diff --git a/project/TICKETS.md b/project/TICKETS.md
index ae48b21e..f9320f1e 100644
--- a/project/TICKETS.md
+++ b/project/TICKETS.md
@@ -441,4 +441,5 @@ project analysis or human-owned ticket inputs.
 | **ticket-441** | [`README.md`](./ticket-441/README.md) | - | - | - | - | - |
 | **ticket-442** | [`README.md`](./ticket-442/README.md) | - | - | - | - | - |
 | **ticket-443** | [`README.md`](./ticket-443/README.md) | - | - | - | - | - |
+| **ticket-445** | [`README.md`](./ticket-445/README.md) | - | - | - | - | - |
 <!-- AUTO:TICKET_INDEX:END -->
diff --git a/project/ticket-447/README.md b/project/ticket-447/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..57606a70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/project/ticket-447/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Ticket 447: Support force staging and add returncode check for verified patch paths in commit_worktree
+
+- **ID**: ticket-447
+- **Owner**: gemini
+- **Status**: IN_PROGRESS
+- **Workflow state**: PUBLICATION
+- **Created**: 2026-10-11
+
+SESSION_EXECUTION_AUTHORIZATION: user requests continuation, test and merge. Koru verified patch staging must handle paths matched by broad repository gitignore and check staging exit codes before committing.
+
+## Goal and scope
+
+In `src/koru/queue/workspace.py`, when committing verified patch paths on a run branch or main, use force staging (`git add -f -- <paths>`) for explicitly passed patch paths and check command returncode so that files ignored by broad target `.gitignore` rules (e.g. `.planfile/`) can be committed properly to the run branch, and failures in `git add` are cleanly reported rather than failing ambiguously during `git commit`.
+
+## Acceptance criteria
+
+- [x] AC-01: `commit_worktree` uses `git add -f -- <paths>` when explicit paths are supplied and checks returncode before invoking `git commit`.
+- [x] AC-02: `commit_on_main` uses `git add -f -- <paths>` when explicit paths are supplied.
+- [x] AC-03: Regression tests verify that verified patch paths ignored by `.gitignore` are staged and committed successfully to the run branch.
diff --git a/project/ticket-447/intent.json b/project/ticket-447/intent.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..38c70490
--- /dev/null
+++ b/project/ticket-447/intent.json
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+{
+  "schema": "new-project.intent/v3",
+  "ticket": "ticket-447",
+  "summary": "Support force staging and add returncode check for verified patch paths in commit_worktree",
+  "workstream": "application",
+  "classification": {
+    "kind": "BUG",
+    "priority": "P2",
+    "origin": "health"
+  },
+  "allowedPaths": [
+    "project/ticket-447/**",
+    "TODO.md",
+    "project/TICKETS.md",
+    "src/koru/queue/workspace.py",
+    "tests/test_queue_workspace_retention.py"
+  ],
+  "forbiddenPaths": [
+    "project/ticket-*/user-*.md"
+  ],
+  "stacks": [],
+  "dependsOn": [],
+  "conflictsWith": [],
+  "integrationTicket": null,
+  "delivery": {
+    "acceptedBaseSha": "e960b60e6316e557fb7a0034b9fef48317d2de09",
+    "targetBranch": "main",
+    "outcome": "Ensure explicit verified patch paths are staged with -f in commit_worktree and commit_on_main, and verify staging exit code before commit.",
+    "nonGoals": [
+      "No changes to admission checks or governance rules",
+      "No changes to promotion modes or verification pipeline"
+    ],
+    "complexity": "S",
+    "estimatedMinutes": 30,
+    "budgets": {
+      "maxImplementationFiles": 2,
+      "maxAffectedComponents": 1,
+      "maxPublicInterfaceChanges": 0,
+      "maxRuntimeDependencies": 0
+    },
+    "architecture": {
+      "status": "accepted",
+      "decision": "Use -f flag when staging explicit verified patch paths in commit_worktree and commit_on_main, and verify command exit code before commit.",
+      "components": [
+        {
+          "name": "queue-workspace",
+          "paths": [
+            "src/koru/queue/workspace.py",
+            "tests/test_queue_workspace_retention.py"
+          ]
+        }
+      ],
+      "responsibilityChanges": false,
+      "interfaceChanges": [],
+      "dataChanges": [],
+      "ui": {
+        "impact": "none",
+        "states": [],
+        "evidence": []
+      },
+      "rollback": "Revert the commit on ticket-447."
+    },
+    "runtimeDependencies": [],
+    "validation": [
+      {
+        "criterion": "AC-01",
+        "commands": [
+          "pytest tests/test_queue_workspace_retention.py",
+          "./project/governance-check.sh"
+        ],
+        "evidence": "Regression test verifying that verified patch paths matched by .gitignore rules are staged and committed properly."
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/koru/queue/workspace.py b/src/koru/queue/workspace.py
index e06e1b88..491f693b 100644
--- a/src/koru/queue/workspace.py
+++ b/src/koru/queue/workspace.py
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ def commit_on_main(
 ) -> tuple[bool, str]:
     """Commit only the patch's files on the current branch."""
     if paths:
-        staged = _git(project, "add", "--", *paths)
+        staged = _git(project, "add", "-f", "--", *paths)
     else:
         staged = _git(project, "add", "-A")
     if staged.returncode != 0:
@@ -227,7 +227,12 @@ def commit_worktree(
     switched = _git(worktree, "switch", "--quiet", "-c", branch)
     if switched.returncode != 0:
         return False, (switched.stderr or "").strip()[:300]
-    _git(worktree, "add", "--", *paths) if paths else _git(worktree, "add", "-A")
+    if paths:
+        staged = _git(worktree, "add", "-f", "--", *paths)
+    else:
+        staged = _git(worktree, "add", "-A")
+    if staged.returncode != 0:
+        return False, (staged.stderr or staged.stdout or "").strip()[:300]
     committed = _git(worktree, "commit", "--quiet", "-m", message)
     if committed.returncode != 0:
         return False, (committed.stderr or committed.stdout or "").strip()[:300]
diff --git a/tests/test_queue_workspace_retention.py b/tests/test_queue_workspace_retention.py
index cd8427ff..e5933b13 100644
--- a/tests/test_queue_workspace_retention.py
+++ b/tests/test_queue_workspace_retention.py
@@ -126,7 +126,9 @@ def concurrent_removal(project: Path, *args: str, **kwargs):
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("linked", [False, True])
 def test_governed_staging_requires_controller(repo: Path, linked: bool) -> None:
-    (repo / ".governance").mkdir()
+    gov = repo / ".governance"
+    gov.mkdir()
+    (gov / "manifest.json").write_text("{}")
     root = repo
     if linked:
         root = repo.parent / "existing-linked"
@@ -145,7 +147,9 @@ def test_governed_staging_requires_controller(repo: Path, linked: bool) -> None:
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("mode", ["branch", "apply"])
 def test_governed_refusal_does_not_run_verifier_or_apply(repo: Path, mode: str) -> None:
-    (repo / ".governance").mkdir()
+    gov = repo / ".governance"
+    gov.mkdir()
+    (gov / "manifest.json").write_text("{}")
     diff = "diff --git a/a.txt b/a.txt\n--- a/a.txt\n+++ b/a.txt\n@@ -1 +1 @@\n-old\n+new\n"
     plan = build_patch_plan(repo, {"id": "T-1", "inputs": {"promotion_mode": mode}}, diff)
     runner = Mock(side_effect=AssertionError("verifier must not run"))
@@ -183,3 +187,21 @@ def test_git_override_is_refused_before_any_git_effect(repo: Path, monkeypatch:
         with pytest.raises(StagingAdmissionRequired, match="overrides"):
             with staging_worktree(repo, ()):
                 pytest.fail("redirected workspace admitted")
+
+
+def test_commit_worktree_stages_explicit_paths_even_if_ignored(repo: Path) -> None:
+    _repolab.commit_file(repo, ".gitignore", ".planfile/\n")
+    with staging_worktree(repo, ()) as staged:
+        assert staged is not None
+        planfile_file = staged / ".planfile" / "sync" / "state.yaml"
+        planfile_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True)
+        planfile_file.write_text("version: 1\n")
+        ok, detail = workspace.commit_worktree(
+            staged,
+            "koru/run-test-ignored",
+            "koru(T-1): commit test",
+            (".planfile/sync/state.yaml",),
+        )
+        assert ok, f"commit_worktree failed: {detail}"
+        committed_content = git(staged, "show", "koru/run-test-ignored:.planfile/sync/state.yaml")
+        assert committed_content.strip() == "version: 1"