diff --git a/netbox_branching/api/serializers.py b/netbox_branching/api/serializers.py
index a53cd97..8a4391a 100644
--- a/netbox_branching/api/serializers.py
+++ b/netbox_branching/api/serializers.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class BranchSerializer(NetBoxModelSerializer):
     )
     status = ChoiceField(
         choices=BranchStatusChoices,
-        required=False
+        read_only=True
     )
 
     class Meta:
diff --git a/netbox_branching/api/views.py b/netbox_branching/api/views.py
index 8d115b3..648aba0 100644
--- a/netbox_branching/api/views.py
+++ b/netbox_branching/api/views.py
@@ -112,6 +112,30 @@ def revert(self, request, pk):
 
         return Response(JobSerializer(job, context={'request': request}).data)
 
+    @extend_schema(
+        methods=['post'],
+        responses={200: serializers.BranchSerializer()},
+    )
+    @action(detail=True, methods=['post'])
+    def archive(self, request, pk):
+        """
+        Archive a merged branch, deprovisioning its schema.
+        """
+        if not request.user.has_perm('netbox_branching.archive_branch'):
+            raise PermissionDenied("This user does not have permission to archive branches.")
+
+        branch = self.get_object()
+        if not branch.merged:
+            return HttpResponseBadRequest("Only merged branches can be archived.")
+        if not branch.can_archive:
+            return HttpResponseBadRequest("Archiving this branch is not permitted.")
+
+        branch.archive(user=request.user)
+        branch.refresh_from_db()
+
+        serializer = self.get_serializer(branch)
+        return Response(serializer.data)
+
 
 class BranchEventViewSet(ListModelMixin, RetrieveModelMixin, BaseViewSet):
     queryset = BranchEvent.objects.all()
diff --git a/netbox_branching/tests/test_api.py b/netbox_branching/tests/test_api.py
index af3852c..d1c03fa 100644
--- a/netbox_branching/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/netbox_branching/tests/test_api.py
@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@
 from django.urls import reverse
 
 from dcim.models import Site
-from users.models import Token
-
+from netbox_branching.choices import BranchStatusChoices
 from netbox_branching.constants import COOKIE_NAME
 from netbox_branching.models import Branch
+from users.models import Token
 
 
 class APITestCase(TransactionTestCase):
@@ -99,3 +99,85 @@ def test_with_branch_cookie(self):
         results = self.get_results(response)
         self.assertEqual(len(results), 1)
         self.assertEqual(results[0]['name'], 'Site 2')
+
+
+class BranchArchiveAPITestCase(TransactionTestCase):
+    serialized_rollback = True
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.client = Client()
+        self.user = get_user_model().objects.create_user(username='testuser', is_superuser=True)
+        token = Token(user=self.user)
+        token.save()
+        self.header = {
+            'HTTP_AUTHORIZATION': f'Token {token.key}',
+            'HTTP_ACCEPT': 'application/json',
+            'HTTP_CONTENT_TYPE': 'application/json',
+        }
+
+        ContentType.objects.get_for_model(Branch)
+
+    def test_archive_endpoint_success(self):
+        branch = Branch(name='Test Branch', status=BranchStatusChoices.MERGED)
+        branch.save(provision=False)
+        self.assertEqual(branch.status, 'merged')
+
+        url = reverse('plugins-api:netbox_branching-api:branch-archive', kwargs={'pk': branch.pk})
+        response = self.client.post(url, **self.header)
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+        data = json.loads(response.content)
+        self.assertEqual(data['status']['value'], BranchStatusChoices.ARCHIVED)
+
+        branch.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual(branch.status, BranchStatusChoices.ARCHIVED)
+
+    def test_archive_endpoint_permission_denied(self):
+        user = get_user_model().objects.create_user(username='limited_user')
+        token = Token(user=user)
+        token.save()
+        header = {
+            'HTTP_AUTHORIZATION': f'Token {token.key}',
+            'HTTP_ACCEPT': 'application/json',
+            'HTTP_CONTENT_TYPE': 'application/json',
+        }
+
+        branch = Branch(name='Test Branch', status=BranchStatusChoices.MERGED)
+        branch.save(provision=False)
+
+        url = reverse('plugins-api:netbox_branching-api:branch-archive', kwargs={'pk': branch.pk})
+        response = self.client.post(url, **header)
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 403)
+
+        branch.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual(branch.status, BranchStatusChoices.MERGED)
+
+    def test_archive_endpoint_not_mergeable(self):
+        branch = Branch(name='Test Branch', status=BranchStatusChoices.READY)
+        branch.save(provision=False)
+
+        url = reverse('plugins-api:netbox_branching-api:branch-archive', kwargs={'pk': branch.pk})
+        response = self.client.post(url, **self.header)
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 400)
+
+        branch.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual(branch.status, 'ready')
+
+    def test_patch_status_archived_blocked(self):
+        branch = Branch(name='Test Branch', status=BranchStatusChoices.MERGED)
+        branch.save(provision=False)
+
+        url = reverse('plugins-api:netbox_branching-api:branch-detail', kwargs={'pk': branch.pk})
+        response = self.client.patch(
+            url,
+            data=json.dumps({'status': 'archived'}),
+            content_type='application/json',
+            **self.header
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+
+        branch.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual(branch.status, BranchStatusChoices.MERGED)