diff --git a/goal/push/core.py b/goal/push/core.py
index 05c036d..cfead9e 100644
--- a/goal/push/core.py
+++ b/goal/push/core.py
@@ -538,6 +538,38 @@ def _resume_pending_pull_request(
     click.echo(click.style(f"Pull request: {pr_url}", fg="green"))
 
 
+def _push_completion_release_tag(delivery: Any, new_version: str) -> bool:
+    """Create and push the annotated release tag after a completed publish.
+
+    Governed modes skip the remote release tag before the merge because the
+    commit is not on the base branch yet. Once the publication completed on
+    the synchronized base, the release is final evidence and the tag belongs
+    on that HEAD. Only the tag is pushed - no branch is ever moved.
+    """
+    from goal.governance.delivery import authorized_push
+
+    tag_name = f"v{new_version}"
+    existing = run_git("rev-parse", "-q", "--verify", f"refs/tags/{tag_name}")
+    if existing.returncode != 0:
+        created = run_git("tag", "-a", tag_name, "-m", f"Release {new_version}")
+        if created.returncode != 0:
+            click.echo(
+                click.style(
+                    f"⚠ Could not create release tag {tag_name}.", fg="yellow"
+                )
+            )
+            return False
+    with authorized_push(delivery):
+        pushed = run_git("push", delivery.remote, tag_name, capture=True)
+    if pushed.returncode != 0:
+        click.echo(
+            click.style(f"⚠ Could not push release tag {tag_name}.", fg="yellow")
+        )
+        return False
+    click.echo(click.style(f"✓ Release tag {tag_name} pushed.", fg="green"))
+    return True
+
+
 def _abort_if_missing_commit_title(commit_title: Optional[str]) -> bool:
     if commit_title:
         return False
@@ -1223,13 +1255,19 @@ def execute_push_workflow(
     else:
         if ctx_obj.get("_publish_completion"):
             # The completion already finished the cycle on the synchronized
-            # base (governed policy skipped the remote tag; the registry
-            # upload is done). A pull-request epilogue has no commit to
-            # deliver and would only push an empty branch.
+            # base (the registry upload is done). A pull-request epilogue has
+            # no commit to deliver and would only push an empty branch. The
+            # release tag skipped before the merge is created here instead.
+            tag_pushed = False
+            if publish_success and not no_tag:
+                tag_pushed = _push_completion_release_tag(delivery, new_version)
+            detail = "publish completion on synchronized base"
+            if tag_pushed:
+                detail += "; release tag pushed"
             record_delivery_event(
                 delivery,
                 "published" if publish_success else "publish-skipped",
-                detail="publish completion on synchronized base",
+                detail=detail,
             )
             click.echo(
                 click.style(
diff --git a/project/TICKETS.md b/project/TICKETS.md
index afe9ad2..5f76d04 100644
--- a/project/TICKETS.md
+++ b/project/TICKETS.md
@@ -276,4 +276,5 @@ This file indexes governance tickets without taking ownership of
 | **ticket-207** | [`README.md`](./ticket-207/README.md) | - | - | - | - | - |
 | **ticket-208** | [`README.md`](./ticket-208/README.md) | - | - | - | - | - |
 | **ticket-209** | [`README.md`](./ticket-209/README.md) | - | - | - | - | - |
+| **ticket-210** | [`README.md`](./ticket-210/README.md) | - | - | - | - | - |
 <!-- AUTO:TICKET_INDEX:END -->
diff --git a/project/ticket-210/README.md b/project/ticket-210/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2c8ded8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/project/ticket-210/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# Ticket 210: Push the release tag on publish completion
+
+- **ID**: ticket-210
+- **Owner**: ai-claude
+- **Status**: IN_PROGRESS
+- **Workflow state**: EDIT
+- **Created**: 2026-10-25
+
+## Goal and scope
+
+Governed modes skip the remote release tag before the merge because the
+release commit is not on the base branch yet; the completion published the
+registry but left no tag, so releases had to be tagged by hand and the tag
+could not serve as release evidence. On publish completion (post-merge,
+successful upload) goal now creates the annotated tag when missing and pushes
+only that tag under the governed push capability - no branch is ever moved.
+
+## Acceptance criteria
+
+- [ ] AC-01: Completion creates an annotated tag when missing and pushes it; an existing local tag is reused without re-creating.
+- [ ] AC-02: A tag push failure is reported and does not fail the completed publication.
+
+## Tracking boundary
+
+This directory contains the minimal reviewed intent. Optional participant prose
+and raw command logs are not required delivery output.
diff --git a/project/ticket-210/intent.json b/project/ticket-210/intent.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ee95062
--- /dev/null
+++ b/project/ticket-210/intent.json
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+{
+  "schema": "new-project.intent/v3",
+  "ticket": "ticket-210",
+  "summary": "Push the release tag on publish completion",
+  "workstream": "application",
+  "classification": {
+    "kind": "BUG",
+    "priority": "P1",
+    "origin": "health"
+  },
+  "allowedPaths": [
+    "project/ticket-210/**",
+    "TODO.md",
+    "project/TICKETS.md",
+    "goal/push/core.py",
+    "tests/test_push_workflow_completion.py"
+  ],
+  "forbiddenPaths": [
+    "project/ticket-*/user-*.md"
+  ],
+  "stacks": [],
+  "dependsOn": [],
+  "conflictsWith": [],
+  "integrationTicket": null,
+  "delivery": {
+    "acceptedBaseSha": "ef1c5bb3fd27ebf1baf89c1149c2db2ae88b6f12",
+    "targetBranch": "main",
+    "outcome": "Publish completion creates and pushes the annotated release tag (tag-only push under the governed capability), making the release self-evidencing without manual tagging; push failures are reported without failing the completed publication.",
+    "nonGoals": [
+      "No branch pushes or commits on the base branch",
+      "No change to the pre-merge tag skip",
+      "No gate or policy changes"
+    ],
+    "complexity": "S",
+    "estimatedMinutes": 25,
+    "budgets": {
+      "maxImplementationFiles": 2,
+      "maxAffectedComponents": 1,
+      "maxPublicInterfaceChanges": 0,
+      "maxRuntimeDependencies": 0
+    },
+    "architecture": {
+      "status": "accepted",
+      "decision": "Post-publish helper creates the annotated tag when missing and pushes only that ref through authorized_push.",
+      "components": [
+        {
+          "name": "push-workflow",
+          "paths": [
+            "goal/push/core.py",
+            "tests/test_push_workflow_completion.py"
+          ]
+        }
+      ],
+      "responsibilityChanges": false,
+      "interfaceChanges": [],
+      "dataChanges": [],
+      "ui": {
+        "impact": "none",
+        "states": [],
+        "evidence": []
+      },
+      "rollback": "Protected revert of the two files; no data migration."
+    },
+    "runtimeDependencies": [],
+    "validation": [
+      {
+        "criterion": "AC-01",
+        "commands": [
+          "python -m pytest -q tests/test_push_workflow_completion.py -k completion_tag"
+        ],
+        "evidence": "receipt:goal210/tag-create-push"
+      },
+      {
+        "criterion": "AC-02",
+        "commands": [
+          "python -m pytest -q tests/test_push_workflow_completion.py",
+          "./project/governance-check.sh"
+        ],
+        "evidence": "receipt:goal210/regression"
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tests/test_push_workflow_completion.py b/tests/test_push_workflow_completion.py
index 9be60d4..b3eecbb 100644
--- a/tests/test_push_workflow_completion.py
+++ b/tests/test_push_workflow_completion.py
@@ -287,6 +287,72 @@ def test_unreleased_sources_without_prebumped_version_name_the_route(monkeypatch
     assert recorded == []
 
 
+def _fake_git_result(code: int):
+    from types import SimpleNamespace
+
+    return SimpleNamespace(returncode=code, stdout="", stderr="")
+
+
+def test_completion_pushes_the_release_tag(monkeypatch):
+    """The tag skipped before the merge is created on the completed base."""
+    import contextlib
+
+    calls: list[tuple] = []
+
+    def fake_run_git(*args, **kwargs):
+        calls.append(args)
+        if args[0] == "rev-parse":
+            return _fake_git_result(1)  # tag missing locally
+        return _fake_git_result(0)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(push_core, "run_git", fake_run_git)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "goal.governance.delivery.authorized_push",
+        lambda delivery: contextlib.nullcontext(),
+    )
+
+    assert push_core._push_completion_release_tag(_pull_request_policy(), "2.2.4") is True
+    assert ("tag", "-a", "v2.2.4", "-m", "Release 2.2.4") in calls
+    assert ("push", "origin", "v2.2.4") in calls
+
+
+def test_completion_tag_reuses_an_existing_local_tag(monkeypatch):
+    import contextlib
+
+    calls: list[tuple] = []
+
+    def fake_run_git(*args, **kwargs):
+        calls.append(args)
+        return _fake_git_result(0)  # tag already exists
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(push_core, "run_git", fake_run_git)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "goal.governance.delivery.authorized_push",
+        lambda delivery: contextlib.nullcontext(),
+    )
+
+    assert push_core._push_completion_release_tag(_pull_request_policy(), "2.2.4") is True
+    assert not any(call[0] == "tag" for call in calls)
+    assert ("push", "origin", "v2.2.4") in calls
+
+
+def test_completion_tag_reports_push_failure(monkeypatch):
+    import contextlib
+
+    def fake_run_git(*args, **kwargs):
+        if args[0] == "push":
+            return _fake_git_result(1)
+        return _fake_git_result(0)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(push_core, "run_git", fake_run_git)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "goal.governance.delivery.authorized_push",
+        lambda delivery: contextlib.nullcontext(),
+    )
+
+    assert push_core._push_completion_release_tag(_pull_request_policy(), "2.2.4") is False
+
+
 def test_registry_publication_pending_when_tree_ahead_of_registry(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
     """A publish-only release left no tag: the registry decides, not the diff."""
     from types import SimpleNamespace