diff --git a/CI_POLICY.md b/CI_POLICY.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b07ee32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CI_POLICY.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# CI and merge policy
+
+The default branch requires a pull request, its configured GitHub Actions checks, an up-to-date branch, and resolved conversations. These protections apply to administrators. No independent approving review is required for this solo-maintainer repository. Force pushes and branch deletion are blocked.
+
+The primary CI workflow pins third-party actions to immutable commit IDs. Version comments identify the reviewed release line; they do not make the pin update automatically. When updating an action, verify the commit against the official upstream repository, inspect release notes and permissions, update its commit/comment together, and require the complete CI result before merging. Toolchain version selection inside an action remains a separate policy.
+
+Job names are part of the merge contract. If a required job is renamed or its trigger changes, update branch protection deliberately so it neither blocks all PRs nor silently drops a gate. Do not skip or weaken a required test to obtain a green result. Compilation and CI are not substitutes for platform/runtime acceptance described in the project documentation.