---
stage: Release
group: Release
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/#assignments
description: Require approvals prior to deploying to a Protected Environment
---

# Deployment approvals **(PREMIUM)**

> - [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/343864) in GitLab 14.7 with a flag named `deployment_approvals`. Disabled by default.
> - [Feature flag removed](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/347342) in GitLab 14.8.

WARNING:
This feature is in a [Beta](../../policy/alpha-beta-support.md#beta-features) stage and subject to change without prior notice.

It may be useful to require additional approvals before deploying to certain protected environments (for example, production). This pre-deployment approval requirement is useful to accommodate testing, security, or compliance processes that must happen before each deployment.

When a protected environment requires one or more approvals, all deployments to that environment become blocked and wait for the required approvals from the `Allowed to Deploy` list before running.

NOTE:
See the [epic](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/6832) for planned features.

## Requirements

- Basic knowledge of [GitLab Environments and Deployments](index.md).
- Basic knowledge of [Protected Environments](protected_environments.md).

## Configure deployment approvals for a project

To configure deployment approvals for a project:

1. [Create a deployment job](#create-a-deployment-job).
1. [Require approvals for a protected environment](#require-approvals-for-a-protected-environment).

### Create a deployment job

Create a deployment job in the `.gitlab-ci.yml` file of the desired project. The job does **not** need to be manual (`when: manual`).

Example:

   ```yaml
   stages:
     - deploy

   production:
     stage: deploy
     script:
       - 'echo "Deploying to ${CI_ENVIRONMENT_NAME}"'
     environment:
       name: ${CI_JOB_NAME}
   ```

### Require approvals for a protected environment

There are two ways to configure the approval requirements:

- [Unified approval setting](#unified-approval-setting) ... You can define who can execute **and** approve deployments.
  This is useful when there is no separation of duties between executors and approvers in your organization.
- [Multiple approval rules](#multiple-approval-rules) ... You can define who can execute **or** approve deployments.
  This is useful when there is a separation of duties between executors and approvers in your organization.

NOTE:
Multiple approval rules is a more flexible option than the unified approval setting, thus both configurations shouldn't
co-exist and multiple approval rules takes the precedence over the unified approval setting if it happens.

#### Unified approval setting

NOTE:
At this time, it is not possible to require approvals for an existing protected environment. The workaround is to unprotect the environment and configure approvals when re-protecting the environment.

There are two ways to configure approvals for a protected environment:

1. Using the [UI](protected_environments.md#protecting-environments)
   1. Set the **Required approvals** field to 1 or more.
1. Using the [REST API](../../api/protected_environments.md#protect-repository-environments)
   2. Set the `required_approval_count` field to 1 or more.

After this is configured, all jobs deploying to this environment automatically go into a blocked state and wait for approvals before running. Ensure that the number of required approvals is less than the number of users allowed to deploy.

Example:

```shell
curl --header 'Content-Type: application/json' --request POST \
     --data '{"name": "production", "deploy_access_levels": [{"group_id": 9899826}], "required_approval_count": 1}' \
     --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>" \
     "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/projects/22034114/protected_environments"
```

NOTE:
To protect, update, or unprotect an environment, you must have at least the
Maintainer role.

#### Multiple approval rules

> - [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/345678) in GitLab 14.10 with a flag named `deployment_approval_rules`. Disabled by default.
> - [Generally available](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/345678) in GitLab 15.0. [Feature flag `deployment_approval_rules`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/345678) removed.

1. Using the [REST API](../../api/group_protected_environments.md#protect-an-environment).
   1. `deploy_access_levels` represents which entity can execute the deployment job.
   1. `approval_rules` represents which entity can approve the deployment job.

After this is configured, all jobs deploying to this environment automatically go into a blocked state and wait for approvals before running. Ensure that the number of required approvals is less than the number of users allowed to deploy.

Example:

```shell
curl --header 'Content-Type: application/json' --request POST \
     --data '{"name": "production", "deploy_access_levels": [{"group_id": 138}], "approval_rules": [{"group_id": 134}, {"group_id": 135, "required_approvals": 2}]}' \
     --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>" \
     "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/groups/128/protected_environments"
```

With this setup:

- The operator group (`group_id: 138`) has permission to execute the deployment jobs to the `production` environment in the organization (`group_id: 128`).
- The QA tester group (`group_id: 134`) and security group (`group_id: 135`) have permission to approve the deployment jobs to the `production` environment in the organization (`group_id: 128`).
- Unless two approvals from security group and one approval from QA tester group have been collected, the operator group can't execute the deployment jobs.

NOTE:
To protect, update, or unprotect an environment, you must have at least the
Maintainer role.

## Approve or reject a deployment

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/342180/) in GitLab 14.9

Using either the GitLab UI or the API, you can:

- Approve a deployment to allow it to proceed.
- Reject a deployment to prevent it.

### Approve or reject a deployment using the UI

Prerequisites:

- Permission to deploy to the protected environment.

To approve or reject a deployment to a protected environment using the UI:

1. On the top bar, select **Menu > Projects** and find your project.
1. On the left sidebar, select **Deployments > Environments**.
1. Select the environment's name.
1. In the deployment's row, select **Approval options** (**{thumb-up}**).
1. Optional. Add a comment which describes your reason for approving or rejecting the deployment.
1. Select **Approve** or **Reject**.

NOTE:
This feature might not work as expected when [Multiple approval rules](#multiple-approval-rules) is configured.
See the [issue](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/355708) for planned improvement.

### Approve or reject a deployment using the API

Prerequisites:

- Permission to deploy to the protected environment.

To approve or reject a deployment to a protected environment using the API, pass the
required attributes. For more details, see
[Approve or reject a blocked deployment](../../api/deployments.md#approve-or-reject-a-blocked-deployment).

Example:

```shell
curl --data "status=approved&comment=Looks good to me" \
     --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>" "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/projects/1/deployments/1/approval"
```

## How to see blocked deployments

### Using the UI

1. On the top bar, select **Menu > Projects** and find your project.
1. On the left sidebar, select **Deployments > Environments**.
1. Select the environment being deployed to.
1. Look for the `blocked` label.

### Using the API

Use the [Deployments API](../../api/deployments.md#get-a-specific-deployment) to see deployments.

- The `status` field indicates if a deployment is blocked.
- When the [unified approval setting](#unified-approval-setting) is configured:
  - The `pending_approval_count` field indicates how many approvals are remaining to run a deployment.
  - The `approvals` field contains the deployment's approvals.
- When the [multiple approval rules](#multiple-approval-rules) is configured:
  - The `approval_summary` field contains the current approval status per rule.

## Related features

For details about other GitLab features aimed at protecting deployments, see [safe deployments](deployment_safety.md).

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