Merge request approvals API

Configuration for approvals on all merge requests in the project. Must be authenticated for all endpoints.

Project-level MR approvals

Get Configuration

Version history
  • Introduced in GitLab 10.6.
  • Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9.

You can request information about a project’s approval configuration using the following endpoint: 

GET /projects/:id/approvals

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of a project 
{
  "approvals_before_merge": 2,
  "reset_approvals_on_push": true,
  "disable_overriding_approvers_per_merge_request": false,
  "merge_requests_author_approval": true,
  "merge_requests_disable_committers_approval": false,
  "require_password_to_approve": true
}

Change configuration

Version history
  • Introduced in GitLab 10.6.
  • Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9.

If you are allowed to, you can change approval configuration using the following endpoint: 

POST /projects/:id/approvals

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of a project
approvals_before_merge integer no How many approvals are required before an MR can be merged. Deprecated in 12.0 in favor of Approval Rules API.
reset_approvals_on_push boolean no Reset approvals on a new push
disable_overriding_approvers_per_merge_request boolean no Allow/Disallow overriding approvers per MR
merge_requests_author_approval boolean no Allow/Disallow authors from self approving merge requests; true means authors can self approve
merge_requests_disable_committers_approval boolean no Allow/Disallow committers from self approving merge requests
require_password_to_approve boolean no Require approver to enter a password to authenticate before adding the approval 
{
  "approvals_before_merge": 2,
  "reset_approvals_on_push": true,
  "disable_overriding_approvers_per_merge_request": false,
  "merge_requests_author_approval": false,
  "merge_requests_disable_committers_approval": false,
  "require_password_to_approve": true
}

Get project-level rules

Version history

You can request information about a project’s approval rules using the following endpoint: 

GET /projects/:id/approval_rules

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of a project 
[
  {
    "id": 1,
    "name": "security",
    "rule_type": "regular",
    "eligible_approvers": [
      {
        "id": 5,
        "name": "John Doe",
        "username": "jdoe",
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
      },
      {
        "id": 50,
        "name": "Group Member 1",
        "username": "group_member_1",
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost/group_member_1"
      }
    ],
    "approvals_required": 3,
    "users": [
      {
        "id": 5,
        "name": "John Doe",
        "username": "jdoe",
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
      }
    ],
    "groups": [
      {
        "id": 5,
        "name": "group1",
        "path": "group1",
        "description": "",
        "visibility": "public",
        "lfs_enabled": false,
        "avatar_url": null,
        "web_url": "http://localhost/groups/group1",
        "request_access_enabled": false,
        "full_name": "group1",
        "full_path": "group1",
        "parent_id": null,
        "ldap_cn": null,
        "ldap_access": null
      }
    ],
    "protected_branches": [
      {
        "id": 1,
        "name": "master",
        "push_access_levels": [
          {
            "access_level": 30,
            "access_level_description": "Developers + Maintainers"
          }
        ],
        "merge_access_levels": [
          {
            "access_level": 30,
            "access_level_description": "Developers + Maintainers"
          }
        ],
        "unprotect_access_levels": [
          {
            "access_level": 40,
            "access_level_description": "Maintainers"
          }
        ],
        "code_owner_approval_required": "false"
      }
    ],
    "contains_hidden_groups": false
  }
]

Get a single project-level rule

  • Introduced 13.7.

You can request information about a single project approval rules using the following endpoint: 

GET /projects/:id/approval_rules/:approval_rule_id

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of a project
approval_rule_id integer yes The ID of a approval rule 
{
  "id": 1,
  "name": "security",
  "rule_type": "regular",
  "eligible_approvers": [
    {
      "id": 5,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    },
    {
      "id": 50,
      "name": "Group Member 1",
      "username": "group_member_1",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/group_member_1"
    }
  ],
  "approvals_required": 3,
  "users": [
    {
      "id": 5,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    }
  ],
  "groups": [
    {
      "id": 5,
      "name": "group1",
      "path": "group1",
      "description": "",
      "visibility": "public",
      "lfs_enabled": false,
      "avatar_url": null,
      "web_url": "http://localhost/groups/group1",
      "request_access_enabled": false,
      "full_name": "group1",
      "full_path": "group1",
      "parent_id": null,
      "ldap_cn": null,
      "ldap_access": null
    }
  ],
  "protected_branches": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "name": "master",
      "push_access_levels": [
        {
          "access_level": 30,
          "access_level_description": "Developers + Maintainers"
        }
      ],
      "merge_access_levels": [
        {
          "access_level": 30,
          "access_level_description": "Developers + Maintainers"
        }
      ],
      "unprotect_access_levels": [
        {
          "access_level": 40,
          "access_level_description": "Maintainers"
        }
      ],
      "code_owner_approval_required": "false"
    }
  ],
  "contains_hidden_groups": false
}

Create project-level rule

Version history
  • Introduced in GitLab 12.3.
  • Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9.

You can create project approval rules using the following endpoint: 

POST /projects/:id/approval_rules

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of a project
name string yes The name of the approval rule
approvals_required integer yes The number of required approvals for this rule
user_ids Array no The ids of users as approvers
group_ids Array no The ids of groups as approvers
protected_branch_ids Array no The ids of protected branches to scope the rule by 
{
  "id": 1,
  "name": "security",
  "rule_type": "regular",
  "eligible_approvers": [
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    },
    {
      "id": 50,
      "name": "Group Member 1",
      "username": "group_member_1",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/group_member_1"
    }
  ],
  "approvals_required": 1,
  "users": [
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    }
  ],
  "groups": [
    {
      "id": 5,
      "name": "group1",
      "path": "group1",
      "description": "",
      "visibility": "public",
      "lfs_enabled": false,
      "avatar_url": null,
      "web_url": "http://localhost/groups/group1",
      "request_access_enabled": false,
      "full_name": "group1",
      "full_path": "group1",
      "parent_id": null,
      "ldap_cn": null,
      "ldap_access": null
    }
  ],
  "protected_branches": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "name": "master",
      "push_access_levels": [
        {
          "access_level": 30,
          "access_level_description": "Developers + Maintainers"
        }
      ],
      "merge_access_levels": [
        {
          "access_level": 30,
          "access_level_description": "Developers + Maintainers"
        }
      ],
      "unprotect_access_levels": [
        {
          "access_level": 40,
          "access_level_description": "Maintainers"
        }
      ],
      "code_owner_approval_required": "false"
    }
  ],
  "contains_hidden_groups": false
}

Update project-level rule

Version history
  • Introduced in GitLab 12.3.
  • Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9.

You can update project approval rules using the following endpoint: 

PUT /projects/:id/approval_rules/:approval_rule_id

Important: Approvers and groups not in the users/groups parameters are removed

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of a project
approval_rule_id integer yes The ID of a approval rule
name string yes The name of the approval rule
approvals_required integer yes The number of required approvals for this rule
user_ids Array no The ids of users as approvers
group_ids Array no The ids of groups as approvers
protected_branch_ids Array no The ids of protected branches to scope the rule by 
{
  "id": 1,
  "name": "security",
  "rule_type": "regular",
  "eligible_approvers": [
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    },
    {
      "id": 50,
      "name": "Group Member 1",
      "username": "group_member_1",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/group_member_1"
    }
  ],
  "approvals_required": 1,
  "users": [
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    }
  ],
  "groups": [
    {
      "id": 5,
      "name": "group1",
      "path": "group1",
      "description": "",
      "visibility": "public",
      "lfs_enabled": false,
      "avatar_url": null,
      "web_url": "http://localhost/groups/group1",
      "request_access_enabled": false,
      "full_name": "group1",
      "full_path": "group1",
      "parent_id": null,
      "ldap_cn": null,
      "ldap_access": null
    }
  ],
  "protected_branches": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "name": "master",
      "push_access_levels": [
        {
          "access_level": 30,
          "access_level_description": "Developers + Maintainers"
        }
      ],
      "merge_access_levels": [
        {
          "access_level": 30,
          "access_level_description": "Developers + Maintainers"
        }
      ],
      "unprotect_access_levels": [
        {
          "access_level": 40,
          "access_level_description": "Maintainers"
        }
      ],
      "code_owner_approval_required": "false"
    }
  ],
  "contains_hidden_groups": false
}

Delete project-level rule

Version history
  • Introduced in GitLab 12.3.
  • Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9.

You can delete project approval rules using the following endpoint: 

DELETE /projects/:id/approval_rules/:approval_rule_id

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of a project
approval_rule_id integer yes The ID of a approval rule

Merge Request-level MR approvals

Configuration for approvals on a specific Merge Request. Must be authenticated for all endpoints.

Get Configuration

Version history
  • Introduced in GitLab 8.9.
  • Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9.

You can request information about a merge request’s approval status using the following endpoint: 

GET /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approvals

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The IID of MR 
{
  "id": 5,
  "iid": 5,
  "project_id": 1,
  "title": "Approvals API",
  "description": "Test",
  "state": "opened",
  "created_at": "2016-06-08T00:19:52.638Z",
  "updated_at": "2016-06-08T21:20:42.470Z",
  "merge_status": "cannot_be_merged",
  "approvals_required": 2,
  "approvals_left": 1,
  "approved_by": [
    {
      "user": {
        "name": "Administrator",
        "username": "root",
        "id": 1,
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e64c7d89f26bd1972efa854d13d7dd61?s=80\u0026d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost:3000/root"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Change approval configuration

Version history
  • Introduced in GitLab 10.6.
  • Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9.

If you are allowed to, you can change approvals_required using the following endpoint: 

POST /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approvals

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The IID of MR
approvals_required integer yes Approvals required before MR can be merged. Deprecated in 12.0 in favor of Approval Rules API. 
{
  "id": 5,
  "iid": 5,
  "project_id": 1,
  "title": "Approvals API",
  "description": "Test",
  "state": "opened",
  "created_at": "2016-06-08T00:19:52.638Z",
  "updated_at": "2016-06-08T21:20:42.470Z",
  "merge_status": "cannot_be_merged",
  "approvals_required": 2,
  "approvals_left": 2,
  "approved_by": []
}

Get the approval state of merge requests

Version history
  • Introduced in GitLab 12.3.
  • Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9.

You can request information about a merge request’s approval state by using the following endpoint: 

GET /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approval_state

The approval_rules_overwritten are true if the merge request level rules are created for the merge request. If there are none, it is false.

This includes additional information about the users who have already approved (approved_by) and whether a rule is already approved (approved).

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The IID of MR 
{
  "approval_rules_overwritten": true,
  "rules": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "name": "Ruby",
      "rule_type": "regular",
      "eligible_approvers": [
        {
          "id": 4,
          "name": "John Doe",
          "username": "jdoe",
          "state": "active",
          "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
          "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
        }
      ],
      "approvals_required": 2,
      "users": [
        {
          "id": 4,
          "name": "John Doe",
          "username": "jdoe",
          "state": "active",
          "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
          "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
        }
      ],
      "groups": [],
      "contains_hidden_groups": false,
      "approved_by": [
        {
          "id": 4,
          "name": "John Doe",
          "username": "jdoe",
          "state": "active",
          "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
          "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
        }
      ],
      "source_rule": null,
      "approved": true,
      "overridden": false
    }
  ]
}

Get merge request level rules

Version history
  • Introduced in GitLab 12.3.
  • Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9.

You can request information about a merge request’s approval rules using the following endpoint: 

GET /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approval_rules

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The IID of MR 
[
  {
    "id": 1,
    "name": "security",
    "rule_type": "regular",
    "eligible_approvers": [
      {
        "id": 5,
        "name": "John Doe",
        "username": "jdoe",
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
      },
      {
        "id": 50,
        "name": "Group Member 1",
        "username": "group_member_1",
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost/group_member_1"
      }
    ],
    "approvals_required": 3,
    "source_rule": null,
    "users": [
      {
        "id": 5,
        "name": "John Doe",
        "username": "jdoe",
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
      }
    ],
    "groups": [
      {
        "id": 5,
        "name": "group1",
        "path": "group1",
        "description": "",
        "visibility": "public",
        "lfs_enabled": false,
        "avatar_url": null,
        "web_url": "http://localhost/groups/group1",
        "request_access_enabled": false,
        "full_name": "group1",
        "full_path": "group1",
        "parent_id": null,
        "ldap_cn": null,
        "ldap_access": null
      }
    ],
    "contains_hidden_groups": false,
    "overridden": false
  }
]

Create merge request level rule

Version history
  • Introduced in GitLab 12.3.
  • Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9.

You can create merge request approval rules using the following endpoint: 

POST /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approval_rules

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The IID of MR
name string yes The name of the approval rule
approvals_required integer yes The number of required approvals for this rule
approval_project_rule_id integer no The ID of a project-level approval rule
user_ids Array no The ids of users as approvers
group_ids Array no The ids of groups as approvers

Important: When approval_project_rule_id is set, the name, users and groups of project-level rule are copied. The approvals_required specified is used. 

{
  "id": 1,
  "name": "security",
  "rule_type": "regular",
  "eligible_approvers": [
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    },
    {
      "id": 50,
      "name": "Group Member 1",
      "username": "group_member_1",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/group_member_1"
    }
  ],
  "approvals_required": 1,
  "source_rule": null,
  "users": [
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    }
  ],
  "groups": [
    {
      "id": 5,
      "name": "group1",
      "path": "group1",
      "description": "",
      "visibility": "public",
      "lfs_enabled": false,
      "avatar_url": null,
      "web_url": "http://localhost/groups/group1",
      "request_access_enabled": false,
      "full_name": "group1",
      "full_path": "group1",
      "parent_id": null,
      "ldap_cn": null,
      "ldap_access": null
    }
  ],
  "contains_hidden_groups": false,
  "overridden": false
}

Update merge request level rule

Version history
  • Introduced in GitLab 12.3.
  • Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9.

You can update merge request approval rules using the following endpoint: 

PUT /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approval_rules/:approval_rule_id

Important: Approvers and groups not in the users/groups parameters are removed

Important: Updating a report_approver or code_owner rule is not allowed. These are system generated rules.

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The ID of MR
approval_rule_id integer yes The ID of a approval rule
name string yes The name of the approval rule
approvals_required integer yes The number of required approvals for this rule
user_ids Array no The ids of users as approvers
group_ids Array no The ids of groups as approvers 
{
  "id": 1,
  "name": "security",
  "rule_type": "regular",
  "eligible_approvers": [
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    },
    {
      "id": 50,
      "name": "Group Member 1",
      "username": "group_member_1",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/group_member_1"
    }
  ],
  "approvals_required": 1,
  "source_rule": null,
  "users": [
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    }
  ],
  "groups": [
    {
      "id": 5,
      "name": "group1",
      "path": "group1",
      "description": "",
      "visibility": "public",
      "lfs_enabled": false,
      "avatar_url": null,
      "web_url": "http://localhost/groups/group1",
      "request_access_enabled": false,
      "full_name": "group1",
      "full_path": "group1",
      "parent_id": null,
      "ldap_cn": null,
      "ldap_access": null
    }
  ],
  "contains_hidden_groups": false,
  "overridden": false
}

Delete merge request level rule

Version history
  • Introduced in GitLab 12.3.
  • Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9.

You can delete merge request approval rules using the following endpoint: 

DELETE /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approval_rules/:approval_rule_id

Important: Deleting a report_approver or code_owner rule is not allowed. These are system generated rules.

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The IID of the merge request
approval_rule_id integer yes The ID of an approval rule

Approve Merge Request

Version history
  • Introduced in GitLab 8.9.
  • Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9.

If you are allowed to, you can approve a merge request using the following endpoint: 

POST /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approve

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The IID of the merge request
sha string no The HEAD of the merge request
approval_password string no Current user’s password. Required if Require user password to approve is enabled in the project settings.

The sha parameter works in the same way as when accepting a merge request: if it is passed, then it must match the current HEAD of the merge request for the approval to be added. If it does not match, the response code is 409. 

{
  "id": 5,
  "iid": 5,
  "project_id": 1,
  "title": "Approvals API",
  "description": "Test",
  "state": "opened",
  "created_at": "2016-06-08T00:19:52.638Z",
  "updated_at": "2016-06-09T21:32:14.105Z",
  "merge_status": "can_be_merged",
  "approvals_required": 2,
  "approvals_left": 0,
  "approved_by": [
    {
      "user": {
        "name": "Administrator",
        "username": "root",
        "id": 1,
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e64c7d89f26bd1972efa854d13d7dd61?s=80\u0026d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost:3000/root"
      }
    },
    {
      "user": {
        "name": "Nico Cartwright",
        "username": "ryley",
        "id": 2,
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/cf7ad14b34162a76d593e3affca2adca?s=80\u0026d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost:3000/ryley"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Unapprove Merge Request

Version history
  • Introduced in GitLab 9.0.
  • Moved to GitLab Premium in 13.9.

If you did approve a merge request, you can unapprove it using the following endpoint: 

POST /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/unapprove

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The IID of a merge request