diff --git a/internal/tender_approval/handler.go b/internal/tender_approval/handler.go
index 08547b0..33d0ed6 100644
--- a/internal/tender_approval/handler.go
+++ b/internal/tender_approval/handler.go
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ func (h *Handler) GetTenderApprovalByTenderAndCompany(c echo.Context) error {
 // @Param limit query integer false "Number of approvals per page (1-100)" minimum(1) maximum(100) default(20)
 // @Param offset query integer false "Number of approvals to skip for pagination" minimum(0) default(0)
 // @Param submission_mode query string false "Filter by submission mode Enums(self-apply, partnership)"
-// @Param status query string false "Filter by status Enums(submitted, rejected)"
+// @Param status query string false "Filter by status Enums(submitted, rejected). Defaults to submitted when omitted."
 // @Param created_from query integer false "Filter by created date from (Unix timestamp)"
 // @Param created_to query integer false "Filter by created date to (Unix timestamp)"
 // @Success 200 {object} response.APIResponse{data=TenderApprovalWithTenderListResponse} "Tender approvals retrieved successfully"
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ func (h *Handler) PublicGetTenderApprovals(c echo.Context) error {
 		submissionMode = &mode
 	}
 
-	// Parse status filter
+	// Parse status filter; default to submitted so "Your Tenders" excludes rejected approvals
 	var status *ApprovalStatus
 	if statusStr != "" {
 		statusVal := ApprovalStatus(statusStr)
@@ -184,6 +184,9 @@ func (h *Handler) PublicGetTenderApprovals(c echo.Context) error {
 			return response.BadRequest(c, "Invalid status value", "Must be 'submitted' or 'rejected'")
 		}
 		status = &statusVal
+	} else {
+		defaultStatus := ApprovalStatusSubmitted
+		status = &defaultStatus
 	}
 
 	var from *int64