diff --git a/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/license-review/components/ScheduleExamModal.tsx b/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/license-review/components/ScheduleExamModal.tsx
index 641ffc864..320f5a6e2 100644
--- a/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/license-review/components/ScheduleExamModal.tsx
+++ b/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/license-review/components/ScheduleExamModal.tsx
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ interface Props {
  * of a per-candidate appointment. Scoped to sittings whose certification
  * matches this application's rank, so a Chief Mate candidate cannot be seated
  * into an OOW Deck sitting by accident.
+ *
+ * Scheduling makes the sitting available; it does not register the candidate.
+ * That is their own act, from the portal's Register button.
  */
 export function ScheduleExamModal({
   opened,
@@ -61,7 +64,7 @@ export function ScheduleExamModal({
         <Text size="sm" c="dimmed">
           {t('review.scheduleExam.intro', {
             defaultValue:
-              'Assign {{applicant}} to a scheduled sitting. They will be notified with the date and their admission number.',
+              'Make a sitting available to {{applicant}}. They register for it themselves from the portal.',
             applicant: applicantName,
           })}
         </Text>
@@ -89,7 +92,7 @@ export function ScheduleExamModal({
         <Text size="xs" c="dimmed">
           {t(
             'review.scheduleExam.admissionHint',
-            'An admission number is issued automatically when the candidate is seated.',
+            'Scheduling does not seat the candidate. They must register for the sitting from the portal, and the admission number is issued then.',
           )}
         </Text>
 
diff --git a/apps/portal/src/app/features/exam-attempt/hooks/useExamAttempt.ts b/apps/portal/src/app/features/exam-attempt/hooks/useExamAttempt.ts
index e671dba76..baa445600 100644
--- a/apps/portal/src/app/features/exam-attempt/hooks/useExamAttempt.ts
+++ b/apps/portal/src/app/features/exam-attempt/hooks/useExamAttempt.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ import type {
   SaveState,
 } from '../types/exam-attempt';
 
+/** Mirrors the server's allow-list (ExamAttemptService.MAY_SIT). */
+const MAY_SIT = ['PRESENT', 'LATE'];
+
 const ESSAY_DEBOUNCE_MS = 1500;
 
 type ViewState = 'loading' | 'not-started' | 'taking' | 'completed' | 'error';
@@ -83,6 +86,19 @@ export function useExamAttempt(examId: string | undefined) {
       setErrorMessage('You are not registered for this examination.');
       return;
     }
+    // Attendance gates the sitting, and the exam list already hides "Take
+    // exam" for these — this is the direct-link path. The server refuses
+    // either way (ExamAttemptService.MAY_SIT); this only makes the refusal
+    // legible instead of a raw error key on a Start button that never works.
+    if (!MAY_SIT.includes(registration.attendanceStatus)) {
+      setViewState('error');
+      setErrorMessage(
+        registration.attendanceStatus === 'REGISTERED'
+          ? 'An invigilator must confirm you are present before this exam opens.'
+          : 'Your attendance record does not permit sitting this examination.',
+      );
+      return;
+    }
     if (mineData) {
       seedFrom(mineData);
       return;
@@ -200,7 +216,14 @@ export function useExamAttempt(examId: string | undefined) {
       }).unwrap();
       seedFrom(result);
     } catch (error) {
-      notify.error(extractErrorMessage(error, 'Could not start the exam.'));
+      const key = extractErrorMessage(error, 'Could not start the exam.');
+      notify.error(
+        key === 'attendance_not_confirmed'
+          ? 'An invigilator must confirm you are present before this exam opens.'
+          : key === 'candidate_not_present'
+            ? 'Your attendance record does not permit sitting this examination.'
+            : key,
+      );
     }
   }, [examId, startTrigger, seedFrom]);
 
diff --git a/apps/portal/src/app/features/exams/pages/ExamsPage/columns.tsx b/apps/portal/src/app/features/exams/pages/ExamsPage/columns.tsx
index 06cf8a4f6..652e72fc3 100644
--- a/apps/portal/src/app/features/exams/pages/ExamsPage/columns.tsx
+++ b/apps/portal/src/app/features/exams/pages/ExamsPage/columns.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Badge, Button, Text } from '@mantine/core';
+import { Badge, Button, Text, Tooltip } from '@mantine/core';
 import { IconFileText, IconGavel, IconPlayerPlay } from '@tabler/icons-react';
 import type { TFunction } from 'i18next';
 import type { AdvancedColumn } from '@ema-platform/ui';
@@ -20,7 +20,14 @@ const ATTENDANCE_COLOR: Record<AttendanceStatus, string> = {
   DISQUALIFIED: 'red',
 };
 
-const NOT_SITTING: AttendanceStatus[] = ['ABSENT', 'WITHDRAWN', 'DISQUALIFIED'];
+/**
+ * Attendance rulings that permit sitting the paper — an allow-list mirroring
+ * the server's (ExamAttemptService.MAY_SIT). The deny-list this replaced named
+ * only ABSENT/WITHDRAWN/DISQUALIFIED, so the default REGISTERED fell through
+ * and "Take exam" appeared before any invigilator had confirmed the candidate
+ * was there. LATE counts: a late arrival is present, just not on time.
+ */
+const MAY_SIT: AttendanceStatus[] = ['PRESENT', 'LATE'];
 
 export function registrationColumns(
   t: TFunction,
@@ -115,9 +122,26 @@ export function registrationColumns(
             </Badge>
           );
         }
-        const eligible =
-          exam?.status === 'ACTIVE' && !NOT_SITTING.includes(row.original.attendanceStatus);
-        if (!eligible || !deps.can([PORTAL_PERMISSIONS.APPLY_EXAM])) return null;
+        if (!deps.can([PORTAL_PERMISSIONS.APPLY_EXAM])) return null;
+        // Say why the exam is shut rather than rendering an empty cell: the
+        // candidate is waiting on an invigilator, and silence reads as a bug.
+        if (row.original.attendanceStatus === 'REGISTERED') {
+          return (
+            <Tooltip label={t('exams.columns.awaitingAttendanceHint')} multiline w={240}>
+              <Badge size="sm" variant="light" color="gray">
+                {t('exams.columns.awaitingAttendance')}
+              </Badge>
+            </Tooltip>
+          );
+        }
+        if (!MAY_SIT.includes(row.original.attendanceStatus)) {
+          return (
+            <Badge size="sm" variant="light" color="orange">
+              {t('exams.columns.notSitting')}
+            </Badge>
+          );
+        }
+        if (exam?.status !== 'ACTIVE') return null;
         return (
           <Button
             size="compact-xs"
diff --git a/apps/portal/src/app/i18n/locales/am.ts b/apps/portal/src/app/i18n/locales/am.ts
index 497056ea4..65ea5cd1c 100644
--- a/apps/portal/src/app/i18n/locales/am.ts
+++ b/apps/portal/src/app/i18n/locales/am.ts
@@ -1001,6 +1001,10 @@ export const am: Translations = {
       timeExpired: 'ጊዜው አልቋል',
       resumeExam: 'ፈተና ይቀጥሉ',
       takeExam: 'ፈተና ይውሰዱ',
+      awaitingAttendance: 'መገኘት በመጠባበቅ ላይ',
+      awaitingAttendanceHint:
+        'ፈተናው ከመከፈቱ በፊት ተቆጣጣሪ መገኘትዎን ማረጋገጥ አለበት።',
+      notSitting: 'አይፈተኑም',
       attendanceStatus: {
         REGISTERED: 'አልተጠራም',
         PRESENT: 'ተገኝቷል',
diff --git a/apps/portal/src/app/i18n/locales/en.ts b/apps/portal/src/app/i18n/locales/en.ts
index d1e2be70f..63217dcf1 100644
--- a/apps/portal/src/app/i18n/locales/en.ts
+++ b/apps/portal/src/app/i18n/locales/en.ts
@@ -1003,6 +1003,10 @@ export const en = {
       timeExpired: 'Time expired',
       resumeExam: 'Resume exam',
       takeExam: 'Take exam',
+      awaitingAttendance: 'Awaiting attendance',
+      awaitingAttendanceHint:
+        'An invigilator must confirm you are present before the exam opens.',
+      notSitting: 'Not sitting',
       attendanceStatus: {
         REGISTERED: 'Not called',
         PRESENT: 'Present',
diff --git a/libs/auth/src/lib/pages/SignupPage.tsx b/libs/auth/src/lib/pages/SignupPage.tsx
index 29b03e6c8..3b41c45de 100644
--- a/libs/auth/src/lib/pages/SignupPage.tsx
+++ b/libs/auth/src/lib/pages/SignupPage.tsx
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ export function SignupPage() {
     transactionToken: string;
     expiresIn: number;
   }>();
+  const [linkTrigger] = useApiMutation<{ phoneNumberVerified?: boolean }>();
 
   const verified = (field: string) => fayda?.verifiedFields.includes(field) ?? false;
   const conflicted = (field: string) => fayda?.conflicts.includes(field) ?? false;
@@ -89,8 +90,10 @@ export function SignupPage() {
   const faydaMark = (field: string): { description?: React.ReactNode } => {
     if (conflicted(field)) {
       return {
+        // component="span" on these badges: the description slot renders
+        // inside a <p>, where Badge's default <div> is invalid HTML.
         description: (
-          <Badge size="xs" variant="light" color="orange">
+          <Badge component="span" size="xs" variant="light" color="orange">
             {t('fayda.fieldConflict', 'Already used by another account')}
           </Badge>
         ),
@@ -100,6 +103,7 @@ export function SignupPage() {
       return {
         description: (
           <Badge
+            component="span"
             size="xs"
             variant="light"
             color="teal"
@@ -234,9 +238,28 @@ export function SignupPage() {
       const me = await meTrigger({ url: '/auth/me', method: 'GET' }).unwrap();
       dispatch(setUser(me));
 
+      // Records the Fayda-verified identity on the new account: marks the
+      // phone verified when it is the one Fayda vouched for, and fills the
+      // still-empty profile fields. Best-effort — the account already works,
+      // and the token can be presented again on a retry.
+      let faydaPhoneVerified = false;
+      if (fayda?.verificationToken) {
+        try {
+          const applied = await linkTrigger({
+            url: '/profiles/me/fayda',
+            method: 'POST',
+            body: { verificationToken: fayda.verificationToken },
+          }).unwrap();
+          faydaPhoneVerified = Boolean(applied?.phoneNumberVerified);
+        } catch {
+          /* deliberately ignored — signup already succeeded */
+        }
+      }
       faydaSession.clearResult();
 
-      if (data.isPhoneNumberVerified) {
+      // Fayda already verified this exact number via its own OTP; asking for
+      // a second OTP on the same number is theatre.
+      if (data.isPhoneNumberVerified || faydaPhoneVerified) {
         navigate(loginRedirectPath);
       } else {
         navigate('/otp-verify', {
diff --git a/libs/auth/src/lib/utils/fayda-session.ts b/libs/auth/src/lib/utils/fayda-session.ts
index d61db63c1..0dda61b00 100644
--- a/libs/auth/src/lib/utils/fayda-session.ts
+++ b/libs/auth/src/lib/utils/fayda-session.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ export interface FaydaPrefill {
   /** Shown for context only — the signup form has no field for these. */
   gender?: string;
   address?: string;
+  birthdate?: string;
+  nationality?: string;
+  faydaNumber?: string;
 }
 
 /** Shape of `POST /auth/register-with-fayda` with `action: "verify"`. */
@@ -34,6 +37,11 @@ export interface FaydaResult {
   verifiedFields: string[];
   /** Prefilled fields already taken by another account. */
   conflicts: string[];
+  /**
+   * Encrypted proof of the verification, presented to POST /profiles/me/fayda
+   * after signup so the account and profile record what Fayda vouched for.
+   */
+  verificationToken: string;
 }
 
 // Private browsing and locked-down browsers can throw on access, and a failure