> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.digitalseaservice.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# sponsorship_cap_reached

> HTTP 409 — your sponsorship program's seat cap is full.

<Note>
  **Partner-restricted.** Only returned by the
  [Sponsorship API](/sponsorships/overview), which requires a sponsorship program.
</Note>

```http theme={null}
HTTP/1.1 409 Conflict
Content-Type: application/problem+json
X-Request-Id: req_01HV9XK...

{
  "type": "https://docs.digitalseaservice.com/errors/sponsorship_cap_reached",
  "title": "Sponsorship cap reached",
  "status": 409,
  "detail": "This sponsorship program has no seats available.",
  "instance": "req_01HV9XK..."
}
```

## What it means

Your program has a configured seat cap, and every seat is currently occupied,
so [`POST /v1/partners/sponsorships`](/sponsorships/provision) can't provision a
new one. Seats in the `active`
[status](/sponsorships/overview#seat-lifecycle) occupy the cap;
`converted`, `cancelled` and `expired` seats free it.

<Note>
  **Many programs are uncapped.** A capped program is a per-program setting, not a
  default. If your program is uncapped you will never see this error — new seats
  are always accepted (DSS monitors growth for you rather than blocking at a
  ceiling).
</Note>

## What to do

* **Free up a seat.** [Remove a seat](/sponsorships/remove) you no longer need —
  `cancelled`, `converted` and `expired` seats don't count. Then retry the
  provision.
* **Reconcile first.** Use [`GET /v1/partners/sponsorships?status=active`](/sponsorships/reconciliation)
  to see exactly which seats are occupied.
* **Raise or remove the cap.** If you need more seats,
  [contact DSS](mailto:admin@digitalseaservice.com) — the cap (or making the
  program uncapped) is a program-configuration change on our side. Quote the
  `instance` request ID.

## Related

* [Provision a seat](/sponsorships/provision)
* [Reconcile your roster](/sponsorships/reconciliation)
* [Errors overview](/errors)