AWS SES: How to Resolve Production Access Denial

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If you’re trying to get Amazon SES (Simple Email Service) production access and your request gets denied, don’t worry. Amazon often rejects applications due to a few common reasons, like not providing enough details about your email use, not showing a good sending history, concerns about spam or abuse, or missing compliance with their policies.

Here’s a straightforward way to improve your application and increase your chances of approval:

Start by clearly explaining what you’ll use SES for. Be specific and professional. For example, say you operate a video platform that sends transactional emails such as account verification, password resets, and notifications. Be sure to mention your expected email volume per day—like around 100 emails—and confirm you’re not sending marketing or promotional bulk emails.

Next, demonstrate how you ensure your emails are sent responsibly. Explain your email hygiene practices. For example, mention you use CAPTCHA or email verification steps before sending emails, implement rate limiting to prevent spamming, and regularly handle bounced messages and complaints. If you use any email validation tools, like ZeroBounce or Kickbox, mention them as well.

Show that you’re following all necessary rules and regulations. Confirm that your email activities comply with AWS’s Acceptable Use Policy and Service Terms. Also, state that you meet regulations like CAN-SPAM, GDPR, or other relevant laws to reassure Amazon that your emails are legitimate.

Providing supporting documents can further strengthen your case. Include screenshots of your email templates, making sure they’re only transactional. Share sample user flows that explain when and why your emails are sent. Link to your privacy policy and terms of service, and verify your domain ownership by including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.

It’s also important to use a professional, verified domain rather than free email services like Gmail or Yahoo. Having your own domain (like yourcompany.com) with correct DNS records shows that you’re genuine and committed to good email practices.

When you’re ready to resubmit your application, visit the official AWS SES documentation page for production access requests. Fill out the form carefully, incorporating all the information mentioned above to improve your chances of approval.