diff --git a/tests/e2e/signoff-policy.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/signoff-policy.spec.ts
index a2cde2c385c..eab54a36761 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/signoff-policy.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/e2e/signoff-policy.spec.ts
@@ -163,9 +163,9 @@ async function setupCompany(boardRequest: APIRequestContext): Promise<TestContex
   const companyId = company.id;
   const companyPrefix = company.issuePrefix ?? company.prefix ?? company.urlKey ?? "E2E";
 
-  // Helper: create agent + API key + request context
+  // Helper: hire/approve agent + API key + request context
   async function createAgent(name: string, role: string, title: string): Promise<AgentAuth> {
-    const agentRes = await boardRequest.post(`${BASE_URL}/api/companies/${companyId}/agents`, {
+    const agentRes = await boardRequest.post(`${BASE_URL}/api/companies/${companyId}/agent-hires`, {
       data: {
         name,
         role,
@@ -178,7 +178,14 @@ async function setupCompany(boardRequest: APIRequestContext): Promise<TestContex
       },
     });
     expect(agentRes.ok()).toBe(true);
-    const agent = await agentRes.json();
+    const hire = await agentRes.json();
+    const agent = hire.agent;
+    if (hire.approval) {
+      const approvalRes = await boardRequest.post(`${BASE_URL}/api/approvals/${hire.approval.id}/approve`, {
+        data: { decisionNote: "Approved for signoff e2e setup." },
+      });
+      expect(approvalRes.ok()).toBe(true);
+    }
 
     const keyRes = await boardRequest.post(`${BASE_URL}/api/agents/${agent.id}/keys`, {
       data: { name: `e2e-${name.toLowerCase()}` },
diff --git a/ui/src/components/OnboardingWizard.tsx b/ui/src/components/OnboardingWizard.tsx
index 413c98e21d3..9ec608f3379 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/OnboardingWizard.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/OnboardingWizard.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { useCompany } from "../context/CompanyContext";
 import { companiesApi } from "../api/companies";
 import { goalsApi } from "../api/goals";
 import { agentsApi } from "../api/agents";
+import { approvalsApi } from "../api/approvals";
 import { issuesApi } from "../api/issues";
 import { projectsApi } from "../api/projects";
 import { queryKeys } from "../lib/queryKeys";
@@ -458,13 +459,23 @@ export function OnboardingWizard() {
         if (!result) return;
       }
 
-      const agent = await agentsApi.create(createdCompanyId, {
+      const hire = await agentsApi.hire(createdCompanyId, {
         name: agentName.trim(),
         role: "ceo",
         adapterType,
         adapterConfig: buildAdapterConfig(),
         runtimeConfig: buildNewAgentRuntimeConfig()
       });
+      if (hire.approval) {
+        await approvalsApi.approve(
+          hire.approval.id,
+          "Approved during onboarding first-agent setup."
+        );
+        queryClient.invalidateQueries({
+          queryKey: queryKeys.approvals.list(createdCompanyId)
+        });
+      }
+      const agent = hire.agent;
       setCreatedAgentId(agent.id);
       queryClient.invalidateQueries({
         queryKey: queryKeys.agents.list(createdCompanyId)