diff --git a/internal/handlers/approvals.go b/internal/handlers/approvals.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2c10fb7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/handlers/approvals.go
@@ -0,0 +1,291 @@
+package handlers
+
+// Approval workflow HTTP endpoints (t-paliad-138).
+//
+// Three groups of routes:
+//
+//   1. Policy CRUD (admin-only, gated at the route layer):
+//      GET    /api/projects/{id}/approval-policies
+//      PUT    /api/projects/{id}/approval-policies/{entity_type}/{lifecycle}
+//      DELETE /api/projects/{id}/approval-policies/{entity_type}/{lifecycle}
+//
+//   2. Inbox (any authenticated user — the service-layer query gates by
+//      project visibility + approver eligibility):
+//      GET /api/inbox/pending-mine     — requests I can approve
+//      GET /api/inbox/mine             — requests I submitted
+//      GET /api/inbox/count            — bell badge count
+//      GET /api/approval-requests/{id} — one request hydrated
+//
+//   3. Decisions (any authenticated user — service layer gates the action):
+//      POST /api/approval-requests/{id}/approve
+//      POST /api/approval-requests/{id}/reject
+//      POST /api/approval-requests/{id}/revoke
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"net/http"
+
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+
+	"mgit.msbls.de/m/paliad/internal/models"
+	"mgit.msbls.de/m/paliad/internal/services"
+)
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Policy CRUD (admin only — gated by RequireAdminFunc at registration).
+// ============================================================================
+
+// GET /api/projects/{id}/approval-policies
+func handleListApprovalPolicies(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if !requireDB(w) {
+		return
+	}
+	if _, ok := requireUser(w, r); !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	projectID, err := uuid.Parse(r.PathValue("id"))
+	if err != nil {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "invalid project id"})
+		return
+	}
+	rows, err := dbSvc.approval.ListPolicies(r.Context(), projectID)
+	if err != nil {
+		writeServiceError(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	if rows == nil {
+		rows = []models.ApprovalPolicy{} // ensure JSON [] not null
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, rows)
+}
+
+// PUT /api/projects/{id}/approval-policies/{entity_type}/{lifecycle}
+//
+// Body: {"required_role": "associate"}
+//
+// Semantics: upsert. Replaces any existing row for the same
+// (project, entity_type, lifecycle) tuple.
+func handlePutApprovalPolicy(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if !requireDB(w) {
+		return
+	}
+	uid, ok := requireUser(w, r)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	projectID, err := uuid.Parse(r.PathValue("id"))
+	if err != nil {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "invalid project id"})
+		return
+	}
+	entityType := r.PathValue("entity_type")
+	lifecycle := r.PathValue("lifecycle")
+	var body struct {
+		RequiredRole string `json:"required_role"`
+	}
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "invalid JSON"})
+		return
+	}
+	policy, err := dbSvc.approval.UpsertPolicy(r.Context(), projectID, uid, entityType, lifecycle, body.RequiredRole)
+	if err != nil {
+		writeServiceError(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, policy)
+}
+
+// DELETE /api/projects/{id}/approval-policies/{entity_type}/{lifecycle}
+//
+// Removes one policy row, reverting that lifecycle event back to the
+// no-approval-needed default.
+func handleDeleteApprovalPolicy(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if !requireDB(w) {
+		return
+	}
+	if _, ok := requireUser(w, r); !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	projectID, err := uuid.Parse(r.PathValue("id"))
+	if err != nil {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "invalid project id"})
+		return
+	}
+	entityType := r.PathValue("entity_type")
+	lifecycle := r.PathValue("lifecycle")
+	if err := dbSvc.approval.DeletePolicy(r.Context(), projectID, entityType, lifecycle); err != nil {
+		writeServiceError(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNoContent)
+}
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Inbox.
+// ============================================================================
+
+// GET /api/inbox/pending-mine — requests I'm qualified to approve.
+func handleListInboxPendingMine(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if !requireDB(w) {
+		return
+	}
+	uid, ok := requireUser(w, r)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	rows, err := dbSvc.approval.ListPendingForApprover(r.Context(), uid, parseInboxFilter(r))
+	if err != nil {
+		writeServiceError(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, rows)
+}
+
+// GET /api/inbox/mine — requests I submitted.
+func handleListInboxMine(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if !requireDB(w) {
+		return
+	}
+	uid, ok := requireUser(w, r)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	rows, err := dbSvc.approval.ListSubmittedByUser(r.Context(), uid, parseInboxFilter(r))
+	if err != nil {
+		writeServiceError(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, rows)
+}
+
+// GET /api/inbox/count — bell badge count for the sidebar.
+func handleInboxCount(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if !requireDB(w) {
+		return
+	}
+	uid, ok := requireUser(w, r)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	n, err := dbSvc.approval.PendingCountForUser(r.Context(), uid)
+	if err != nil {
+		writeServiceError(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]int{"count": n})
+}
+
+// parseInboxFilter pulls common filter knobs off the query string.
+func parseInboxFilter(r *http.Request) services.InboxFilter {
+	q := r.URL.Query()
+	f := services.InboxFilter{
+		Status:     q.Get("status"),
+		EntityType: q.Get("entity_type"),
+	}
+	if pid := q.Get("project_id"); pid != "" {
+		if id, err := uuid.Parse(pid); err == nil {
+			f.ProjectID = &id
+		}
+	}
+	return f
+}
+
+// GET /api/approval-requests/{id} — one hydrated request.
+func handleGetApprovalRequest(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if !requireDB(w) {
+		return
+	}
+	if _, ok := requireUser(w, r); !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	requestID, err := uuid.Parse(r.PathValue("id"))
+	if err != nil {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "invalid request id"})
+		return
+	}
+	row, err := dbSvc.approval.GetRequest(r.Context(), requestID)
+	if err != nil {
+		writeServiceError(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	if row == nil {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusNotFound, map[string]string{"error": "not found"})
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, row)
+}
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Decisions.
+// ============================================================================
+
+type approvalDecisionBody struct {
+	Note string `json:"note"`
+}
+
+// POST /api/approval-requests/{id}/approve
+func handleApproveApprovalRequest(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	handleApprovalDecision(w, r, "approve")
+}
+
+// POST /api/approval-requests/{id}/reject
+func handleRejectApprovalRequest(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	handleApprovalDecision(w, r, "reject")
+}
+
+// POST /api/approval-requests/{id}/revoke
+func handleRevokeApprovalRequest(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	handleApprovalDecision(w, r, "revoke")
+}
+
+func handleApprovalDecision(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, action string) {
+	if !requireDB(w) {
+		return
+	}
+	uid, ok := requireUser(w, r)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	requestID, err := uuid.Parse(r.PathValue("id"))
+	if err != nil {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "invalid request id"})
+		return
+	}
+	var body approvalDecisionBody
+	if r.Body != nil && r.ContentLength > 0 {
+		_ = json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&body) // body is optional
+	}
+
+	switch action {
+	case "approve":
+		err = dbSvc.approval.Approve(r.Context(), requestID, uid, body.Note)
+	case "reject":
+		err = dbSvc.approval.Reject(r.Context(), requestID, uid, body.Note)
+	case "revoke":
+		err = dbSvc.approval.Revoke(r.Context(), requestID, uid)
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		writeApprovalError(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]string{"status": "ok"})
+}
+
+// writeApprovalError maps approval-flow errors to HTTP status codes.
+func writeApprovalError(w http.ResponseWriter, err error) {
+	switch {
+	case errors.Is(err, services.ErrSelfApproval):
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusForbidden, map[string]string{"error": "self_approval_blocked"})
+	case errors.Is(err, services.ErrNoQualifiedApprover):
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusConflict, map[string]string{"error": "no_qualified_approver"})
+	case errors.Is(err, services.ErrConcurrentPending):
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusConflict, map[string]string{"error": "concurrent_pending"})
+	case errors.Is(err, services.ErrNotApprover):
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusForbidden, map[string]string{"error": "not_authorized"})
+	case errors.Is(err, services.ErrRequestNotPending):
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusConflict, map[string]string{"error": "request_not_pending"})
+	default:
+		writeServiceError(w, err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/handlers/handlers.go b/internal/handlers/handlers.go
index 345ae92..82010ee 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/handlers.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/handlers.go
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ func Register(mux *http.ServeMux, client *auth.Client, giteaAPIToken string, svc
 			link:           svc.Link,
 			event:          svc.Event,
 			courts:         svc.Courts,
+			approval:       svc.Approval,
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -367,6 +368,27 @@ func Register(mux *http.ServeMux, client *auth.Client, giteaAPIToken string, svc
 		protected.HandleFunc("POST /api/admin/event-types/merge", adminGate(users, handleAdminMergeEventTypes))
 		protected.HandleFunc("POST /api/admin/event-types/{id}/promote", adminGate(users, handleAdminPromoteEventType))
 		protected.HandleFunc("POST /api/admin/event-types/{id}/restore", adminGate(users, handleAdminRestoreEventType))
+
+		// t-paliad-138 — approval-policy CRUD (admin only). The inbox
+		// + decision endpoints are NOT admin-only — they're below.
+		protected.HandleFunc("GET /api/projects/{id}/approval-policies",
+			adminGate(users, handleListApprovalPolicies))
+		protected.HandleFunc("PUT /api/projects/{id}/approval-policies/{entity_type}/{lifecycle}",
+			adminGate(users, handlePutApprovalPolicy))
+		protected.HandleFunc("DELETE /api/projects/{id}/approval-policies/{entity_type}/{lifecycle}",
+			adminGate(users, handleDeleteApprovalPolicy))
+	}
+
+	// t-paliad-138 — approval inbox + decision endpoints (any authenticated
+	// user; the service layer gates approve/reject by required-role match).
+	if svc != nil && svc.Approval != nil {
+		protected.HandleFunc("GET /api/inbox/pending-mine", handleListInboxPendingMine)
+		protected.HandleFunc("GET /api/inbox/mine", handleListInboxMine)
+		protected.HandleFunc("GET /api/inbox/count", handleInboxCount)
+		protected.HandleFunc("GET /api/approval-requests/{id}", handleGetApprovalRequest)
+		protected.HandleFunc("POST /api/approval-requests/{id}/approve", handleApproveApprovalRequest)
+		protected.HandleFunc("POST /api/approval-requests/{id}/reject", handleRejectApprovalRequest)
+		protected.HandleFunc("POST /api/approval-requests/{id}/revoke", handleRevokeApprovalRequest)
 	}
 
 	// Catch-all 404 — runs for any authenticated path that no more-specific
diff --git a/internal/handlers/projects.go b/internal/handlers/projects.go
index f406d94..6deb7ec 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/projects.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/projects.go
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ type dbServices struct {
 	link           *services.LinkService
 	event          *services.EventService
 	courts         *services.CourtService
+	approval       *services.ApprovalService
 }
 
 var dbSvc *dbServices