# 🔁 Unsuccessful applications (/stakepool-application/unsuccessful-applications)







If the [Validator Board](/stakepool-application/validator-board) does not approve your application, you can apply again. This page covers how to get feedback, the most common reasons, and the waiting rule.

<img alt="Banner: An operator revises a cream application sheet at a desk, with an orange pencil and a gentle curved path leading back to a review desk, suggesting improvement and reapplication." src="__img0" />

## Get feedback [#get-feedback]

After the results are announced, open a support ticket in [The Vault Discord](https://discord.gg/thevaultfinance) and ask for the board's feedback on your application.

## Common reasons [#common-reasons]

Most unsuccessful applications come down to a few points:

* Missing supporting evidence: the board could not verify the contributions listed.
* Not enough ecosystem contributions, or contributions that are not clearly connected to the validator.
* Contributions made just before applying, or a GitHub that is empty or long inactive.
* An application too short or vague to judge.
* Services described that the board could not find, or contributions limited to testing other teams' software.
* Multiple validators that were not disclosed.
* A validator below the minimum requirements, or a commission the board considers high.

For how to address them, see [Application best practices](/stakepool-application/application-best-practices).

## Apply again [#apply-again]

Use the feedback to strengthen your application, then apply again in a later review cycle through the [Validator application process](/stakepool-application/validator-application-process) (Figure 6.6).

<Callout type="warn">
  Two unsuccessful applications in a row start a three-month pause: you can apply again three months after the second result. Apply when your contributions and evidence are ready.
</Callout>

<img alt="Applying again: after an unsuccessful review, ask for feedback in a support ticket, improve and apply in a later cycle; two unsuccessful applications in a row start a 3-month pause" src="__img1" />

Figure 6.6: Applying again