diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 5b8c140..929f520 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ jobs:
       name: pypi
       url: https://pypi.org/p/timefold-solver
     permissions:
+      contents: write  # IMPORTANT: required for action to create release branch
+      pull-requests: write # IMPORTANT: so release PR can be created
       id-token: write  # IMPORTANT: mandatory for trusted publishing
     steps:
       - name: Print inputs to the release workflow