/faqs?hsLang=en#faq-time-tracking) - [FAQ - Integrations](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/faqs?hsLang=en#faq-integrations) - [FAQ - Account Basics](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/faqs?hsLang=en#faq-account-basics) - [Absence Management](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/absence-management?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Absence Management](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/absence-management?hsLang=en#absence-management) - [Time Tracking](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/time-tracking?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Time Tracking](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/time-tracking?hsLang=en#time-tracking) - [Compensation](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/time-tracking?hsLang=en#compensation) - [Digital Personnel File](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/digital-personnel-file?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Digital Employee File](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/digital-personnel-file?hsLang=en#digital-employee-file) - [Expense Management](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/expense-management?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Expense Management for Administrators](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/expense-management?hsLang=en#expense-management-for-administrators) - [Expense Management for User](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/expense-management?hsLang=en#expense-management-for-user) - [FAQ - Expenses](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/expense-management?hsLang=en#faq-expenses) - [Integrations/ API](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/integrations-api?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Slack/ MS Teams](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/integrations-api?hsLang=en#slack-ms-teams) - [API](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/integrations-api?hsLang=en#api) - [Set Up Integrations](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/integrations-api?hsLang=en#set-up-integrations) - [Calendar synchronization: MS365/Google and ICS Links](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/integrations-api?hsLang=en#calendar-synchronization-ms365-google-and-ics-links) - [Data Privacy and Security](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/data-privacy-and-security?hsLang=en#main-content) - [We take care - Data Privacy and Security](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/data-privacy-and-security?hsLang=en#we-take-care-data-privacy-and-security) [![Design ohne Titel (2)](https://info.absence.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Design%20ohne%20Titel%20(2).png?width=200&height=42&name=Design%20ohne%20Titel%20(2).png "Design ohne Titel (2)")](https://www.absence.io/) Support Phone: +49(089) 143 777 477 Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. 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