diff --git a/src/backend/controllers/auth/AuthController.test.ts b/src/backend/controllers/auth/AuthController.test.ts
index fd3b454b5..95ff5981c 100644
--- a/src/backend/controllers/auth/AuthController.test.ts
+++ b/src/backend/controllers/auth/AuthController.test.ts
@@ -5132,6 +5132,26 @@ describe('AuthController phone verification — staging & reuse', () => {
         expect(staged).toBe('+14155550123');
     });
 
+    it('makes an email-gate-last account verify its card before its phone', async () => {
+        const { user, actor } = await makeUserAndActor({
+            requires_phone_verification: 1,
+            requires_card_verification: 1,
+        });
+        await server.stores.user.updateMetadata(user.id, {
+            emailGateLast: true,
+        });
+        const prelude = stubPrelude();
+        await withClients({ prelude }, async () => {
+            await expect(
+                controller.handleSendConfirmPhone(
+                    makeReq({ phone: '+14155550123' }, { actor }),
+                    makeRes(),
+                ),
+            ).rejects.toMatchObject({ statusCode: 409 });
+        });
+        expect(prelude.createVerification).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
     it('forwards an abuse-extension veto as 429 with the opaque reason, and sends nothing', async () => {
         const { user, actor } = await makeUserAndActor();
         const emitAndWait = vi.fn(
diff --git a/src/backend/controllers/auth/AuthController.ts b/src/backend/controllers/auth/AuthController.ts
index 23b7aa037..0af720971 100644
--- a/src/backend/controllers/auth/AuthController.ts
+++ b/src/backend/controllers/auth/AuthController.ts
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ import {
     isCardFallbackEnabled,
     phoneAttemptsKey,
 } from '../../util/cardFallback.js';
+import { isEmailGateLast } from '../../util/verificationOrder.js';
 import { sessionCookieFlags } from '../../util/cookieFlags.js';
 import { cleanEmail, isStorableEmail } from '../../util/email.js';
 import { isGodmodeApp } from '../../util/godmodeApps.js';
@@ -1220,6 +1221,18 @@ export class AuthController extends PuterController {
         }
     }
 
+    /** The email-gate-last confirmation email; a failure never fails the gate. */
+    private async sendDeferredConfirmation(userId: number): Promise<void> {
+        try {
+            await this.services.signup.sendDeferredConfirmationEmail(userId);
+        } catch (e) {
+            console.warn(
+                '[verification] deferred confirmation email failed:',
+                e,
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
     private async isCardFallbackEligible(user: {
         id: number;
         requires_phone_verification?: boolean | number | null;
@@ -1265,6 +1278,12 @@ export class AuthController extends PuterController {
             throw new HttpError(403, 'Account suspended.', {
                 legacyCode: 'account_suspended',
             });
+        if (isEmailGateLast(user) && user.requires_card_verification)
+            throw new HttpError(
+                409,
+                'Card verification must be completed first.',
+                { legacyCode: 'conflict' },
+            );
         if (!this.clients.prelude?.isConfigured())
             throw await this.smsSendError(
                 503,
@@ -1574,6 +1593,7 @@ export class AuthController extends PuterController {
             requires_phone_verification: 0,
             phone: pendingPhone,
         });
+        await this.sendDeferredConfirmation(user.id);
 
         // Run the verified-event listeners synchronously (emitAndWait, not
         // fire-and-forget emit) so a carrier-based card-verification waiver in
@@ -1654,7 +1674,11 @@ export class AuthController extends PuterController {
             res.json({ card_verified: true });
             return;
         }
-        if (user.requires_phone_verification && !fallbackEligible)
+        if (
+            user.requires_phone_verification &&
+            !fallbackEligible &&
+            !isEmailGateLast(user)
+        )
             throw new HttpError(
                 409,
                 'Phone verification must be completed first.',
@@ -1717,6 +1741,7 @@ export class AuthController extends PuterController {
             await this.stores.user.update(user.id, {
                 requires_card_verification: 0,
             });
+            await this.sendDeferredConfirmation(user.id);
             res.json({ card_verified: true, disabled: true });
             return;
         }
@@ -1776,7 +1801,11 @@ export class AuthController extends PuterController {
             res.json({ card_verified: true });
             return;
         }
-        if (user.requires_phone_verification && !fallbackEligible)
+        if (
+            user.requires_phone_verification &&
+            !fallbackEligible &&
+            !isEmailGateLast(user)
+        )
             throw new HttpError(
                 409,
                 'Phone verification must be completed first.',
@@ -1817,6 +1846,7 @@ export class AuthController extends PuterController {
             await this.stores.user.update(user.id, {
                 requires_card_verification: 0,
             });
+            await this.sendDeferredConfirmation(user.id);
             res.json({ card_verified: true, disabled: true });
             return;
         }
@@ -1841,6 +1871,7 @@ export class AuthController extends PuterController {
             requires_card_verification: 0,
             ...(clearedPhoneGate ? { requires_phone_verification: 0 } : {}),
         });
+        await this.sendDeferredConfirmation(user.id);
 
         // Awaited like `user.phone-verified`, so whatever a listener grants on
         // verification is in place before the client refreshes. emitAndWait
diff --git a/src/backend/core/http/middleware/gates.test.ts b/src/backend/core/http/middleware/gates.test.ts
index ec339c8b4..53bfa6b08 100644
--- a/src/backend/core/http/middleware/gates.test.ts
+++ b/src/backend/core/http/middleware/gates.test.ts
@@ -836,6 +836,34 @@ describe('requireVerifiedAccount', () => {
         expectHttpError(got, 403, 'card_verification_required');
     });
 
+    it('asks an email-gate-last account for card, then phone, then email', () => {
+        const pending = {
+            uuid: 'u-1',
+            requires_email_confirmation: true,
+            email_confirmed: false,
+            requires_phone_verification: true,
+            requires_card_verification: true,
+            metadata: { emailGateLast: true },
+        };
+        const gateFor = (user: Record<string, unknown>) =>
+            runGate(requireVerifiedAccount(), { actor: { user } });
+        expectHttpError(gateFor(pending), 403, 'card_verification_required');
+        expectHttpError(
+            gateFor({ ...pending, requires_card_verification: false }),
+            403,
+            'phone_verification_required',
+        );
+        expectHttpError(
+            gateFor({
+                ...pending,
+                requires_card_verification: false,
+                requires_phone_verification: false,
+            }),
+            403,
+            'email_confirmation_required',
+        );
+    });
+
     it('returns 403 two_factor_required for a seat whose team requires 2FA', async () => {
         const teams = { getOrgSeat: async () => ({ require_2fa: 1 }) };
         const got = await runGateAsync(requireTeam2fa(teams), {
diff --git a/src/backend/core/http/middleware/gates.ts b/src/backend/core/http/middleware/gates.ts
index aae513c23..79c36d9d0 100644
--- a/src/backend/core/http/middleware/gates.ts
+++ b/src/backend/core/http/middleware/gates.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import {
     type CardFallbackDeps,
 } from '../../../util/cardFallback';
 import { reserveUsernames } from '../../../util/reservedUsernames';
+import { isEmailGateLast } from '../../../util/verificationOrder';
 import {
     isAccountContext,
     isAppActor,
@@ -309,11 +310,25 @@ export const requireVerifiedAccount = (): RequestHandler =>
 export const assertVerifiedAccount = (
     user: AccountGateUser | undefined,
 ): void => {
-    if (user?.requires_email_confirmation && !user?.email_confirmed) {
-        throw new HttpError(403, 'Please confirm your email to continue', {
-            legacyCode: 'email_confirmation_required',
-        });
-    }
+    const assertEmail = () => {
+        if (user?.requires_email_confirmation && !user?.email_confirmed) {
+            throw new HttpError(403, 'Please confirm your email to continue', {
+                legacyCode: 'email_confirmation_required',
+            });
+        }
+    };
+    const assertCard = () => {
+        if (user?.requires_card_verification) {
+            throw new HttpError(403, 'Please verify your card to continue', {
+                legacyCode: 'card_verification_required',
+            });
+        }
+    };
+    // Email → phone → card, or card → phone → email for an email-gate-last
+    // account, so the client is sent to the gate it has to clear next.
+    const emailLast = isEmailGateLast(user);
+    if (emailLast) assertCard();
+    else assertEmail();
     if (user?.requires_phone_verification) {
         throw new HttpError(
             403,
@@ -323,11 +338,8 @@ export const assertVerifiedAccount = (
             },
         );
     }
-    if (user?.requires_card_verification) {
-        throw new HttpError(403, 'Please verify your card to continue', {
-            legacyCode: 'card_verification_required',
-        });
-    }
+    if (emailLast) assertEmail();
+    else assertCard();
     // A team seat signs in on a password its administrator still holds,
     // so it reaches nothing until it has replaced that password.
     if (user?.requires_password_change) {
diff --git a/src/backend/core/http/types.ts b/src/backend/core/http/types.ts
index 26707cfa6..3f84f6bd2 100644
--- a/src/backend/core/http/types.ts
+++ b/src/backend/core/http/types.ts
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ export type AccountGateUser = Partial<
         | 'phone'
         | 'card_fingerprint'
         | 'otp_enabled'
+        | 'metadata'
     >
 > & { id?: number };
 
diff --git a/src/backend/services/user/SignupService.test.ts b/src/backend/services/user/SignupService.test.ts
index ecaea89db..5f0f5fffa 100644
--- a/src/backend/services/user/SignupService.test.ts
+++ b/src/backend/services/user/SignupService.test.ts
@@ -172,6 +172,87 @@ describe('SignupService.signup', () => {
     });
 });
 
+describe('SignupService email gate last', () => {
+    /** Signs up with the validate hook asking for `gates`; returns sent emails. */
+    const signupWith = async (gates: Record<string, boolean>) => {
+        const send = vi.fn(async () => true);
+        const clients = server.clients as unknown as { email: unknown };
+        const realEmail = clients.email;
+        clients.email = { send };
+        const require = (_k: string, data: unknown) => {
+            Object.assign(data as Record<string, unknown>, gates);
+        };
+        server.clients.event.on('puter.signup.validate', require);
+        const username = `egl_${slug()}`;
+        try {
+            const user = await server.services.signup.signup({
+                req,
+                body: {
+                    username,
+                    email: `${username}@example.com`,
+                    password: 'correct horse battery',
+                },
+                isTemp: false,
+                fingerprint: null,
+                bonusCode: null,
+            });
+            return { user, send, restore: () => (clients.email = realEmail) };
+        } finally {
+            server.clients.event.off('puter.signup.validate', require);
+        }
+    };
+
+    it('holds the confirmation email until card and phone are cleared, then sends it once', async () => {
+        const { user, send, restore } = await signupWith({
+            requires_phone_verification: true,
+            requires_card_verification: true,
+            email_gate_last: true,
+        });
+        try {
+            expect(send).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+            const stored = await server.stores.user.getById(user.id, {
+                force: true,
+            });
+            expect(stored!.metadata?.emailGateLast).toBe(true);
+
+            await server.stores.user.update(user.id, {
+                requires_card_verification: 0,
+            });
+            await server.services.signup.sendDeferredConfirmationEmail(user.id);
+            expect(send).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+            await server.stores.user.update(user.id, {
+                requires_phone_verification: 0,
+            });
+            await server.services.signup.sendDeferredConfirmationEmail(user.id);
+            await server.services.signup.sendDeferredConfirmationEmail(user.id);
+            expect(send).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+            expect(send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+                `${user.username}@example.com`,
+                'email_verification_code',
+                { code: stored!.email_confirm_code },
+            );
+        } finally {
+            restore();
+        }
+    });
+
+    it('ignores the flag when there is no phone or card gate', async () => {
+        const { user, send, restore } = await signupWith({
+            email_gate_last: true,
+        });
+        try {
+            expect(send).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+            const stored = await server.stores.user.getById(user.id, {
+                force: true,
+            });
+            expect(stored!.metadata?.emailGateLast).toBeUndefined();
+        } finally {
+            restore();
+        }
+    });
+});
+
 describe('SignupService.announceSignup', () => {
     it('leaves out the form-only fields for a source that has none', async () => {
         const username = `an_${slug()}`;
diff --git a/src/backend/services/user/SignupService.ts b/src/backend/services/user/SignupService.ts
index c7ab6332d..d5c429eab 100644
--- a/src/backend/services/user/SignupService.ts
+++ b/src/backend/services/user/SignupService.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import {
     validateSignupBonus,
 } from '../../util/signupBonus.js';
 import { isUsernameTaken } from '../../util/username.js';
+import { isEmailGateLast } from '../../util/verificationOrder.js';
 import {
     generateDefaultFsentries,
     promoteToVerifiedGroup,
@@ -47,6 +48,8 @@ export type SignupGateOutcome =
           requiresEmailConfirmation: boolean;
           requiresPhoneVerification: boolean;
           requiresCardVerification: boolean;
+          /** Card and phone come before email (see `isEmailGateLast`). */
+          emailGateLast: boolean;
       }
     | { verdict: 'bonus_code_invalid' }
     | {
@@ -175,6 +178,9 @@ export class SignupService extends PuterService {
             requires_email_confirmation: false,
             requires_phone_verification: false,
             requires_card_verification: false,
+            // Clear card and phone before email, and send the confirmation
+            // email only then. Meaningless without a phone or card gate.
+            email_gate_last: false,
             message: null as string | null,
             code: null as string | null,
             ...(input.fingerprint !== undefined ? { fingerprint } : {}),
@@ -250,6 +256,9 @@ export class SignupService extends PuterService {
             ),
             requiresPhoneVerification,
             requiresCardVerification,
+            emailGateLast:
+                Boolean(validateEvent.email_gate_last) &&
+                (requiresPhoneVerification || requiresCardVerification),
         };
     }
 
@@ -507,7 +516,10 @@ export class SignupService extends PuterService {
             }
         }
 
-        if (!isTemp && user.requires_email_confirmation) {
+        const emailGateLast = !isTemp && gate.emailGateLast;
+        if (emailGateLast) user = await this.#markEmailGateLast(user);
+
+        if (!isTemp && user.requires_email_confirmation && !emailGateLast) {
             await this.sendConfirmationEmail(
                 user,
                 'signup',
@@ -582,13 +594,46 @@ export class SignupService extends PuterService {
         }
     }
 
+    /** Record that this account clears card and phone before email. */
+    async #markEmailGateLast(user: UserRow): Promise<UserRow> {
+        await this.stores.user.updateMetadata(user.id, { emailGateLast: true });
+        return { ...user, metadata: { ...user.metadata, emailGateLast: true } };
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Send an email-gate-last account its confirmation email once card and
+     * phone are cleared. Once per account; `/send-confirm-email` resends.
+     */
+    async sendDeferredConfirmationEmail(userId: number): Promise<void> {
+        const user = await this.stores.user.getById(userId, { force: true });
+        if (!user || !isEmailGateLast(user)) return;
+        if (user.metadata?.emailGateLastSent === true) return;
+        if (user.email_confirmed || !user.requires_email_confirmation) return;
+        if (user.requires_phone_verification || user.requires_card_verification)
+            return;
+        await this.stores.user.updateMetadata(user.id, {
+            emailGateLastSent: true,
+        });
+        let code =
+            typeof user.email_confirm_code === 'string'
+                ? user.email_confirm_code
+                : null;
+        if (!code) {
+            code = String(crypto.randomInt(100000, 1000000));
+            await this.stores.user.update(user.id, {
+                email_confirm_code: code,
+            });
+        }
+        await this.sendConfirmationEmail(user, 'deferred', { code });
+    }
+
     /**
      * Send the confirmation code (or link) for the account's address. A lost
      * message is alarmed rather than thrown: the account exists either way.
      */
     async sendConfirmationEmail(
         user: UserRow,
-        stage: 'signup' | 'resend',
+        stage: 'signup' | 'resend' | 'deferred',
         message: { code: string } | { token: string },
     ): Promise<void> {
         if (!this.clients.email || !user.email) return;
@@ -762,7 +807,7 @@ export class SignupService extends PuterService {
      * phone/card gate is outstanding either.
      */
     #confirmationEmailFailed(
-        stage: 'signup' | 'resend',
+        stage: 'signup' | 'resend' | 'deferred',
         user: UserRow,
         cause: unknown,
     ): void {
@@ -774,7 +819,7 @@ export class SignupService extends PuterService {
                   ? 'no transport configured (message dropped)'
                   : String(cause);
         console.warn(
-            `[${stage === 'signup' ? 'signup' : 'send-confirm-email'}] ` +
+            `[${stage === 'resend' ? 'send-confirm-email' : 'signup'}] ` +
                 `confirmation email not delivered: ${detail}`,
         );
         // Best-effort: failing to alarm must not fail the signup.
diff --git a/src/backend/util/userDetails.ts b/src/backend/util/userDetails.ts
index 351c38e44..b123fe4c1 100644
--- a/src/backend/util/userDetails.ts
+++ b/src/backend/util/userDetails.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import {
     type CardFallbackClients,
 } from './cardFallback.js';
 import { getTaskbarItems } from './taskbarItems.js';
+import { isEmailGateLast } from './verificationOrder.js';
 
 type TaskbarDeps = Parameters<typeof getTaskbarItems>[1];
 
@@ -153,6 +154,8 @@ export async function buildUserDetails(
         // client reads it. Only the verification flag ships.
         requires_phone_verification: user.requires_phone_verification,
         requires_card_verification: user.requires_card_verification,
+        // Card and phone come before email for this account.
+        email_gate_last: isEmailGateLast(user),
         // A seat reaches nothing until it replaces its admin's password.
         requires_password_change: user.requires_password_change,
         // The SMS-to-card escape hatch. It ships here because by the time the
diff --git a/src/backend/util/verificationOrder.ts b/src/backend/util/verificationOrder.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3c9671be3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/backend/util/verificationOrder.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2024-present Puter Technologies Inc.
+ *
+ * This file is part of Puter.
+ *
+ * Puter is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published
+ * by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * Whether the account clears card and phone verification before confirming its
+ * email, and is only sent the confirmation email once it gets there. Decided by
+ * the signup gate and recorded in the account's metadata.
+ */
+export const isEmailGateLast = (
+    user: { metadata?: Record<string, unknown> | null } | null | undefined,
+): boolean => user?.metadata?.emailGateLast === true;
diff --git a/src/gui/src/UI/UIWindowSignup.js b/src/gui/src/UI/UIWindowSignup.js
index 660393b4b..000e76ab4 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/UI/UIWindowSignup.js
+++ b/src/gui/src/UI/UIWindowSignup.js
@@ -596,26 +596,31 @@ function UIWindowSignup(options) {
                             show_email_dialog
                         ) {
                             $(el_window).close();
-                            // Verification gates run in order: email →
-                            // phone (SMS) → card, matching the server-side
-                            // order in assertVerifiedAccount.
-                            if (show_email_dialog) {
-                                email_verified =
-                                    await UIWindowEmailConfirmationRequired({
-                                        stay_on_top: true,
-                                        has_head: true,
-                                        reload_on_success:
-                                            options.reload_on_success,
-                                        window_options:
-                                            options.window_options ?? {},
-                                    });
-                            }
+                            // Verification gates run in the server's order
+                            // (see assertVerifiedAccount): email → phone
+                            // (SMS) → card, or card → phone → email when the
+                            // account clears email last.
+                            const emailGate = async () => {
+                                if (show_email_dialog) {
+                                    email_verified =
+                                        await UIWindowEmailConfirmationRequired({
+                                            stay_on_top: true,
+                                            has_head: true,
+                                            reload_on_success:
+                                                options.reload_on_success,
+                                            window_options:
+                                                options.window_options ?? {},
+                                        });
+                                }
+                            };
                             // A user the SMS path keeps failing may take the
                             // card fallback instead; that resolves 'card' and
                             // clears the card gate along with the phone gate
                             // (see UIWindowPhoneVerificationRequired).
                             let card_gate_cleared_by_fallback = false;
-                            if (data.user?.requires_phone_verification) {
+                            const phoneGate = async () => {
+                                if (!data.user?.requires_phone_verification)
+                                    return;
                                 let phone_ok = false;
                                 do {
                                     phone_ok =
@@ -632,12 +637,13 @@ function UIWindowSignup(options) {
                                 } while (!phone_ok);
                                 card_gate_cleared_by_fallback =
                                     phone_ok === 'card';
-                            }
-                            // Card verification is the last gate.
-                            if (
-                                data.user?.requires_card_verification &&
-                                !card_gate_cleared_by_fallback
-                            ) {
+                            };
+                            const cardGate = async () => {
+                                if (
+                                    !data.user?.requires_card_verification ||
+                                    card_gate_cleared_by_fallback
+                                )
+                                    return;
                                 let card_ok = false;
                                 do {
                                     card_ok =
@@ -649,6 +655,15 @@ function UIWindowSignup(options) {
                                                 options.window_options ?? {},
                                         });
                                 } while (!card_ok);
+                            };
+                            if (data.user?.email_gate_last) {
+                                await cardGate();
+                                await phoneGate();
+                                await emailGate();
+                            } else {
+                                await emailGate();
+                                await phoneGate();
+                                await cardGate();
                             }
                         }
 
diff --git a/src/gui/src/initgui.js b/src/gui/src/initgui.js
index 725997571..9e8222e56 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/initgui.js
+++ b/src/gui/src/initgui.js
@@ -2041,61 +2041,75 @@ window.initgui = async function (options) {
         }
 
         if (whoami) {
-            // Verification gates run in order: email → phone (SMS) → card,
-            // matching the server-side order in assertVerifiedAccount.
-            if (whoami.requires_email_confirmation) {
-                let is_verified;
-                do {
-                    is_verified = await UIWindowEmailConfirmationRequired({
-                        show_close_button: false,
-                        stay_on_top: true,
-                        has_head: false,
-                        window_options: {
-                            is_draggable: false,
-                        },
-                    });
-                } while (!is_verified);
-            }
-            // is phone verification required? (hard gate for low-rep signups)
-            // A user the SMS path keeps failing may be offered the card
-            // fallback instead; that resolves 'card' and clears the card gate
-            // too (see UIWindowPhoneVerificationRequired).
+            // Verification gates run in the server's order (see
+            // assertVerifiedAccount): email → phone (SMS) → card, or card →
+            // phone → email when the account clears email last.
             let card_gate_cleared_by_fallback = false;
-            if (whoami.requires_phone_verification) {
-                let is_verified;
-                do {
-                    is_verified = await UIWindowPhoneVerificationRequired({
-                        show_close_button: false,
-                        stay_on_top: true,
-                        has_head: false,
-                        // Already out of SMS attempts (the offer outlives the
-                        // send window, and no send can report it any more).
-                        card_fallback_available:
-                            whoami.card_fallback_available,
-                        window_options: {
-                            is_draggable: false,
-                        },
-                    });
-                } while (!is_verified);
-                card_gate_cleared_by_fallback = is_verified === 'card';
-            }
-            // Card verification is the last gate: only show it once the email and
-            // phone (SMS) gates are cleared, since those show up first.
-            if (
-                whoami.requires_card_verification &&
-                !card_gate_cleared_by_fallback
-            ) {
-                let is_verified;
-                do {
-                    is_verified = await UIWindowCardVerificationRequired({
-                        show_close_button: false,
-                        stay_on_top: true,
-                        has_head: false,
-                        window_options: {
-                            is_draggable: false,
-                        },
-                    });
-                } while (!is_verified);
+            const emailGate = async () => {
+                if (whoami.requires_email_confirmation) {
+                    let is_verified;
+                    do {
+                        is_verified = await UIWindowEmailConfirmationRequired({
+                            show_close_button: false,
+                            stay_on_top: true,
+                            has_head: false,
+                            window_options: {
+                                is_draggable: false,
+                            },
+                        });
+                    } while (!is_verified);
+                }
+            };
+            const phoneGate = async () => {
+                // is phone verification required? (hard gate for low-rep signups)
+                // A user the SMS path keeps failing may be offered the card
+                // fallback instead; that resolves 'card' and clears the card gate
+                // too (see UIWindowPhoneVerificationRequired).
+                if (whoami.requires_phone_verification) {
+                    let is_verified;
+                    do {
+                        is_verified = await UIWindowPhoneVerificationRequired({
+                            show_close_button: false,
+                            stay_on_top: true,
+                            has_head: false,
+                            // Already out of SMS attempts (the offer outlives the
+                            // send window, and no send can report it any more).
+                            card_fallback_available:
+                                whoami.card_fallback_available,
+                            window_options: {
+                                is_draggable: false,
+                            },
+                        });
+                    } while (!is_verified);
+                    card_gate_cleared_by_fallback = is_verified === 'card';
+                }
+            };
+            const cardGate = async () => {
+                if (
+                    whoami.requires_card_verification &&
+                    !card_gate_cleared_by_fallback
+                ) {
+                    let is_verified;
+                    do {
+                        is_verified = await UIWindowCardVerificationRequired({
+                            show_close_button: false,
+                            stay_on_top: true,
+                            has_head: false,
+                            window_options: {
+                                is_draggable: false,
+                            },
+                        });
+                    } while (!is_verified);
+                }
+            };
+            if (whoami.email_gate_last) {
+                await cardGate();
+                await phoneGate();
+                await emailGate();
+            } else {
+                await emailGate();
+                await phoneGate();
+                await cardGate();
             }
             // Last, matching assertVerifiedAccount's order.
             if (whoami.requires_password_change) {
@@ -2319,67 +2333,81 @@ window.initgui = async function (options) {
             // verification gates below: the landing's max z-index would cover
             // them.
             reveal_anonymous_markup(false);
-            // Verification gates run in order: email → phone (SMS) → card,
-            // matching the server-side order in assertVerifiedAccount.
-            if (whoami.requires_email_confirmation) {
-                let is_verified;
-                do {
-                    is_verified = await UIWindowEmailConfirmationRequired({
-                        show_close_button: false,
-                        stay_on_top: true,
-                        has_head: false,
-                        logout_in_footer: true,
-                        window_options: {
-                            is_draggable: false,
-                            cover_page: window.is_embedded,
-                        },
-                    });
-                } while (!is_verified);
-            }
-            // is phone verification required? (hard gate for low-rep signups)
-            // A user the SMS path keeps failing may be offered the card
-            // fallback instead; that resolves 'card' and clears the card gate
-            // too (see UIWindowPhoneVerificationRequired).
+            // Verification gates run in the server's order (see
+            // assertVerifiedAccount): email → phone (SMS) → card, or card →
+            // phone → email when the account clears email last.
             let card_gate_cleared_by_fallback = false;
-            if (whoami.requires_phone_verification) {
-                let is_verified;
-                do {
-                    is_verified = await UIWindowPhoneVerificationRequired({
-                        show_close_button: false,
-                        stay_on_top: true,
-                        has_head: false,
-                        logout_in_footer: true,
-                        // Already out of SMS attempts (the offer outlives the
-                        // send window, and no send can report it any more).
-                        card_fallback_available:
-                            whoami.card_fallback_available,
-                        window_options: {
-                            is_draggable: false,
-                            cover_page: window.is_embedded,
-                        },
-                    });
-                } while (!is_verified);
-                card_gate_cleared_by_fallback = is_verified === 'card';
-            }
-            // Card verification is the last gate: only show it once the email and
-            // phone (SMS) gates are cleared, since those show up first.
-            if (
-                whoami.requires_card_verification &&
-                !card_gate_cleared_by_fallback
-            ) {
-                let is_verified;
-                do {
-                    is_verified = await UIWindowCardVerificationRequired({
-                        show_close_button: false,
-                        stay_on_top: true,
-                        has_head: false,
-                        logout_in_footer: true,
-                        window_options: {
-                            is_draggable: false,
-                            cover_page: window.is_embedded,
-                        },
-                    });
-                } while (!is_verified);
+            const emailGate = async () => {
+                if (whoami.requires_email_confirmation) {
+                    let is_verified;
+                    do {
+                        is_verified = await UIWindowEmailConfirmationRequired({
+                            show_close_button: false,
+                            stay_on_top: true,
+                            has_head: false,
+                            logout_in_footer: true,
+                            window_options: {
+                                is_draggable: false,
+                                cover_page: window.is_embedded,
+                            },
+                        });
+                    } while (!is_verified);
+                }
+            };
+            const phoneGate = async () => {
+                // is phone verification required? (hard gate for low-rep signups)
+                // A user the SMS path keeps failing may be offered the card
+                // fallback instead; that resolves 'card' and clears the card gate
+                // too (see UIWindowPhoneVerificationRequired).
+                if (whoami.requires_phone_verification) {
+                    let is_verified;
+                    do {
+                        is_verified = await UIWindowPhoneVerificationRequired({
+                            show_close_button: false,
+                            stay_on_top: true,
+                            has_head: false,
+                            logout_in_footer: true,
+                            // Already out of SMS attempts (the offer outlives the
+                            // send window, and no send can report it any more).
+                            card_fallback_available:
+                                whoami.card_fallback_available,
+                            window_options: {
+                                is_draggable: false,
+                                cover_page: window.is_embedded,
+                            },
+                        });
+                    } while (!is_verified);
+                    card_gate_cleared_by_fallback = is_verified === 'card';
+                }
+            };
+            const cardGate = async () => {
+                if (
+                    whoami.requires_card_verification &&
+                    !card_gate_cleared_by_fallback
+                ) {
+                    let is_verified;
+                    do {
+                        is_verified = await UIWindowCardVerificationRequired({
+                            show_close_button: false,
+                            stay_on_top: true,
+                            has_head: false,
+                            logout_in_footer: true,
+                            window_options: {
+                                is_draggable: false,
+                                cover_page: window.is_embedded,
+                            },
+                        });
+                    } while (!is_verified);
+                }
+            };
+            if (whoami.email_gate_last) {
+                await cardGate();
+                await phoneGate();
+                await emailGate();
+            } else {
+                await emailGate();
+                await phoneGate();
+                await cardGate();
             }
             // Last, matching assertVerifiedAccount's order.
             if (whoami.requires_password_change) {