diff --git a/src/components/MoneyReportHeader.tsx b/src/components/MoneyReportHeader.tsx
index 3d0cb8c07911..e61d348df376 100644
--- a/src/components/MoneyReportHeader.tsx
+++ b/src/components/MoneyReportHeader.tsx
@@ -255,9 +255,17 @@ function MoneyReportHeader({
         return Object.values(reportTransactions);
     }, [reportTransactions]);
 
-    const shouldBlockSubmit = useMemo(() => {
+    // When prevent self-approval is enabled & the current user is submitter AND they're submitting to themselves, we need to show the optimistic next step
+    // We should always show this optimistic message for policies with preventSelfApproval
+    // to avoid any flicker during transitions between online/offline states
+    const nextApproverAccountID = getNextApproverAccountID(moneyRequestReport);
+    const isSubmitterSameAsNextApprover = isReportOwner(moneyRequestReport) && nextApproverAccountID === moneyRequestReport?.ownerAccountID;
+    const isBlockSubmitDueToStrictPolicyRules = useMemo(() => {
         return shouldBlockSubmitDueToStrictPolicyRules(moneyRequestReport?.reportID, violations, areStrictPolicyRulesEnabled, accountID, email ?? '', transactions);
     }, [moneyRequestReport?.reportID, violations, areStrictPolicyRulesEnabled, accountID, email, transactions]);
+    const isBlockSubmitDueToPreventSelfApproval = isSubmitterSameAsNextApprover && policy?.preventSelfApproval;
+
+    const shouldBlockSubmit = isBlockSubmitDueToStrictPolicyRules || isBlockSubmitDueToPreventSelfApproval;
 
     const iouTransactionID = isMoneyRequestAction(requestParentReportAction) ? getOriginalMessage(requestParentReportAction)?.IOUTransactionID : undefined;
     const [transaction] = useOnyx(`${ONYXKEYS.COLLECTION.TRANSACTION}${getNonEmptyStringOnyxID(iouTransactionID)}`, {
@@ -444,14 +452,9 @@ function MoneyReportHeader({
         hasDuplicates ||
         shouldShowMarkAsResolved;
 
-    // When prevent self-approval is enabled & the current user is submitter AND they're submitting to themselves, we need to show the optimistic next step
-    // We should always show this optimistic message for policies with preventSelfApproval
-    // to avoid any flicker during transitions between online/offline states
-    const nextApproverAccountID = getNextApproverAccountID(moneyRequestReport);
-    const isSubmitterSameAsNextApprover = isReportOwner(moneyRequestReport) && nextApproverAccountID === moneyRequestReport?.ownerAccountID;
     let optimisticNextStep = isSubmitterSameAsNextApprover && policy?.preventSelfApproval ? buildOptimisticNextStepForPreventSelfApprovalsEnabled() : nextStep;
 
-    if (shouldBlockSubmit && isReportOwner(moneyRequestReport) && isOpenExpenseReport(moneyRequestReport)) {
+    if (isBlockSubmitDueToStrictPolicyRules && isReportOwner(moneyRequestReport) && isOpenExpenseReport(moneyRequestReport)) {
         optimisticNextStep = buildOptimisticNextStepForStrictPolicyRuleViolations();
     }
 
@@ -824,6 +827,7 @@ function MoneyReportHeader({
                 success
                 onPress={confirmApproval}
                 text={translate('iou.approve')}
+                isDisabled={isBlockSubmitDueToPreventSelfApproval}
             />
         ),
         [CONST.REPORT.PRIMARY_ACTIONS.PAY]: (
diff --git a/src/libs/ReportPrimaryActionUtils.ts b/src/libs/ReportPrimaryActionUtils.ts
index f16b80ace338..5f43a76ef11e 100644
--- a/src/libs/ReportPrimaryActionUtils.ts
+++ b/src/libs/ReportPrimaryActionUtils.ts
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ function isSubmitAction(report: Report, reportTransactions: Transaction[], polic
 
     const submitToAccountID = getSubmitToAccountID(policy, report);
 
-    if (submitToAccountID === report.ownerAccountID && policy?.preventSelfApproval) {
+    if (submitToAccountID === report.ownerAccountID && policy?.preventSelfApproval && !isReportSubmitter) {
         return false;
     }
 
@@ -129,13 +129,6 @@ function isApproveAction(report: Report, reportTransactions: Transaction[], poli
         return false;
     }
 
-    const isPreventSelfApprovalEnabled = policy?.preventSelfApproval;
-    const isReportSubmitter = isCurrentUserSubmitter(report);
-
-    if (isPreventSelfApprovalEnabled && isReportSubmitter) {
-        return false;
-    }
-
     return isProcessingReportUtils(report);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libs/SearchUIUtils.ts b/src/libs/SearchUIUtils.ts
index b7460981d5e3..d601e3b83917 100644
--- a/src/libs/SearchUIUtils.ts
+++ b/src/libs/SearchUIUtils.ts
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ import {translateLocal} from './Localize';
 import Navigation from './Navigation/Navigation';
 import Parser from './Parser';
 import {getDisplayNameOrDefault} from './PersonalDetailsUtils';
-import {arePaymentsEnabled, canSendInvoice, getGroupPaidPoliciesWithExpenseChatEnabled, getPolicy, isPaidGroupPolicy, isPolicyPayer} from './PolicyUtils';
+import {arePaymentsEnabled, canSendInvoice, getGroupPaidPoliciesWithExpenseChatEnabled, getPolicy, getSubmitToAccountID, isPaidGroupPolicy, isPolicyPayer} from './PolicyUtils';
 import {
     getIOUActionForReportID,
     getOriginalMessage,
@@ -1287,7 +1287,8 @@ function getActions(
 
     const hasOnlyPendingCardOrScanningTransactions = allReportTransactions.length > 0 && allReportTransactions.every((t) => isScanning(t) || isPending(t));
 
-    const isAllowedToApproveExpenseReport = isAllowedToApproveExpenseReportUtils(report, undefined, policy);
+    const submitToAccountID = getSubmitToAccountID(policy, report);
+    const isAllowedToApproveExpenseReport = isAllowedToApproveExpenseReportUtils(report, submitToAccountID, policy);
 
     // We're not supporting approve partial amount on search page now
     if (