Why is my domain pending verification?

This article explains the Pending verification status that some new domains get on the Pay as you go plan, and how to get the domain approved.

Symptoms

• The domain shows Pending verification in Email API›Domains, with a banner: “This domain is waiting for a manual review.”
• SPF, DKIM and the return path may all show OK, yet you can’t send from the domain.
• The API returns verification_status: "pending_review" for the domain.

Cause

Newly registered domains are often used for spam and phishing, so Emailit checks a domain’s age before it can send. On Pay as you go, a domain registered less than 30 days ago, according to WHOIS, goes to a manual review by the Emailit team.

• The age check uses the registration date of the root domain. A subdomain such as mail.acme.com counts as old if acme.com is old.
• Pro and Business skip the age check. Domains on those plans are verified as soon as the DNS records pass.
• Approval is permanent. Once Emailit approves a domain, later DNS problems only stop sending until you fix them. They don’t restart the review.

Fix

1. Finish the DNS setup. Make sure SPF, DKIM and the return path all show OK. A domain with broken DNS can’t send even after approval. See Why are my DNS records not verifying?.

2. Request production access at the same time. A new workspace also needs production access before it can send to anyone outside the workspace. In Workspace›Settings, open Requests and submit Request Workspace Verification. See Production access.

3. Wait for the review, or ask about it. The domain switches to Verified once Emailit approves it. If you need it sooner, contact support with the domain name and what you plan to send.

4. Or upgrade. Moving to Pro or Business removes the age check. Select Check DNS after upgrading. The domain is verified as soon as the records pass. See Plans.

5. Or use an older domain. If you own a domain that’s more than 30 days old, you can verify it, or a subdomain of it, right away.

Learn how verification works in Domain verification and see plan limits in Domain limits.

Still stuck?

Contact support or ask in Discord with the domain name and your workspace name.