---
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
type: reference, concepts
---

# Instance-level merge request approval rules **(PREMIUM ONLY)**

> Introduced in [GitLab Premium](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/39060) 12.8.

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 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’s settings.

## Available rules

Merge request approval rules that can be set at an instance level are:

- **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.

## Scope rules to compliance-labeled projects

> Introduced in [GitLab Premium](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/3432) 13.2.

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
label, the instance-level MR approval settings will take effect and the
[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 |
| -------------- | ------------- |
| ![Scope MR approval settings to compliance frameworks](img/scope_mr_approval_settings_v13_1.png) | ![MR approval settings on compliance projects](img/mr_approval_settings_compliance_project_v13_1.png) |