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---
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stage: Create
group: Source Code
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#designated-technical-writers
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type: reference, concepts
---
# Instance-level merge request approval rules **(PREMIUM ONLY)**
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> Introduced in [GitLab Premium](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/39060) 12.8.
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Merge request approvals rules prevent users overriding certain settings on a project
level. When configured, only administrators can change these settings on a project level
if they are enabled at an instance level.
To enable merge request approval rules for an instance:
1. Navigate to ** {admin}** **Admin Area >** ** {push-rules}** **Push Rules** and expand **Merge
requests approvals**.
1. Set the required rule.
1. Click **Save changes** .
GitLab administrators can later override these settings in a project’
## Available rules
Merge request approval rules that can be set at an instance level are:
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- **Prevent approval of merge requests by merge request author**. Prevents project
maintainers from allowing request authors to merge their own merge requests.
- **Prevent approval of merge requests by merge request committers**. Prevents project
maintainers from allowing users to approve merge requests if they have submitted
any commits to the source branch.
- **Prevent users from modifying merge request approvers list**. Prevents project
maintainers from allowing users to modify the approvers list in project settings
or in individual merge requests.
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## Scope rules to compliance-labeled projects
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> Introduced in [GitLab Premium](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/3432) 13.2.
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Merge request approval rules can be further scoped to specific compliance frameworks.
When the compliance framework label is selected and the project is assigned the compliance
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label, the instance-level MR approval settings will take effect and the
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[project-level settings ](../project/merge_requests/merge_request_approvals.md#adding--editing-a-default-approval-rule )
is locked for modification.
When the compliance framework label is not selected or the project is not assigned the
compliance label, the project-level MR approval settings will take effect and the users with
Maintainer role and above can modify these.
| Instance-level | Project-level |
| -------------- | ------------- |
|  |  |
