diff --git a/apps/portal/src/app/features/licensing/components/LicenseCatalogue.tsx b/apps/portal/src/app/features/licensing/components/LicenseCatalogue.tsx
index b4dedc212..f0042b260 100644
--- a/apps/portal/src/app/features/licensing/components/LicenseCatalogue.tsx
+++ b/apps/portal/src/app/features/licensing/components/LicenseCatalogue.tsx
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import {
   IconBuildingWarehouse,
   IconChevronRight,
   IconFileText,
+  IconLock,
   IconShieldOff,
   IconShip,
   IconTrendingUp,
@@ -277,8 +278,14 @@ function LicenseTypeCard({
       withBorder
       radius="md"
       padding="md"
-      style={{ cursor: 'pointer', height: '100%' }}
-      onClick={() => onSelect(type)}
+      style={{
+        cursor: canApply ? 'pointer' : 'default',
+        height: '100%',
+        // Dimmed rather than hidden: browse-all exists so an applicant can see
+        // what else the authority issues. It just must not look actionable.
+        opacity: canApply ? 1 : 0.6,
+      }}
+      onClick={canApply ? () => onSelect(type) : undefined}
     >
       <Stack gap="xs" justify="space-between" h="100%">
         <Box>
@@ -286,11 +293,19 @@ function LicenseTypeCard({
             <Text fw={600} size="sm" lh={1.35}>
               {localized(type.name)}
             </Text>
-            <IconChevronRight
-              size={16}
-              color="var(--mantine-color-dimmed)"
-              style={{ flexShrink: 0, marginTop: 2 }}
-            />
+            {canApply ? (
+              <IconChevronRight
+                size={16}
+                color="var(--mantine-color-dimmed)"
+                style={{ flexShrink: 0, marginTop: 2 }}
+              />
+            ) : (
+              <IconLock
+                size={16}
+                color="var(--mantine-color-dimmed)"
+                style={{ flexShrink: 0, marginTop: 2 }}
+              />
+            )}
           </Group>
           {type.description && (
             <Text size="xs" c="dimmed" mt={6} lineClamp={3}>
@@ -329,13 +344,33 @@ function LicenseTypeCard({
               mt="sm"
               size="xs"
               variant="light"
-              color={canApply ? undefined : 'gray'}
+              disabled={!canApply}
               rightSection={<IconArrowRight size={14} />}
             >
-              {canApply
-                ? t('licensing.catalogue.startApplication')
-                : t('licensing.catalogue.addToOperations')}
+              {t('licensing.catalogue.startApplication')}
             </Button>
+            {/* A disabled button on its own only says "no". This says why, and
+                where to go about it — the licence is offered against a declared
+                mode of operation, and the server refuses a create for one the
+                applicant has not declared. */}
+            {!canApply && (
+              <Text size="xs" c="dimmed" mt={6} ta="center">
+                {t('licensing.catalogue.lockedHint')}{' '}
+                <Anchor
+                  size="xs"
+                  component="button"
+                  type="button"
+                  onClick={(event) => {
+                    // The card is inert while locked, but the anchor inside it
+                    // must not re-trigger anything if that ever changes.
+                    event.stopPropagation();
+                    onSelect(type);
+                  }}
+                >
+                  {t('licensing.catalogue.addToOperations')}
+                </Anchor>
+              </Text>
+            )}
           </RequirePermission>
         </Box>
       </Stack>
diff --git a/apps/portal/src/app/i18n/locales/am.ts b/apps/portal/src/app/i18n/locales/am.ts
index ab5013291..2a56acf6c 100644
--- a/apps/portal/src/app/i18n/locales/am.ts
+++ b/apps/portal/src/app/i18n/locales/am.ts
@@ -831,6 +831,8 @@ export const am: Translations = {
       evaluationOnly: 'ግምገማ ብቻ',
       startApplication: 'ማመልከቻ ጀምር',
       addToOperations: 'ወደ ስራ ዘርፎቼ ጨምር',
+      lockedHint:
+        'ከተመዘገቡ የስራ ዘርፎችዎ ውስጥ ስላልሆነ እስካሁን ማመልከት አይችሉም።',
     },
   },
 
diff --git a/apps/portal/src/app/i18n/locales/en.ts b/apps/portal/src/app/i18n/locales/en.ts
index f0a99d212..a181d2ead 100644
--- a/apps/portal/src/app/i18n/locales/en.ts
+++ b/apps/portal/src/app/i18n/locales/en.ts
@@ -831,6 +831,8 @@ export const en = {
       evaluationOnly: 'Evaluation only',
       startApplication: 'Start application',
       addToOperations: 'Add to my operations',
+      lockedHint:
+        'Not one of your declared operations, so it cannot be applied for yet.',
     },
   },