diff --git a/creator-keys/src/events.rs b/creator-keys/src/events.rs
index 8e85da00..6129fcd7 100644
--- a/creator-keys/src/events.rs
+++ b/creator-keys/src/events.rs
@@ -993,6 +993,28 @@ pub fn keys_claimed_topics(creator: &Address, beneficiary: &Address) -> (Symbol,
     )
 }
 
+pub const VESTING_CLIFF_CLAIMED_EVENT_NAME: Symbol = symbol_short!("vc_claim");
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+#[contracttype]
+pub struct VestingCliffClaimedEvent {
+    pub creator_id: Address,
+    pub beneficiary: Address,
+    pub amount: i128,
+    pub ledger: u32,
+}
+
+pub fn vesting_cliff_claimed_topics(
+    creator: &Address,
+    beneficiary: &Address,
+) -> (Symbol, Address, Address) {
+    (
+        VESTING_CLIFF_CLAIMED_EVENT_NAME,
+        creator.clone(),
+        beneficiary.clone(),
+    )
+}
+
 // --- Timelock events ---
 
 /// Event name for config change proposed.
diff --git a/creator-keys/src/lib.rs b/creator-keys/src/lib.rs
index edbfee66..8422f3b0 100644
--- a/creator-keys/src/lib.rs
+++ b/creator-keys/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #![no_std]
 #![allow(clippy::enum_variant_names)] // `contracttype` macro-generated enums share prefixes by design
 pub mod quote_view_errors;
-
+pub mod vesting;
 use soroban_sdk::{
     contract, contracterror, contractimpl, contracttype, Address, BytesN, Env, String, Vec,
 };
@@ -786,6 +786,10 @@ pub mod constants {
             DataKey::VestingSchedule(creator.clone(), beneficiary.clone())
         }
 
+        pub fn vesting_cliff_config(creator: &Address, beneficiary: &Address) -> DataKey {
+            DataKey::VestingCliffConfig(creator.clone(), beneficiary.clone())
+        }
+
         pub const CIRCUIT_BREAKER_THRESHOLD: DataKey = DataKey::CircuitBreakerThreshold;
 
         pub fn referral_earnings(referrer: &Address) -> DataKey {
@@ -1800,6 +1804,8 @@ pub enum DataKey {
     /// gated access (Issue #953). Absent means access gating is not configured
     /// for that creator and `subscribe` rejects.
     MinHoldForAccess(Address),
+    /// (creator, beneficiary) -> cliff-vesting config (issue #916).
+    VestingCliffConfig(Address, Address),
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
@@ -11745,7 +11751,109 @@ impl CreatorKeysContract {
 
         Ok(claimable)
     }
+    #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
+    pub fn create_vesting_cliff(
+        env: Env,
+        creator: Address,
+        caller: Address,
+        beneficiary: Address,
+        total_allocation: i128,
+        cliff_timestamp: u64,
+        start_timestamp: u64,
+        duration_secs: u64,
+    ) -> Result<(), ContractError> {
+        caller.require_auth();
+        if caller != creator {
+            return Err(ContractError::Unauthorized);
+        }
+        if total_allocation <= 0 {
+            return Err(ContractError::NotPositiveAmount);
+        }
+        let key = constants::storage::vesting_cliff_config(&creator, &beneficiary);
+        if env.storage().persistent().has(&key) {
+            return Err(ContractError::AlreadyRegistered);
+        }
+        let config = vesting::VestingConfig {
+            total_allocation,
+            cliff_timestamp,
+            start_timestamp,
+            duration_secs,
+            claimed_amount: 0,
+        };
+        env.storage().persistent().set(&key, &config);
+        extend_key_ttl_to_full_window(&env, &key);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub fn claim_vested_cliff(
+        env: Env,
+        creator: Address,
+        beneficiary: Address,
+    ) -> Result<i128, ContractError> {
+        beneficiary.require_auth();
+        let key = constants::storage::vesting_cliff_config(&creator, &beneficiary);
+        let mut config: vesting::VestingConfig = env
+            .storage()
+            .persistent()
+            .get(&key)
+            .ok_or(ContractError::NotRegistered)?;
+        let now = env.ledger().timestamp();
+        let claimable = vesting::claimable_amount(&config, now);
+        if claimable == 0 {
+            return Err(ContractError::NoDividendClaimable);
+        }
+        config.claimed_amount = config
+            .claimed_amount
+            .checked_add(claimable)
+            .ok_or(ContractError::Overflow)?;
+        env.storage().persistent().set(&key, &config);
+        extend_key_ttl_to_full_window(&env, &key);
+
+        let balance_key = constants::storage::holder_balance_key(&creator, &beneficiary);
+        let current_balance: u32 = env.storage().persistent().get(&balance_key).unwrap_or(0);
+        let claimable_u32 = u32::try_from(claimable).map_err(|_| ContractError::Overflow)?;
+        let new_balance = current_balance
+            .checked_add(claimable_u32)
+            .ok_or(ContractError::Overflow)?;
+        env.storage().persistent().set(&balance_key, &new_balance);
+        extend_key_ttl_to_full_window(&env, &balance_key);
+
+        if current_balance == 0 {
+            let mut profile = read_registered_creator_profile(&env, &creator)?;
+            profile.holder_count = profile
+                .holder_count
+                .checked_add(1)
+                .ok_or(ContractError::Overflow)?;
+            let profile_key = constants::storage::creator(&creator);
+            env.storage().persistent().set(&profile_key, &profile);
+        }
+
+        env.events().publish(
+            events::vesting_cliff_claimed_topics(&creator, &beneficiary),
+            events::VestingCliffClaimedEvent {
+                creator_id: creator,
+                beneficiary,
+                amount: claimable,
+                ledger: env.ledger().sequence(),
+            },
+        );
+        Ok(claimable)
+    }
 
+    pub fn get_vesting_info(
+        env: Env,
+        creator: Address,
+        beneficiary: Address,
+    ) -> Result<vesting::VestingInfo, ContractError> {
+        let key = constants::storage::vesting_cliff_config(&creator, &beneficiary);
+        let config: vesting::VestingConfig = env
+            .storage()
+            .persistent()
+            .get(&key)
+            .ok_or(ContractError::NotRegistered)?;
+        let now = env.ledger().timestamp();
+        Ok(vesting::get_vesting_info(&config, now))
+    }
     pub fn set_circuit_breaker_threshold(
         env: Env,
         admin: Address,
diff --git a/creator-keys/src/vesting.rs b/creator-keys/src/vesting.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b26c1f00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/creator-keys/src/vesting.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
+//! Linear vesting release calculation with cliff enforcement (issue #916).
+//!
+//! Pure module — no `Env`, no storage — so the release math is unit-testable
+//! in isolation, mirroring the `fee` module's `compute_fee_split` approach.
+
+use soroban_sdk::contracttype;
+
+/// Persisted vesting configuration for a single beneficiary.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+#[contracttype]
+pub struct VestingConfig {
+    pub total_allocation: i128,
+    pub cliff_timestamp: u64,
+    pub start_timestamp: u64,
+    pub duration_secs: u64,
+    pub claimed_amount: i128,
+}
+
+/// Aggregated read-only view returned by `get_vesting_info`.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+#[contracttype]
+pub struct VestingInfo {
+    pub total_allocation: i128,
+    pub vested_amount: i128,
+    pub claimed_amount: i128,
+    pub claimable_amount: i128,
+    pub cliff_timestamp: u64,
+    pub start_timestamp: u64,
+    pub duration_secs: u64,
+    pub is_fully_vested: bool,
+}
+
+/// Computes total unlocked so far (ignoring what's already claimed).
+///
+/// - `0` before `cliff_timestamp`.
+/// - Linear from `start_timestamp` once past the cliff.
+/// - Full allocation once `elapsed >= duration_secs`.
+/// - `duration_secs == 0` fully vests exactly at the cliff.
+pub fn vested_amount(config: &VestingConfig, current_timestamp: u64) -> i128 {
+    if config.total_allocation <= 0 {
+        return 0;
+    }
+    if current_timestamp < config.cliff_timestamp {
+        return 0;
+    }
+    if config.duration_secs == 0 {
+        return config.total_allocation;
+    }
+
+    let elapsed = current_timestamp.saturating_sub(config.start_timestamp);
+    if elapsed >= config.duration_secs {
+        return config.total_allocation;
+    }
+
+    (config.total_allocation.saturating_mul(i128::from(elapsed))) / i128::from(config.duration_secs)
+}
+
+/// Vested minus already claimed, floored at zero.
+pub fn claimable_amount(config: &VestingConfig, current_timestamp: u64) -> i128 {
+    vested_amount(config, current_timestamp)
+        .saturating_sub(config.claimed_amount)
+        .max(0)
+}
+
+/// Returns all vesting state in one call (issue #916 requirement).
+pub fn get_vesting_info(config: &VestingConfig, current_timestamp: u64) -> VestingInfo {
+    let vested = vested_amount(config, current_timestamp);
+    let claimable = vested.saturating_sub(config.claimed_amount).max(0);
+    VestingInfo {
+        total_allocation: config.total_allocation,
+        vested_amount: vested,
+        claimed_amount: config.claimed_amount,
+        claimable_amount: claimable,
+        cliff_timestamp: config.cliff_timestamp,
+        start_timestamp: config.start_timestamp,
+        duration_secs: config.duration_secs,
+        is_fully_vested: vested >= config.total_allocation,
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn base_config() -> VestingConfig {
+        VestingConfig {
+            total_allocation: 10_000,
+            cliff_timestamp: 1_000,
+            start_timestamp: 0,
+            duration_secs: 10_000,
+            claimed_amount: 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_vested_amount_returns_zero_before_cliff() {
+        let config = base_config();
+        assert_eq!(vested_amount(&config, 0), 0);
+        assert_eq!(vested_amount(&config, 999), 0);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_vested_amount_at_cliff_uses_linear_formula() {
+        let config = base_config();
+        assert_eq!(vested_amount(&config, 1_000), 1_000);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_vested_amount_mid_vesting_is_linear() {
+        let config = base_config();
+        assert_eq!(vested_amount(&config, 5_000), 5_000);
+        assert_eq!(vested_amount(&config, 7_500), 7_500);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_vested_amount_fully_vested_after_duration() {
+        let config = base_config();
+        assert_eq!(vested_amount(&config, 10_000), 10_000);
+        assert_eq!(vested_amount(&config, 999_999), 10_000);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_vested_amount_zero_duration_fully_vests_at_cliff() {
+        let config = VestingConfig {
+            duration_secs: 0,
+            ..base_config()
+        };
+        assert_eq!(vested_amount(&config, 0), 0);
+        assert_eq!(vested_amount(&config, 1_000), 10_000);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_vested_amount_zero_allocation_is_always_zero() {
+        let config = VestingConfig {
+            total_allocation: 0,
+            ..base_config()
+        };
+        assert_eq!(vested_amount(&config, 10_000), 0);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_claimable_amount_subtracts_already_claimed() {
+        let config = VestingConfig {
+            claimed_amount: 3_000,
+            ..base_config()
+        };
+        assert_eq!(claimable_amount(&config, 5_000), 2_000);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_claimable_amount_never_negative() {
+        let config = VestingConfig {
+            claimed_amount: 9_999,
+            ..base_config()
+        };
+        assert_eq!(claimable_amount(&config, 0), 0);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_get_vesting_info_pre_cliff() {
+        let config = base_config();
+        let info = get_vesting_info(&config, 500);
+        assert_eq!(info.vested_amount, 0);
+        assert_eq!(info.claimable_amount, 0);
+        assert!(!info.is_fully_vested);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_get_vesting_info_mid_vesting() {
+        let config = VestingConfig {
+            claimed_amount: 1_000,
+            ..base_config()
+        };
+        let info = get_vesting_info(&config, 5_000);
+        assert_eq!(info.vested_amount, 5_000);
+        assert_eq!(info.claimable_amount, 4_000);
+        assert!(!info.is_fully_vested);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_get_vesting_info_fully_vested() {
+        let config = VestingConfig {
+            claimed_amount: 10_000,
+            ..base_config()
+        };
+        let info = get_vesting_info(&config, 20_000);
+        assert_eq!(info.claimable_amount, 0);
+        assert!(info.is_fully_vested);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_vested_amount_no_rounding_errors_at_exact_duration_fraction() {
+        let config = VestingConfig {
+            total_allocation: 9_999,
+            cliff_timestamp: 0,
+            start_timestamp: 0,
+            duration_secs: 3,
+            claimed_amount: 0,
+        };
+        assert_eq!(vested_amount(&config, 1), 3_333);
+        assert_eq!(vested_amount(&config, 2), 6_666);
+        assert_eq!(vested_amount(&config, 3), 9_999);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/creator-keys/tests/vesting_cliff_lifecycle.rs b/creator-keys/tests/vesting_cliff_lifecycle.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a3d67555
--- /dev/null
+++ b/creator-keys/tests/vesting_cliff_lifecycle.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+mod contract_test_env;
+use contract_test_env::{register_creator_keys, register_test_creator, test_env_with_auths};
+use soroban_sdk::testutils::{Address as _, Ledger};
+use soroban_sdk::Address;
+
+#[test]
+fn claim_before_cliff_reverts_with_no_claimable() {
+    let env = test_env_with_auths();
+    let (client, _id) = register_creator_keys(&env);
+    let creator = register_test_creator(&env, &client, "vestcreator");
+    let beneficiary = Address::generate(&env);
+    client.create_vesting_cliff(
+        &creator,
+        &creator,
+        &beneficiary,
+        &10_000i128,
+        &1_000u64,
+        &0u64,
+        &10_000u64,
+    );
+    let result = client.try_claim_vested_cliff(&creator, &beneficiary);
+    assert!(result.is_err());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn claim_mid_vesting_returns_linear_amount() {
+    let env = test_env_with_auths();
+    let (client, _id) = register_creator_keys(&env);
+    let creator = register_test_creator(&env, &client, "vestcreator2");
+    let beneficiary = Address::generate(&env);
+    client.create_vesting_cliff(
+        &creator,
+        &creator,
+        &beneficiary,
+        &10_000i128,
+        &1_000u64,
+        &0u64,
+        &10_000u64,
+    );
+    let mut l = env.ledger().get();
+    l.timestamp = 5_000;
+    env.ledger().set(l);
+    let claimed = client.claim_vested_cliff(&creator, &beneficiary);
+    assert_eq!(claimed, 5_000);
+    let info = client.get_vesting_info(&creator, &beneficiary);
+    assert_eq!(info.claimed_amount, 5_000);
+    assert_eq!(info.claimable_amount, 0);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn claim_after_full_duration_returns_full_allocation() {
+    let env = test_env_with_auths();
+    let (client, _id) = register_creator_keys(&env);
+    let creator = register_test_creator(&env, &client, "vestcreator3");
+    let beneficiary = Address::generate(&env);
+    client.create_vesting_cliff(
+        &creator,
+        &creator,
+        &beneficiary,
+        &10_000i128,
+        &1_000u64,
+        &0u64,
+        &10_000u64,
+    );
+    let mut l = env.ledger().get();
+    l.timestamp = 20_000;
+    env.ledger().set(l);
+    let claimed = client.claim_vested_cliff(&creator, &beneficiary);
+    assert_eq!(claimed, 10_000);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn duplicate_schedule_is_rejected() {
+    let env = test_env_with_auths();
+    let (client, _id) = register_creator_keys(&env);
+    let creator = register_test_creator(&env, &client, "vestcreator5");
+    let beneficiary = Address::generate(&env);
+    client.create_vesting_cliff(
+        &creator,
+        &creator,
+        &beneficiary,
+        &10_000i128,
+        &1_000u64,
+        &0u64,
+        &10_000u64,
+    );
+    let result = client.try_create_vesting_cliff(
+        &creator,
+        &creator,
+        &beneficiary,
+        &5_000i128,
+        &0u64,
+        &0u64,
+        &5_000u64,
+    );
+    assert!(result.is_err());
+}