diff --git a/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml b/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b158189
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+name: Dependabot auto-merge
+
+# Reusable policy for Dependabot pull requests in component repositories.
+# A caller runs it on `pull_request` (opened, synchronize, reopened) and grants
+# `contents: write` and `pull-requests: write`. It never checks out or runs
+# pull-request code. See README.md#dependabot-auto-merge.
+#
+# Auto-merge is enabled only when every updated dependency is a semver patch or
+# minor update, Dependabot authored every commit, and the run was triggered by
+# Dependabot itself. Anything else (majors, unknown update types, a person's
+# push, the policy's own inputs) disables any earlier auto-merge request and
+# leaves the pull request for a person. Required CI and the repository's
+# rulesets still decide when the merge happens.
+
+on:
+  workflow_call:
+
+permissions: {}
+
+jobs:
+  classify:
+    name: Classify Dependabot update
+    if: github.event_name == 'pull_request' && github.event.pull_request.user.login == 'dependabot[bot]'
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    timeout-minutes: 5
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+      pull-requests: read
+    outputs:
+      eligible: ${{ steps.classify.outputs.eligible }}
+    steps:
+      - name: Check the triggering actor
+        id: actor
+        env:
+          ACTOR: ${{ github.actor }}
+        run: |
+          if [[ ${ACTOR} == 'dependabot[bot]' ]]; then
+            echo "dependabot=true" >>"${GITHUB_OUTPUT}"
+          else
+            echo "dependabot=false" >>"${GITHUB_OUTPUT}"
+          fi
+
+      - name: Fetch Dependabot metadata
+        id: metadata
+        if: steps.actor.outputs.dependabot == 'true'
+        # Missing or unverifiable metadata fails this step; the next step then
+        # treats the pull request as needing a person.
+        continue-on-error: true
+        uses: dependabot/fetch-metadata@25dd0e34f4fe68f24cc83900b1fe3fe149efef98 # v3.1.0
+
+      - name: Decide eligibility
+        id: classify
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+          ACTOR: ${{ github.actor }}
+          FROM_DEPENDABOT: ${{ steps.actor.outputs.dependabot }}
+          UPDATES: ${{ steps.metadata.outputs.updated-dependencies-json }}
+          PULL_REQUEST: ${{ github.event.pull_request.number }}
+          REPOSITORY: ${{ github.repository }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+
+          decide() {
+            echo "eligible=$1" >>"${GITHUB_OUTPUT}"
+            {
+              echo "### Dependabot auto-merge"
+              echo
+              echo "$2"
+            } >>"${GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY}"
+            echo "$2"
+            exit 0
+          }
+
+          if [[ ${FROM_DEPENDABOT} != true ]]; then
+            decide false "Not eligible: this run was triggered by ${ACTOR}, not Dependabot."
+          fi
+
+          # fetch-metadata verifies only the first commit; require all of them.
+          if ! authors=$(gh api --paginate \
+            "repos/${REPOSITORY}/pulls/${PULL_REQUEST}/commits?per_page=100" \
+            --jq '.[] | (.author.login // "unknown")' | sort -u); then
+            decide false "Not eligible: the pull request's commits could not be read."
+          fi
+          if [[ ${authors} != 'dependabot[bot]' ]]; then
+            decide false "Not eligible: commits are not all authored by Dependabot."
+          fi
+
+          # Every update must be a known semver patch or minor update. The
+          # action's own update-type output ignores updates whose type is
+          # unknown, so read the per-dependency list instead. Updates to this
+          # policy's own inputs always need a person.
+          if ! jq -e '
+            type == "array" and length > 0 and
+            all(.[];
+              (.updateType | IN("version-update:semver-patch",
+                                "version-update:semver-minor")) and
+              ((.dependencyName // "" | ascii_downcase) as $name |
+                ($name == "dependabot/fetch-metadata" or
+                 ($name | startswith("atrinik/github-settings"))) | not))
+          ' <<<"${UPDATES:-[]}" >/dev/null; then
+            summary=$(jq -r '
+              if type == "array" and length > 0 then
+                map("- `\(.dependencyName)`: \(.updateType // "" | if . == "" then "unknown" else . end)") | join("\n")
+              else "- no dependency metadata" end
+            ' <<<"${UPDATES:-[]}" 2>/dev/null || echo "- unreadable dependency metadata")
+            decide false "$(printf 'Not eligible: needs a person.\n\n%s' "${summary}")"
+          fi
+
+          decide true "Eligible: every update is a semver patch or minor update by Dependabot."
+
+  apply:
+    name: Apply auto-merge decision
+    needs: classify
+    # Run after a failed or timed-out classification too, so a stale request
+    # is still disabled. A cancelled run was superseded by a newer one.
+    if: ${{ !cancelled() && needs.classify.result != 'skipped' }}
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    timeout-minutes: 5
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+      pull-requests: write
+    steps:
+      - name: Enable or disable auto-merge
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+          ELIGIBLE: ${{ needs.classify.outputs.eligible }}
+          CLASSIFIED: ${{ needs.classify.result }}
+          HEAD_SHA: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
+          PULL_REQUEST: ${{ github.event.pull_request.number }}
+          REPOSITORY: ${{ github.repository }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          if [[ ${ELIGIBLE} == true && ${CLASSIFIED} == success ]]; then
+            # Bind the request to the classified head commit.
+            gh pr merge "${PULL_REQUEST}" --repo "${REPOSITORY}" \
+              --auto --squash --match-head-commit "${HEAD_SHA}"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          state=$(gh pr view "${PULL_REQUEST}" --repo "${REPOSITORY}" \
+            --json autoMergeRequest --jq '.autoMergeRequest != null')
+          if [[ ${state} == true ]]; then
+            gh pr merge "${PULL_REQUEST}" --repo "${REPOSITORY}" --disable-auto
+            echo "Disabled auto-merge: this pull request needs a person."
+          else
+            echo "Auto-merge is not enabled; nothing to do."
+          fi
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 40ab76f..c0b42ca 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -73,6 +73,13 @@
   required CI, restore the strict policy before retiring a queue, and retire
   only an unmodified repository-owned rule that passes a fresh identity check
   and final re-read.
+- `.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml` is the reusable Dependabot
+  auto-merge policy (owner-approved 2026-10-22): only all-patch/minor updates
+  authored and triggered by Dependabot, read-only classification, a write job
+  that runs only `gh`, and no approvals or bypass. It needs
+  `allow_auto_merge` in `config/repository-defaults.json` and the
+  `dependabot/fetch-metadata@*` allowance. Never let it approve pull requests,
+  check out pull-request code, or auto-merge updates of its own inputs.
 - Keep required workflow job names synchronized with rulesets. Workflow or
   permissions changes also require actionlint, least-privilege review, and
   immutable action references according to policy.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 77c3f52..6031f14 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ read-only and are skipped on later runs.
   publisher policy scopes.
 - Active repositories allow squash merges only. The squash commit uses the
   pull-request title and description, and merged head branches are deleted.
+- Active repositories allow auto-merge. Dependabot patch and minor updates
+  enable it through the shared reusable workflow once required CI passes; see
+  [Dependabot auto-merge](#dependabot-auto-merge).
 - Every repository uses an enforced security baseline: dependency graph,
   Dependabot alerts and security updates, secret scanning, push protection,
   validity checks, and private vulnerability reporting remain enabled in both
@@ -108,7 +111,8 @@ read-only and are skipped on later runs.
   remain outside GitHub and this repository.
 - GitHub Actions defaults to read-only, cannot approve pull requests, and may
   use only Atrinik, GitHub, Codecov coverage, explicitly allowed Docker
-  actions, and `rust-lang/crates-io-auth-action@*`. Workflow references remain
+  actions, `rust-lang/crates-io-auth-action@*`, and
+  `dependabot/fetch-metadata@*` for Dependabot auto-merge. Workflow references remain
   full commit SHAs; the action allowlist permits routine pin updates. The
   publisher also restores per-repository workflow permission overrides to
   read-only with PR approvals disabled, applying only real drift.
@@ -1005,6 +1009,98 @@ concurrently edited rule with that name is retained with a `SKIP`, and `bin/audi
 reviews it. The audit also requires each listed repository's exact queue rule,
 repository ownership, and non-strict required CI.
 
+## Dependabot auto-merge
+
+The owner approved auto-merging Dependabot patch and minor updates once
+required CI passes (2026-10-22). Majors, updates of unknown type and anything
+failing stay manual. Two parts implement it:
+
+- `allow_auto_merge` is part of `config/repository-defaults.json`, so every
+  active repository allows auto-merge. The setting only permits auto-merge
+  requests; it merges nothing by itself, and rulesets still gate every merge.
+- `.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml` in this repository is a
+  reusable workflow. A component repository opts in with a thin caller,
+  pinned to a full commit SHA on this repository's `main`:
+
+  ```yaml
+  name: Dependabot auto-merge
+
+  on:
+    pull_request:
+      branches: [main]
+      types: [opened, synchronize, reopened]
+
+  permissions: {}
+
+  concurrency:
+    group: dependabot-auto-merge-${{ github.event.pull_request.number }}
+    cancel-in-progress: true
+
+  jobs:
+    auto-merge:
+      if: github.event.pull_request.user.login == 'dependabot[bot]'
+      uses: atrinik/github-settings/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml@<sha> # <tag>
+      permissions:
+        contents: write
+        pull-requests: write
+  ```
+
+The reusable workflow never checks out or runs pull-request code. Its
+`classify` job has read-only access and uses the official
+`dependabot/fetch-metadata` action, which verifies the pull request author and
+the signed first commit. The job also requires that Dependabot authored every
+commit and triggered the run. A pull request is eligible only when every
+updated dependency is a `version-update:semver-patch` or
+`version-update:semver-minor` update. A grouped pull request therefore
+qualifies when its largest update is minor and no update has an unknown type
+(for example a bare commit-SHA or digest change). Updates to
+`dependabot/fetch-metadata` or to this repository's workflow always need a
+person, because the pull request would otherwise classify itself with the new
+code.
+
+The `apply` job holds the write token and runs only `gh`. For an eligible pull
+request it runs `gh pr merge --auto --squash` bound to the classified head
+commit. For any other run on a Dependabot pull request it disables an earlier
+auto-merge request: when Dependabot updates a grouped pull request to include a
+major, when a person pushes to the branch (including **Update branch**), or
+when classification fails. That pull request is then merged by hand; after a
+transient failure, re-running the workflow restores the request. The disable
+path also clears a request a person set on an ineligible pull request.
+
+Required approvals stay at zero, so no bot approval is needed and Actions still
+cannot approve pull requests. Required CI, review-thread resolution and the
+strict up-to-date policy apply unchanged. Known limits:
+
+- Merges are made with the workflow's `GITHUB_TOKEN`, so the resulting push to
+  `main` does not start `push` or `workflow_run` workflows. Main-branch checks,
+  releases and development deployments pick the change up with the next
+  merge by a person. Changing that needs a dedicated GitHub App credential and
+  a separate review.
+- With strict required checks, an auto-merge request waits while the branch is
+  behind `main`. Dependabot may not rebase a branch that is only behind. Comment
+  `@dependabot rebase` to refresh a behind pull request: Dependabot pushes the
+  rebase itself, so it stays eligible. **Update branch** makes it manual.
+- Repositories in the `merge_queue` inventory (`playtester`) are not rolled
+  out yet. A queue entry added with `GITHUB_TOKEN` may not start
+  `merge_group` checks; verify that live before adding a caller there.
+- GitHub reports `0.x` minor bumps as `semver-minor`; they are eligible like
+  any other minor update and rely on required CI.
+
+- Auto-merge removes the human read of release notes, lockfile changes and
+  provenance for eligible updates. That includes minor GitHub Actions updates,
+  whose code later runs on `main` with repository secrets; required CI is the
+  remaining gate. Whether `GITHUB_TOKEN` can merge an update that changes
+  `.github/workflows/` is verified by the pilot before rollout.
+
+Opt in only repositories with required CI: on a pull request with no pending
+required check, auto-merge merges at once. Roll out only after the publisher
+has applied `allow_auto_merge`; before that, every eligible run fails at
+`gh pr merge --auto`. Then add the caller in
+a reviewed pull request in each repository, without editing its
+`dependabot.yml`. A `pull_request` run uses the workflow files of the
+pull request's merge with `main`, so open Dependabot pull requests pick up the
+caller on their next update, and new ones from the start.
+
 ## Protecting and retiring a maintenance branch
 
 Add a unique repository/branch entry to `maintenance_branches` in
diff --git a/bin/audit b/bin/audit
index 8aa9e3c..03b1a3c 100755
--- a/bin/audit
+++ b/bin/audit
@@ -509,6 +509,7 @@ for repository in "${!expected_active[@]}"; do
     .allow_merge_commit == $desired[0].allow_merge_commit and
     .allow_rebase_merge == $desired[0].allow_rebase_merge and
     .allow_squash_merge == $desired[0].allow_squash_merge and
+    .allow_auto_merge == $desired[0].allow_auto_merge and
     .delete_branch_on_merge == $desired[0].delete_branch_on_merge and
     .squash_merge_commit_title == $desired[0].squash_merge_commit_title and
     .squash_merge_commit_message == $desired[0].squash_merge_commit_message
diff --git a/config/actions-selected.json b/config/actions-selected.json
index 33aac03..88012ab 100644
--- a/config/actions-selected.json
+++ b/config/actions-selected.json
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
     "docker/login-action@*",
     "docker/setup-buildx-action@*",
     "docker/build-push-action@*",
-    "rust-lang/crates-io-auth-action@*"
+    "rust-lang/crates-io-auth-action@*",
+    "dependabot/fetch-metadata@*"
   ]
 }
diff --git a/config/repository-defaults.json b/config/repository-defaults.json
index ac53076..a158d7a 100644
--- a/config/repository-defaults.json
+++ b/config/repository-defaults.json
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   "allow_merge_commit": false,
   "allow_rebase_merge": false,
   "allow_squash_merge": true,
+  "allow_auto_merge": true,
   "delete_branch_on_merge": true,
   "squash_merge_commit_title": "PR_TITLE",
   "squash_merge_commit_message": "PR_BODY"
diff --git a/tests/audit-fixtures.py b/tests/audit-fixtures.py
index db3b6fd..8e83cc6 100755
--- a/tests/audit-fixtures.py
+++ b/tests/audit-fixtures.py
@@ -553,6 +553,8 @@ def rulesets(repository):
             payload['full_name'] = 'foreign/observatory'
         if scenario == 'merge-drift' and target:
             payload['allow_merge_commit'] = True
+        if scenario == 'auto-merge-drift' and target:
+            payload['allow_auto_merge'] = False
         if scenario == 'secret-baseline' and target:
             payload['security_and_analysis']['secret_scanning']['status'] = 'disabled'
     else:
diff --git a/tests/audit.sh b/tests/audit.sh
index c1b0d0b..8201e0f 100755
--- a/tests/audit.sh
+++ b/tests/audit.sh
@@ -241,6 +241,7 @@ done
 
 assert_drift unmanaged 'active repository is not in the desired-state inventory'
 assert_drift merge-drift 'repository merge policy drift'
+assert_drift auto-merge-drift 'repository merge policy drift'
 assert_drift properties-drift 'repository custom-property drift'
 assert_drift schema-drift 'organization custom-property schema drift'
 assert_drift inventory-unreadable 'organization repository inventory could not be read'