diff --git a/frontend/src/views/RequestAccessView.vue b/frontend/src/views/RequestAccessView.vue
index 453e452..8a8df12 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/RequestAccessView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/RequestAccessView.vue
@@ -148,8 +148,9 @@
           Verifying email…
         </div>
 
-        <div v-if="verifyMessage" class="hint mono" style="margin-top: 10px;">
-          {{ verifyMessage }}
+        <div v-if="verifyBanner" class="verify-box">
+          <div class="verify-title mono">{{ verifyBanner.title }}</div>
+          <div class="verify-body">{{ verifyBanner.body }}</div>
         </div>
 
         <div v-if="status === 'pending_email_verification'" class="actions" style="margin-top: 10px;">
@@ -273,7 +274,7 @@ const retrying = ref(false);
 const retryMessage = ref("");
 const resending = ref(false);
 const resendMessage = ref("");
-const verifyMessage = ref("");
+const verifyBanner = ref(null);
 
 function taskPillClass(status) {
   const key = (status || "").trim();
@@ -454,7 +455,7 @@ async function copyRequestCode() {
 async function checkStatus() {
   if (checking.value) return;
   error.value = "";
-  verifyMessage.value = "";
+  verifyBanner.value = null;
   const trimmed = statusForm.request_code.trim();
   if (!trimmed) return;
   if (!trimmed.includes("~")) {
@@ -479,8 +480,13 @@ async function checkStatus() {
     onboardingUrl.value = data.onboarding_url || "";
     tasks.value = Array.isArray(data.tasks) ? data.tasks : [];
     blocked.value = Boolean(data.blocked);
-    if (data.email_verified) {
-      verifyMessage.value = "Email confirmed.";
+    if (data.email_verified && status.value === "pending") {
+      verifyBanner.value = {
+        title: "Email confirmed",
+        body: "Your request is now waiting for manual approval. Check back here after an admin reviews it.",
+      };
+    } else {
+      verifyBanner.value = null;
     }
   } catch (err) {
     error.value = err.message || "Failed to check status";
@@ -533,7 +539,14 @@ async function verifyFromLink(code, token) {
     const data = await resp.json().catch(() => ({}));
     if (!resp.ok) throw new Error(data.error || resp.statusText || `status ${resp.status}`);
     status.value = data.status || status.value;
-    verifyMessage.value = "Email confirmed.";
+    if (status.value === "pending") {
+      verifyBanner.value = {
+        title: "Email confirmed",
+        body: "Your request is now waiting for manual approval. Check back here after an admin reviews it.",
+      };
+    } else {
+      verifyBanner.value = null;
+    }
   } finally {
     verifying.value = false;
   }
@@ -582,8 +595,11 @@ onMounted(async () => {
   if (code) {
     await checkStatus();
   }
-  if (verified) {
-    verifyMessage.value = "Email confirmed.";
+  if (verified && status.value === "pending") {
+    verifyBanner.value = {
+      title: "Email confirmed",
+      body: "Your request is now waiting for manual approval. Check back here after an admin reviews it.",
+    };
   }
   if (verifyError) {
     error.value = `Email verification failed: ${decodeURIComponent(verifyError)}`;
@@ -794,6 +810,28 @@ button.primary:disabled {
 </style>
 
 <style scoped>
+.verify-box {
+  margin-top: 12px;
+  padding: 12px 14px;
+  border: 1px solid rgba(120, 200, 255, 0.35);
+  border-radius: 14px;
+  background: rgba(48, 120, 200, 0.16);
+  display: grid;
+  gap: 4px;
+}
+
+.verify-title {
+  font-size: 12px;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.08em;
+  color: rgba(150, 220, 255, 0.95);
+}
+
+.verify-body {
+  font-size: 13px;
+  color: var(--text);
+}
+
 .task-box {
   margin-top: 14px;
   padding: 14px;