# Amazon SQS access control process workflow
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The following diagram describes the general workflow of access control with the Amazon SQS access policy language.

![\[The general workflow of access control with the Amazon SQS access policy language.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSSimpleQueueService/latest/SQSDeveloperGuide/images/AccessPolicyLanguage_Basic_Flow.png)


![\[Figure one in the previous diagram.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSSimpleQueueService/latest/SQSDeveloperGuide/images/number-1-red.png) You write an Amazon SQS policy for your queue.

![\[Figure two in the previous diagram.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSSimpleQueueService/latest/SQSDeveloperGuide/images/number-2-red.png) You upload your policy to AWS. The AWS service provides an API that you use to upload your policies. For example, you use the Amazon SQS `SetQueueAttributes` action to upload a policy for a particular Amazon SQS queue.

![\[Figure three in the previous diagram.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSSimpleQueueService/latest/SQSDeveloperGuide/images/number-3-red.png) Someone sends a request to use your Amazon SQS queue.

![\[Figure four in the previous diagram.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSSimpleQueueService/latest/SQSDeveloperGuide/images/number-4-red.png) Amazon SQS examines all available Amazon SQS policies and determines which ones are applicable.

![\[Figure five in the previous diagram.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSSimpleQueueService/latest/SQSDeveloperGuide/images/number-5-red.png) Amazon SQS evaluates the policies and determines whether the requester is allowed to use your queue.

![\[Figure six in the previous diagram.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSSimpleQueueService/latest/SQSDeveloperGuide/images/number-6-red.png) Based on the policy evaluation result, Amazon SQS either returns an `Access denied` error to the requester or continues to process the request.