diff --git a/.changeset/silver-tires-fold.md b/.changeset/silver-tires-fold.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..96a5a22397
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/silver-tires-fold.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+"@prosopo/provider": patch
+---
+
+Adding maintenance mode check at start of domain middleware
+  
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/provider/src/api/domainMiddleware.ts b/packages/provider/src/api/domainMiddleware.ts
index 67df9575e9..b33409f738 100644
--- a/packages/provider/src/api/domainMiddleware.ts
+++ b/packages/provider/src/api/domainMiddleware.ts
@@ -20,12 +20,22 @@ import type { NextFunction, Request, Response } from "express";
 import type { TFunction } from "i18next";
 import { ZodError } from "zod";
 import { Tasks } from "../tasks/index.js";
+import { getMaintenanceMode } from "./admin/apiToggleMaintenanceModeEndpoint.js";
 
 export const domainMiddleware = (env: ProviderEnvironment) => {
 	const tasks = new Tasks(env);
 
 	return async (req: Request, res: Response, next: NextFunction) => {
 		try {
+			// If maintenance mode is active, skip domain validation
+			if (getMaintenanceMode()) {
+				req.logger.info(() => ({
+					msg: "Maintenance mode active - skipping domain validation",
+				}));
+				next();
+				return;
+			}
+
 			const siteKey = req.headers["prosopo-site-key"] as string;
 			if (!siteKey)
 				throw siteKeyNotRegisteredError(