---
title: "Configure a waiting stage"
slug: "configure-a-waiting-stage"
tags: ["Totara Platform", "Site Administrator", "How-to"]
updated: 2026-08-13T16:01:02Z
published: 2026-08-13T16:01:02Z
canonical: "totara.help/configure-a-waiting-stage"
---

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

# Configure a waiting stage

In [approval workflows](/totara-20/docs/what-are-approval-workflows), a waiting stage is used to put an application into a holding state, pending an external event. You can configure which fields are available and/or required on the form if it is editable (depending on user capabilities), what happens if the application is withdrawn, and which notifications should be sent.

On a published or archived workflow, only the notifications can be changed.Developer noteShort of withdrawing an application, there is no way to get it out of a waiting stage without customisation. An **approvalform** plugin can implement a scheduled task or some user interface that will cause applications in this stage to advance to the next stage.

Of the available [notification triggers](/totara-20/docs/approval-workflows-notification-triggers), only the following apply to a waiting stage:

- **Comment added:** Triggered when a new comment is added to the application at this stage
- **Comment updated:** Triggered when a comment is updated at this stage (the comment may have been added in any stage)
- **At start of stage:** Triggered when an application moves into this stage (or for the first stage, when an application is created)
- **At end of stage:** Triggered when an application leaves this stage for any reason
- **Application withdrawn:** Triggered when an application is withdrawn at this stage

![Configuring the interactions for a waiting stage.](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-1665067786095.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T06%3A31%3A35Z&se=2026-11-06T07%3A31%3A35Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=zkYn%2Bcqlsq5UVhGZmzBLcNni0M1j6c7ioE%2FnsCr0KT8%3D)

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