diff --git a/api/v1alpha1/serviceroute_admission_envtest_test.go b/api/v1alpha1/serviceroute_admission_envtest_test.go
index 2929fc2..e6be2c0 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha1/serviceroute_admission_envtest_test.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha1/serviceroute_admission_envtest_test.go
@@ -94,6 +94,15 @@ func TestTranslatedAPIAdmission(t *testing.T) {
 			p.Spec.Authorization = nil
 		}, false},
 		{"translated", func(*networkv1alpha1.ServiceRoutePolicy) {}, false},
+		{"persistent", func(p *networkv1alpha1.ServiceRoutePolicy) {
+			p.Spec.Authorization = &networkv1alpha1.ServiceRouteAuthorization{Persistent: true}
+		}, false},
+		{"persistent-with-deadline", func(p *networkv1alpha1.ServiceRoutePolicy) {
+			p.Spec.Authorization.Persistent = true
+		}, true},
+		{"missing-deadline", func(p *networkv1alpha1.ServiceRoutePolicy) {
+			p.Spec.Authorization = &networkv1alpha1.ServiceRouteAuthorization{}
+		}, true},
 	} {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			p := policy(tt.name)
diff --git a/api/v1alpha1/serviceroute_types.go b/api/v1alpha1/serviceroute_types.go
index 85451b5..7d40197 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha1/serviceroute_types.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha1/serviceroute_types.go
@@ -145,8 +145,7 @@ type ServiceRoutePolicySpec struct {
 	// +optional
 	Frontend *ServiceRouteFrontend `json:"frontend,omitempty"`
 
-	// Authorization bounds translated access independently of application leases.
-	// Only trusted networking integration may renew this deadline.
+	// Authorization defines the lifetime of translated service access.
 	// +optional
 	Authorization *ServiceRouteAuthorization `json:"authorization,omitempty"`
 
@@ -168,11 +167,17 @@ type ServiceRoutePolicySpec struct {
 	Region string `json:"region,omitempty"`
 }
 
-// ServiceRouteAuthorization bounds one network authorization episode.
+// ServiceRouteAuthorization defines persistent or time-bounded access.
+// +kubebuilder:validation:XValidation:rule="has(self.persistent) && self.persistent ? !has(self.validUntil) : has(self.validUntil)",message="persistent access must omit validUntil; bounded access requires validUntil"
 type ServiceRouteAuthorization struct {
+	// Persistent retains access until policy withdrawal or VPC lifetime replacement.
+	// +optional
+	Persistent bool `json:"persistent,omitempty"`
+
 	// ValidUntil is the absolute UTC deadline for requests and existing replies.
 	// Node controllers reject deadlines more than two minutes in the future.
-	ValidUntil metav1.Time `json:"validUntil"`
+	// +optional
+	ValidUntil metav1.Time `json:"validUntil,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // ServiceRouteVPCReference identifies one immutable Cloud API VPC lifetime.
diff --git a/config/crd/network.datumapis.com_serviceroutepolicies.yaml b/config/crd/network.datumapis.com_serviceroutepolicies.yaml
index 9ef3bdf..d07819e 100644
--- a/config/crd/network.datumapis.com_serviceroutepolicies.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/network.datumapis.com_serviceroutepolicies.yaml
@@ -105,19 +105,25 @@ spec:
                 type: object
                 x-kubernetes-map-type: atomic
               authorization:
-                description: |-
-                  Authorization bounds translated access independently of application leases.
-                  Only trusted networking integration may renew this deadline.
+                description: Authorization defines the lifetime of translated service
+                  access.
                 properties:
+                  persistent:
+                    description: Persistent retains access until policy withdrawal
+                      or VPC lifetime replacement.
+                    type: boolean
                   validUntil:
                     description: |-
                       ValidUntil is the absolute UTC deadline for requests and existing replies.
                       Node controllers reject deadlines more than two minutes in the future.
                     format: date-time
                     type: string
-                required:
-                - validUntil
                 type: object
+                x-kubernetes-validations:
+                - message: persistent access must omit validUntil; bounded access
+                    requires validUntil
+                  rule: 'has(self.persistent) && self.persistent ? !has(self.validUntil)
+                    : has(self.validUntil)'
               consumerVPCRef:
                 description: |-
                   ConsumerVPCRef pins authorization to the immutable lifetime of the VPC
diff --git a/docs/api/gateway.md b/docs/api/gateway.md
index 7e2818b..7e11f6d 100644
--- a/docs/api/gateway.md
+++ b/docs/api/gateway.md
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ _Appears in:_
 
 
 
-ServiceRouteAuthorization bounds one network authorization episode.
+ServiceRouteAuthorization defines persistent or time-bounded access.
 
 
 
@@ -567,6 +567,7 @@ _Appears in:_
 
 | Field | Description | Default | Validation |
 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
+| `persistent` _boolean_ | Persistent retains access until policy withdrawal or VPC lifetime replacement. |  |  |
 | `validUntil` _[Time](https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/generated/kubernetes-api/v/#time-v1-meta)_ | ValidUntil is the absolute UTC deadline for requests and existing replies.<br />Node controllers reject deadlines more than two minutes in the future. |  |  |
 
 
@@ -646,7 +647,7 @@ _Appears in:_
 | `serviceRef` _[ServiceEndpointReference](#serviceendpointreference)_ | ServiceRef identifies the ServiceEndpoint in this namespace. |  | Required: \{\} <br /> |
 | `consumerVPCRef` _[ServiceRouteVPCReference](#serviceroutevpcreference)_ | ConsumerVPCRef pins authorization to the immutable lifetime of the VPC<br />selected by AttachmentSelector. Galactic resolves the name through the<br />Cloud API and requires both the live name and UID to match. |  |  |
 | `frontend` _[ServiceRouteFrontend](#serviceroutefrontend)_ | Frontend is the address presented inside the consumer VPC. When set,<br />Galactic translates it to the ServiceEndpoint address and restores it on<br />replies. |  |  |
-| `authorization` _[ServiceRouteAuthorization](#servicerouteauthorization)_ | Authorization bounds translated access independently of application leases.<br />Only trusted networking integration may renew this deadline. |  |  |
+| `authorization` _[ServiceRouteAuthorization](#servicerouteauthorization)_ | Authorization defines the lifetime of translated service access. |  |  |
 | `attachmentSelector` _[LabelSelector](https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/generated/kubernetes-api/v/#labelselector-v1-meta)_ | AttachmentSelector selects eligible VPC attachments by authoritative<br />labels. Labels that grant access to platform services must be assigned by<br />the network control plane, not by tenants. |  | Required: \{\} <br /> |
 | `protocolPorts` _[ServiceRouteProtocolPort](#servicerouteprotocolport) array_ | ProtocolPorts limits the traffic that the route is intended to carry.<br />An empty list means the endpoint's declared port and protocol are used. |  |  |
 | `region` _string_ | Region limits selected attachments to a region. An empty value means the<br />policy applies in every region where the endpoint is available. |  |  |