diff --git a/api/clusters/v1alpha1/accessrequest_types.go b/api/clusters/v1alpha1/accessrequest_types.go
index 9e8545d..7d52460 100644
--- a/api/clusters/v1alpha1/accessrequest_types.go
+++ b/api/clusters/v1alpha1/accessrequest_types.go
@@ -5,6 +5,13 @@ import (
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 )
 
+const (
+	// AccessRequestPending is the phase if the AccessRequest has not been scheduled yet.
+	AccessRequestPending = "Pending"
+	// AccessRequestGranted is the phase if the AccessRequest has been granted.
+	AccessRequestGranted = "Granted"
+)
+
 // +kubebuilder:validation:XValidation:rule="!has(oldSelf.clusterRef) || has(self.clusterRef)", message="clusterRef may not be removed once set"
 // +kubebuilder:validation:XValidation:rule="!has(oldSelf.requestRef) || has(self.requestRef)", message="requestRef may not be removed once set"
 type AccessRequestSpec struct {
diff --git a/api/clusters/v1alpha1/clusterrequest_types.go b/api/clusters/v1alpha1/clusterrequest_types.go
index a7b2943..4ad5285 100644
--- a/api/clusters/v1alpha1/clusterrequest_types.go
+++ b/api/clusters/v1alpha1/clusterrequest_types.go
@@ -4,6 +4,13 @@ import (
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 )
 
+const (
+	// ClusterRequestPending is the phase if the ClusterRequest has not been scheduled yet.
+	ClusterRequestPending = "Pending"
+	// ClusterRequestScheduled is the phase if the ClusterRequest has been scheduled.
+	ClusterRequestScheduled = "Scheduled"
+)
+
 // +kubebuilder:validation:XValidation:rule="self == oldSelf",message="spec is immutable"
 type ClusterRequestSpec struct {
 	// Purpose is the purpose of the requested cluster.
diff --git a/api/common/reference_types.go b/api/common/reference_types.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..89c9ee2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/common/reference_types.go
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+package common
+
+import (
+	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+	apimachinery "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
+)
+
+// ObjectReference is a reference to an object in any namespace.
+type ObjectReference apimachinery.NamespacedName
+
+// LocalObjectReference is a reference to an object in the same namespace as the resource referencing it.
+type LocalObjectReference corev1.LocalObjectReference
+
+// SecretReference is a reference to a secret in any namespace with a key.
+type SecretReference struct {
+	ObjectReference `json:",inline"`
+	// Key is the key in the secret to use.
+	Key string `json:"key"`
+}
+
+// LocalSecretReference is a reference to a secret in the same namespace as the resource referencing it with a key.
+type LocalSecretReference struct {
+	LocalObjectReference `json:",inline"`
+	// Key is the key in the secret to use.
+	Key string `json:"key"`
+}
diff --git a/api/common/status_types.go b/api/common/status_types.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dad5733
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/common/status_types.go
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+package common
+
+import metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+
+const (
+	// StatusPhaseReady indicates that the resource is ready. All conditions are met and are in status "True".
+	StatusPhaseReady = "Ready"
+	// StatusPhaseProgressing indicates that the resource is not ready and being created or updated. At least one condition is not met and is in status "False".
+	StatusPhaseProgressing = "Progressing"
+	// StatusPhaseTerminating indicates that the resource is not ready and in deletion. At least one condition is not met and is in status "False".
+	StatusPhaseTerminating = "Terminating"
+)
+
+// Status represents the status of an openMCP resource.
+type Status struct {
+	// ObservedGeneration is the generation of this resource that was last reconciled by the controller.
+	ObservedGeneration int64 `json:"observedGeneration"`
+
+	// Phase is the current phase of the resource.
+	Phase string `json:"phase"`
+
+	// Conditions contains the conditions.
+	// +optional
+	Conditions []metav1.Condition `json:"conditions,omitempty"`
+}