User email confirmation at sign-up (FREE SELF)

GitLab can be configured to require confirmation of a user's email address when the user signs up. When this setting is enabled, the user is unable to sign in until they confirm their email address.

1. On the top bar, select Main menu > Admin.
2. On the left sidebar, select Settings > General (/admin/application_settings/general).
3. Expand the Sign-up restrictions section and look for the Send confirmation email on sign-up option.

Confirmation token expiry

By default, a user can confirm their account within 24 hours after the confirmation email was sent. After 24 hours, the confirmation token becomes invalid.