diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/pr-branch-check.yml b/.gitea/workflows/pr-branch-check.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b8d9742
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/pr-branch-check.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2026 Moko Consulting <hello@mokoconsulting.tech>
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+#
+# Enforces branch merge policy:
+#   feature/* → dev only
+#   fix/*     → dev only
+#   hotfix/*  → dev or main (emergency)
+#   dev       → main only
+#   alpha/*   → dev only
+#   beta/*    → dev only
+#   rc/*      → main only
+
+name: Branch Policy Check
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    types: [opened, synchronize, reopened, edited]
+
+jobs:
+  check-target:
+    name: Verify merge target
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Check branch policy
+        run: |
+          HEAD="${{ github.head_ref }}"
+          BASE="${{ github.base_ref }}"
+
+          echo "PR: ${HEAD} → ${BASE}"
+
+          ALLOWED=true
+          REASON=""
+
+          case "$HEAD" in
+            feature/*|feat/*)
+              if [ "$BASE" != "dev" ]; then
+                ALLOWED=false
+                REASON="Feature branches must target 'dev', not '${BASE}'"
+              fi
+              ;;
+            fix/*|bugfix/*)
+              if [ "$BASE" != "dev" ]; then
+                ALLOWED=false
+                REASON="Fix branches must target 'dev', not '${BASE}'"
+              fi
+              ;;
+            hotfix/*)
+              if [ "$BASE" != "dev" ] && [ "$BASE" != "main" ]; then
+                ALLOWED=false
+                REASON="Hotfix branches can only target 'dev' or 'main', not '${BASE}'"
+              fi
+              ;;
+            alpha/*|beta/*)
+              if [ "$BASE" != "dev" ]; then
+                ALLOWED=false
+                REASON="Pre-release branches must target 'dev', not '${BASE}'"
+              fi
+              ;;
+            rc/*)
+              if [ "$BASE" != "main" ]; then
+                ALLOWED=false
+                REASON="Release candidate branches must target 'main', not '${BASE}'"
+              fi
+              ;;
+            dev)
+              if [ "$BASE" != "main" ]; then
+                ALLOWED=false
+                REASON="Dev branch can only merge into 'main', not '${BASE}'"
+              fi
+              ;;
+          esac
+
+          if [ "$ALLOWED" = false ]; then
+            echo "::error::${REASON}"
+            echo ""
+            echo "## Branch Policy Violation" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            echo "" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            echo "${REASON}" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            echo "" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            echo "### Allowed merge paths:" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            echo "- \`feature/*\` → \`dev\`" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            echo "- \`fix/*\` → \`dev\`" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            echo "- \`hotfix/*\` → \`dev\` or \`main\`" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            echo "- \`dev\` → \`main\`" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            echo "- \`rc/*\` → \`main\`" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          echo "Branch policy: OK (${HEAD} → ${BASE})"
+          echo "## Branch Policy: Passed" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY