This guide is for Amazon SES users only. If you're using SendGrid or Mailgun, you don't need this step — those providers don't have sandbox restrictions.

New AWS SES accounts start in sandbox mode with strict sending limits. You'll need production access to send emails at scale.

Sandbox Limitations

Step 1: Open SES Console

1. Go to the Amazon SES Console
2. Check the banner at the top — if you see "Sandbox", you need production access
3. Click Request production access

Step 2: Fill Out the Request

Mail type: Choose based on your use case

• Transactional — Order confirmations, password resets, notifications
• Marketing — Newsletters, promotions, campaigns

Website URL: Enter your live website URL

• Must be accessible and have a privacy policy
• Example: https://yourdomain.com

Use case description: Be specific and professional. Include:

• What types of emails you'll send
• How you collect email addresses (opt-in forms, user registration)
• Your unsubscribe process
• Expected sending volume

Example:

We operate an email marketing platform for our business.
We send transactional emails (welcome emails, password resets)
and marketing campaigns to users who opt-in through our website.
All emails include an unsubscribe link and we honor opt-out
requests immediately. We expect to send approximately 10,000
emails per month initially.

Additional contacts: Add an email for bounce notifications (optional but recommended)

Step 3: Submit and Wait

1. Review your request
2. Click Submit request
3. AWS typically responds within 24-48 hours
4. You'll receive an email with the decision

Tips for Approval

• Have a real website with contact info and privacy policy
• Be specific about your email types and volumes
• Mention opt-in — explain how users consent to receive emails
• Include unsubscribe info — show you respect user preferences
• Start small — request reasonable volumes initially

After Approval

Once approved, you'll see:

• Sandbox banner removed from SES console
• Increased sending limits (starts at 50,000/day)
• Ability to send to any email address

Your limits increase automatically as you build sending reputation. Maintain good practices:

• Keep bounce rate below 5%
• Keep complaint rate below 0.1%
• Use verified domains
• Honor unsubscribe requests immediately

If Rejected

Don't panic — you can reapply. Common reasons for rejection:

• Website not accessible or incomplete
• Vague use case description
• No privacy policy
• New AWS account with no history

Fix the issues mentioned in the rejection email and submit a new request.

Next: Configure Cloud Storage for image hosting in your emails