diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/4-feature-request.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/4-feature-request.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..70cd7c75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/4-feature-request.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+name: 🎁 Feature Request
+description: Propose a new feature for Codex
+labels:
+  - feature
+  - needs triage
+body:
+  - type: markdown
+    attributes:
+      value: |
+        Is Codex missing a feature that you'd like to see? Feel free to propose it here.
+
+        Before you submit a feature:
+        1. Search existing issues for similar features. If you find one, 👍 it rather than opening a new one.
+        2. The Codex team will try to balance the varying needs of the community when prioritizing or rejecting new features. Not all features will be accepted. See [Contributing](https://github.com/openai/codex#contributing) for more details.
+
+  - type: textarea
+    id: feature
+    attributes:
+      label: What feature would you like to see?
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: textarea
+    id: author
+    attributes:
+      label: Are you interested in implementing this feature?
+      description: Please wait for acknowledgement before implementing or opening a PR.
+  - type: textarea
+    id: notes
+    attributes:
+      label: Additional information
+      description: Is there anything else you think we should know?
diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..03cedab2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# External (non-OpenAI) Pull Request Requirements
+
+Before opening this Pull Request, please read the "Contributing" section of the README or your PR may be closed:
+https://github.com/openai/codex#contributing
+
+If your PR conforms to our contribution guidelines, replace this text with a detailed and high quality description of your changes.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0c01654d..596362a3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -566,9 +566,13 @@ We're excited to launch a **$1 million initiative** supporting open source proje
 
 ## Contributing
 
-This project is under active development and the code will likely change pretty significantly. We'll update this message once that's complete!
+This project is under active development and the code will likely change pretty significantly.
 
-More broadly we welcome contributions - whether you are opening your very first pull request or you're a seasoned maintainer. At the same time we care about reliability and long-term maintainability, so the bar for merging code is intentionally **high**. The guidelines below spell out what "high-quality" means in practice and should make the whole process transparent and friendly.
+**At the moment, we only plan to prioritize reviewing external contributions for bugs or security fixes.**
+
+If you want to add a new feature or change the behavior of an existing one, please open an issue proposing the feature and get approval from an OpenAI team member before spending time building it.
+
+**New contributions that don't go through this process may be closed** if they aren't aligned with our current roadmap or conflict with other priorities/upcoming features.
 
 ### Development workflow
 
@@ -593,8 +597,9 @@ More broadly we welcome contributions - whether you are opening your very first
 ### Review process
 
 1. One maintainer will be assigned as a primary reviewer.
-2. We may ask for changes - please do not take this personally. We value the work, we just also value consistency and long-term maintainability.
-3. When there is consensus that the PR meets the bar, a maintainer will squash-and-merge.
+2. If your PR adds a new feature that was not previously discussed and approved, we may choose to close your PR (see [Contributing](#contributing)).
+3. We may ask for changes - please do not take this personally. We value the work, but we also value consistency and long-term maintainability.
+5. When there is consensus that the PR meets the bar, a maintainer will squash-and-merge.
 
 ### Community values