Why Most Requests Get Denied
AWS SES sandbox restrictions exist to protect their email infrastructure's reputation. Getting out requires proving you understand email deliverability — not just that you have a legitimate business.
While AWS documentation calls email authentication "strongly recommended," community reports indicate that requests without SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configured are frequently denied. Set up your DNS records before submitting.
Pre-Request Readiness Checklist
Complete every required item before submitting. Your progress is saved automatically. Each checkbox you complete increases your approval likelihood.
Are You Ready to Submit?
Walk through this decision tree to confirm you've completed the critical steps. If you hit a "Stop" node, complete that step first.
DNS Configuration
Your DNS records are the foundation of email authentication. Here's exactly what you need.
Add this TXT record to your MAIL FROM subdomain (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com):
v=spf1 include:amazonses.com ~all
Request Template Builder
Fill in your details to generate a comprehensive production access request. The template includes all the sections AWS reviewers look for.
We operate [Company Name] at [website URL], a software platform requiring Amazon SES for transactional email communications. EMAIL USE CASE AND TYPES [Describe the specific types of emails you send, e.g.: - Account verification emails when users sign up - Password reset emails triggered by user requests - Order confirmations after purchases - Shipping notifications when orders are dispatched] These emails are not marketing communications—they are triggered by specific user actions and are essential to our service operation. TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION Our domain is fully verified with Easy DKIM enabled (all 3 CNAME records verified). We have configured a custom MAIL FROM domain with proper SPF alignment. Our DMARC policy is published and actively monitored. We have configured Amazon SNS topics for both bounce and complaint notifications: - Bounce notifications trigger automatic removal of the failed address from our active sending list - Complaint notifications result in immediate suppression of the complainant's address CONSENT AND OPT-IN MECHANISM [Explain how users consent to receive emails: - Users provide their email during account registration - Checkbox confirming acceptance of Terms of Service and Privacy Policy - Double opt-in confirmation for marketing communications] VOLUME ESTIMATES Current sending volume: [X] emails per day Projected volume (6 months): [Y] emails per day Our sending pattern is gradual and event-driven, not bulk blasts. Volume increases correlate with organic user growth. BOUNCE AND COMPLAINT HANDLING Bounce handling: Our system receives SNS notifications for bounced emails. Hard bounces are immediately and permanently suppressed—these addresses are never retried. Soft bounces are retried up to 3 times with exponential backoff before being suppressed. Complaint handling: Any complaint results in immediate removal from all future communications. We manually review each complaint to identify potential issues with our email content or targeting. UNSUBSCRIBE PROCESS As these are transactional emails essential to service operation, users manage their notification preferences through their account settings. Users can disable non-essential notifications while still receiving critical account and security emails. We are committed to maintaining excellent deliverability and sender reputation. We understand that our use of SES reflects on all SES customers, and we take this responsibility seriously.
Copy the generated text and paste it into the "Use case description" field in the SES console. Don't be afraid to make it longer — detailed requests dramatically outperform brief ones.
After You Submit
Here's what to expect once you hit submit.
0-24 Hours: Initial Review
AWS Trust & Safety reviews your request. Most responses come within 24 hours during business days.
Response: Approved or Follow-up
You'll either get production access or receive questions/denial. Follow-up questions are actually a good sign — they're engaging with your request.
If Approved: Gradual Increase
Start with your approved quota. AWS automatically increases limits as you demonstrate good sending practices.
Denied? Here's What to Do
First-time denial is so common it's almost expected. Here's how to recover.
AWS sends a vague response: "We reviewed your request and determined that your use of Amazon SES could have a negative impact on our service." This tells you nothing — don't take it personally.
- • Previous ESP invoices (SendGrid, Mailgun, etc.)
- • Social media presence with engaged following
- • Press coverage or customer testimonials
- • Screenshots of your email setup
Common Mistakes That Trigger Denial
"I want to send transactional emails to my users" is not enough. Explain exactly what triggers each email, how users opt in, and what content they contain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Additional Resources
Skip the sandbox nightmare entirely
Wraps CLI deploys production-ready email infrastructure to your AWS account in one command. DNS records, bounce handling, reputation monitoring — all handled.