diff --git a/client/components/RequireAccess.tsx b/client/components/RequireAccess.tsx
index a170620a..e22a2412 100644
--- a/client/components/RequireAccess.tsx
+++ b/client/components/RequireAccess.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 import { Navigate, useLocation } from "react-router-dom";
 import { useAuth } from "@/contexts/AuthContext";
+import Layout from "@/components/Layout";
+import { Card, CardHeader, CardTitle, CardDescription } from "@/components/ui/card";
+import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
 
 interface RequireAccessProps {
   allowedRealms?: Array<
@@ -15,7 +18,6 @@ export default function RequireAccess({
   children,
 }: RequireAccessProps) {
   const { user, profile, roles } = useAuth();
-  const location = useLocation();
 
   const realmOk =
     !allowedRealms || allowedRealms.includes((profile as any)?.user_type);
@@ -24,14 +26,41 @@ export default function RequireAccess({
     (Array.isArray(roles) &&
       roles.some((r) => allowedRoles.includes(r.toLowerCase())));
 
-  if (!user)
+  if (!user) {
     return (
-      <Navigate
-        to={`/onboarding?next=${encodeURIComponent(location.pathname + location.search)}`}
-        replace
-      />
+      <Layout>
+        <div className="min-h-screen bg-aethex-gradient py-12">
+          <section className="container mx-auto max-w-3xl px-4">
+            <Card className="bg-card/60 border-border/40 backdrop-blur">
+              <CardHeader>
+                <Badge variant="outline" className="mb-2 border-aethex-400/50 text-aethex-300">Access</Badge>
+                <CardTitle>Access denied</CardTitle>
+                <CardDescription>Sign in required to view this page.</CardDescription>
+              </CardHeader>
+            </Card>
+          </section>
+        </div>
+      </Layout>
     );
-  if (!realmOk || !rolesOk) return <Navigate to="/realms" replace />;
+  }
+
+  if (!realmOk || !rolesOk) {
+    return (
+      <Layout>
+        <div className="min-h-screen bg-aethex-gradient py-12">
+          <section className="container mx-auto max-w-3xl px-4">
+            <Card className="bg-card/60 border-border/40 backdrop-blur">
+              <CardHeader>
+                <Badge variant="outline" className="mb-2 border-aethex-400/50 text-aethex-300">Access</Badge>
+                <CardTitle>Access denied</CardTitle>
+                <CardDescription>You don’t have the required realm or role for this area.</CardDescription>
+              </CardHeader>
+            </Card>
+          </section>
+        </div>
+      </Layout>
+    );
+  }
 
   return children;
 }