diff --git a/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml b/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml
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+name: Dependabot auto-merge
+
+# Turns on GitHub's native auto-merge for Dependabot pull requests, so a PR whose
+# every required status check passes merges itself instead of waiting for a human.
+# Branch protection still fully gates the merge — nothing red lands, and required
+# checks/reviews are still enforced.
+#
+# Scope: minor and patch updates only. Major bumps are left open for a human to read
+# the changelog first. Uses only the automatic GITHUB_TOKEN — no PAT or extra secrets.
+# Requires "Allow auto-merge" in Settings > General (enabled for this repo).
+
+on: pull_request
+
+permissions:
+  contents: write        # enable auto-merge on the PR
+  pull-requests: write   # required by gh pr merge
+
+jobs:
+  auto-merge:
+    if: github.actor == 'dependabot[bot]'
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Fetch Dependabot metadata
+        id: meta
+        uses: dependabot/fetch-metadata@25dd0e34f4fe68f24cc83900b1fe3fe149efef98 # v3.1.0
+
+      - name: Enable auto-merge for non-major updates
+        if: steps.meta.outputs.update-type != 'version-update:semver-major'
+        run: gh pr merge --auto --squash "$PR_URL"
+        env:
+          PR_URL: ${{ github.event.pull_request.html_url }}
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}