diff --git a/.github/workflows/renovate-auto-approve.yml b/.github/workflows/renovate-auto-approve.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9b50826
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/renovate-auto-approve.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+name: renovate-auto-approve
+
+# Reusable workflow. A consuming repo triggers it on pull_request and calls it:
+#
+#   jobs:
+#     approve:
+#       uses: opendefensecloud/dev-kit/.github/workflows/renovate-auto-approve.yml@<sha-or-tag>
+#       permissions:
+#         pull-requests: write
+#
+# It approves a Renovate PR that carries the automerge label and not the block
+# label (security). If a PR later gains the block label, it revokes its own
+# earlier approval so a human is required again. The merge itself always stays
+# gated on the repo's required status checks.
+#
+# Which update types are eligible (the automerge label) is decided by the
+# renovate-config presets, not here: github>opendefensecloud/renovate-config.
+
+on:
+  workflow_call:
+    inputs:
+      automerge-label:
+        description: Label that marks a Renovate PR as safe to auto-approve.
+        type: string
+        default: automerge
+      block-label:
+        description: Label that blocks auto-approval, and revokes an earlier one.
+        type: string
+        default: security
+      renovate-actor:
+        description: Login of the Renovate app that authors the pull requests.
+        type: string
+        default: renovate[bot]
+
+permissions:
+  pull-requests: write
+
+concurrency:
+  group: renovate-auto-approve-${{ github.event.pull_request.number }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+jobs:
+  auto-approve:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: >-
+      github.event_name == 'pull_request' &&
+      github.event.pull_request.user.login == inputs.renovate-actor &&
+      (contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, inputs.automerge-label) ||
+       contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, inputs.block-label))
+    steps:
+      - name: Approve, or revoke a prior approval if the block label appears
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+          GH_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
+          PR_NUMBER: ${{ github.event.pull_request.number }}
+          LABEL: ${{ inputs.automerge-label }}
+          BLOCK_LABEL: ${{ inputs.block-label }}
+          HAS_BLOCK: ${{ contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, inputs.block-label) }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          # Latest review state left by this workflow's identity (github-actions[bot]).
+          latest_state=$(gh api "repos/$GH_REPO/pulls/$PR_NUMBER/reviews" \
+            --jq 'map(select((.user.login // "" | ascii_downcase) | startswith("github-actions"))) | last | .state // empty')
+          if [ "$HAS_BLOCK" = "true" ]; then
+            if [ "$latest_state" = "APPROVED" ]; then
+              echo "PR now carries the $BLOCK_LABEL label; revoking the earlier automated approval."
+              gh pr review "$PR_NUMBER" --request-changes \
+                --body "Revoked: this PR is now labeled \`$BLOCK_LABEL\` and needs a human review."
+            else
+              echo "PR carries the $BLOCK_LABEL label; no automated approval to revoke."
+            fi
+            exit 0
+          fi
+          if [ "$latest_state" = "APPROVED" ]; then
+            echo "Already approved by github-actions; nothing to do."
+            exit 0
+          fi
+          # Re-read labels right before approving: the block label may have been
+          # added after this run started, concurrently with this approval.
+          if gh pr view "$PR_NUMBER" --json labels --jq '.labels[].name' | grep -qxF "$BLOCK_LABEL"; then
+            echo "PR now carries the $BLOCK_LABEL label; not approving."
+            exit 0
+          fi
+          gh pr review "$PR_NUMBER" --approve \
+            --body "Auto-approved: Renovate \`$LABEL\` update. Merge remains gated on required status checks."
diff --git a/docs/NEW_REPO.md b/docs/NEW_REPO.md
index 951169c..c19a922 100644
--- a/docs/NEW_REPO.md
+++ b/docs/NEW_REPO.md
@@ -76,6 +76,17 @@ preCommitHooks = {
 };
 ```
 
+### Renovate auto-approve (optional)
+
+To let Renovate auto-merge digest, patch, and minor PRs without a manual approval, copy `example/.github/workflows/renovate-auto-approve.yml` into your project and pin the `uses:` ref to a dev-kit release tag or commit SHA. It calls dev-kit's reusable `renovate-auto-approve.yml`, which approves Renovate PRs labeled `automerge` and skips (and revokes) anything labeled `security`.
+
+Two more things are needed:
+
+- **Settings > Actions > General > Workflow permissions:** enable ["Allow GitHub Actions to create and approve pull requests"](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/managing-your-repositorys-settings-and-features/enabling-features-for-your-repository/managing-github-actions-settings-for-a-repository#preventing-github-actions-from-creating-or-approving-pull-requests), otherwise the approval is rejected.
+- The `protect-main` ruleset from `make repo-settings` already requires 1 approval and status checks. Put your CI/e2e checks in `REPO_STATUS_CHECKS` so the merge stays gated on them.
+
+Which update types are eligible is defined by the [renovate-config](https://github.com/opendefensecloud/renovate-config) presets. Major and security updates never get the `automerge` label, so they still need a human.
+
 ## 6. Add the pull request template
 
 Copy `.github/pull_request_template.md` from this repository into your project. It provides a
@@ -103,6 +114,7 @@ If Renovate is not enabled, check that the Renovate GitHub App is installed for
 - [ ] `make help` lists all available targets
 - [ ] `make repo-settings` ran successfully
 - [ ] GitHub workflows are in place and passing
+- [ ] Renovate auto-approve workflow added and "Allow GitHub Actions to approve pull requests" enabled (if using automerge)
 - [ ] Renovate onboarding PR has been merged
 - [ ] Organization secrets are whitelisted for the repo
 - [ ] Private runners are whitelisted (if applicable)
diff --git a/example/.github/workflows/renovate-auto-approve.yml b/example/.github/workflows/renovate-auto-approve.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c762a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example/.github/workflows/renovate-auto-approve.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# Auto-approve Renovate digest/patch/minor PRs so they can automerge.
+# Calls the reusable workflow in opendefensecloud/dev-kit. The automerge policy
+# (which update types are eligible) comes from the renovate-config presets.
+name: renovate-auto-approve
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    types: [opened, reopened, synchronize, labeled, unlabeled]
+permissions:
+  pull-requests: write
+jobs:
+  approve:
+    # Pin @<sha-or-tag> to a dev-kit release tag or commit SHA before using this.
+    uses: opendefensecloud/dev-kit/.github/workflows/renovate-auto-approve.yml@<sha-or-tag>
+    permissions:
+      pull-requests: write