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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
---
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# 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 approval rules prevent users from overriding certain settings on the project
level. When enabled at the instance level, these settings are no longer editable on the
project level.
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To enable merge request approval rules for an instance:
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1. Navigate to **Admin Area >** ** {push-rules}** **Push Rules** and expand **Merge
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requests approvals**.
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1. Set the required rule.
1. Click **Save changes** .
## 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
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maintainers from allowing request authors to merge their own merge requests.
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- **Prevent approval of merge requests by merge request committers**. Prevents project
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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 users from
modifying the approvers list in project settings or in individual merge requests.
