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Adhesion adds a formal application step to joining your organization. Instead of “register and you’re in,” members must submit an application that administrators review and approve, return for revision, or reject. When to use Adhesion:
  • You need to vet applicants (professional associations, selective clubs)
  • You require documents or qualifications before granting membership
Adhesion form builder for membership applications
  • You need a paper trail for who was accepted and why
  • Regulatory requirements demand a formal application process
When you don’t need it:
  • Open communities where anyone can join
  • Casual groups with no vetting requirements
  • If you just need a simple approval gate, use Status After Register → Unapproved instead — it’s lighter weight

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How to enable

Settings → Users & Profiles → Adhesion → toggle Active
SettingWhat it does
ActiveTurns on the adhesion module
MandatoryWhen on, all new registrations must complete adhesion. Members can’t access the platform until approved. When off, adhesion is available but optional.
User type after approvalAutomatically assign a User Type when an application is approved. Example: auto-assign “Full Member” to approved applicants.
Admin emailEmail that receives notifications for new submissions. Use a shared HR inbox.
Change-to-draft reasonsPredefined reasons admins can select when returning an application. Enter each on a new line (e.g., “Incomplete information”, “Missing documents”, “Photo not acceptable”).

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The application workflow

New → Pending → Approved
         ↓
       Draft (needs revision)
         ↓
       Rejected
1

Member submits application

After registering (or as part of registration if mandatory), the member fills out the adhesion form — which can include profile fields, custom fields, document uploads, and declarations.
2

Application goes to Pending

The admin email receives a notification. The application appears in the Adhesions admin queue.Adhesions admin list showing applications with status badges, filters by status, member details, and action buttons
3

Admin reviews

Open the application to see all submitted information, uploaded documents, and history. Then choose an action:
  • Approve — Member gains full access. User type is auto-assigned (if configured).
  • Return to Draft — Select a reason (from your predefined list). The member is notified and can revise their application.
  • Reject — Deny membership. The member is notified.
4

If returned to Draft

The member receives a notification with the reason. They update their application and resubmit. It goes back to Pending.
5

After approval

The member’s status becomes Active (if it wasn’t already). Their user type is set. They have full platform access.

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Building the adhesion form

Settings → Users & Profiles → Adhesion Form The form can include:
  • Standard profile fields — Name, address, phone, etc.
  • Custom fields — Organization-specific data like license numbers or qualifications
  • Document uploads — Profile photo, ID document, supporting documents
  • Declarations — Terms acceptance, code of conduct, privacy policy consent

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Managing applications

Navigate to Members → Adhesions in the sidebar to see the queue.

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Finding applications

MethodHow
By statusFilter by Pending, Draft, Approved, or Rejected — Pending is your work queue
By Local CenterSee applications for a specific branch
By user typeFilter by what membership type they applied for
By date rangeFind applications from a specific period
SearchSearch by name or email to find a specific application

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Reviewing an application

When you open an application, you see:
SectionWhat to check
Personal informationName, email, phone, address — verify completeness
Custom fieldsAnswers to your organization-specific questions
DocumentsUploaded ID (front/back), profile photo, supporting files
Local CenterWhich center they selected (if applicable)
PaymentFee payment status (if membership requires payment)
HistoryEvery status change with timestamps and notes from previous reviews
If Identity Validation is enabled, you can compare the profile photo to the ID photo, check document authenticity, and auto-extract data from scanned IDs.

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Taking action

Approve — Click Approve. The applicant becomes an active member and is notified. User type is auto-assigned (if configured). Return to Draft — Select a reason from your predefined list. The member is notified and can revise their application. When they resubmit, it returns to Pending. Reject — Deny membership with a reason. The member is notified. Bulk approve — Select multiple applications → Bulk Actions → Approve Selected. Useful during enrollment periods with many straightforward applications.

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The adhesion template (PDF generation)

You can generate a PDF from approved applications — useful for official records, member files, or physical signatures. Adhesion template editor for customizing the PDF output The template editor provides a rich text editor where you can design the PDF layout. Use placeholders like {{firstName}}, {{lastName}}, {{dateCreated}} to dynamically insert member data. The template supports organization branding (logo, colors) and signature fields. Configure the template at Settings → Users & Profiles → Adhesion Template.

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Interview tracking

For organizations that require interviews before final approval: Enable interview tracking to add a step between application submission and approval. The workflow becomes:
  1. Application submitted
  2. Interview scheduled (admin sets date/time)
  3. Interview completed (admin records notes)
  4. Final approval or rejection
This is common for professional associations, leadership positions, and selective membership programs.

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Adhesion vs other joining methods

MethodProcessBest for
Open registrationRegister → immediately ActiveCommunities, hobby groups
Registration + Unapproved statusRegister → admin clicks ApproveSimple gate, no forms needed
AdhesionRegister → fill application → admin reviews → approve/reject/reviseFormal membership, documentation required
Waitlist + AdhesionJoin waitlist → invited → fill application → admin reviewsLimited capacity + formal membership

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Combining with other features

FeatureHow it works with Adhesion
Identity ValidationRequire ID documents as part of the application. OCR pre-fills form data from uploaded documents.
User TypesAuto-assign a type when application is approved. Different types can have different adhesion forms.
Custom FieldsAdd organization-specific fields to the application form.
WaitlistMembers wait in queue first, then go through adhesion when invited.
User StatusesApproved applicants become Active. Pending applicants may have limited access.

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Common scenarios

Use Return to Draft with a clear reason (e.g., “Missing proof of qualification”). The member is notified and can update their application. When they resubmit, it comes back to your queue as Pending.
Check if your admin email is being monitored. If you’re the only reviewer, consider giving another admin HR Tenant permissions so they can help. Process applications in order — first come, first served is fairest.
They’ll need to submit a new application. The old rejection stays in the system as a record. If there were specific issues, communicate what needs to change before reapplying.
Set Adhesion to Active but not Mandatory. Then use the registration form to route applicants: include the User Type field so members self-select, and only require adhesion for types that need vetting. Members who select types that don’t require adhesion go through normal registration.
When adhesion is mandatory, members who haven’t completed the process have limited platform access. Make sure your review process is fast enough that legitimate applicants aren’t stuck waiting.