diff --git a/docs/COMMANDS.md b/docs/COMMANDS.md
index 55008b1fd..a7797bd13 100644
--- a/docs/COMMANDS.md
+++ b/docs/COMMANDS.md
@@ -475,10 +475,10 @@ All IAM operations are account-scoped. Root user (account `000000000000`) bypass
 | `list-users` | `--path-prefix` | `--max-items`, `--marker` | **DONE** |
 | `delete-user` | `--user-name` | — | **DONE** |
 | `update-user` | — | `--user-name`, `--new-path`, `--new-user-name` | **NOT STARTED** |
-| `put-user-policy` | — | `--user-name`, `--policy-name`, `--policy-document` | **NOT STARTED** |
-| `get-user-policy` | — | `--user-name`, `--policy-name` | **NOT STARTED** |
-| `delete-user-policy` | — | `--user-name`, `--policy-name` | **NOT STARTED** |
-| `list-user-policies` | — | `--user-name` | **NOT STARTED** |
+| `put-user-policy` | `--user-name`, `--policy-name`, `--policy-document` | — | **DONE** |
+| `get-user-policy` | `--user-name`, `--policy-name` | — | **DONE** |
+| `delete-user-policy` | `--user-name`, `--policy-name` | — | **DONE** |
+| `list-user-policies` | `--user-name` | `--max-items`, `--marker` | **DONE** |
 | `tag-user` | — | `--user-name`, `--tags` | **NOT STARTED** |
 | `untag-user` | — | `--user-name`, `--tag-keys` | **NOT STARTED** |
 | `list-user-tags` | — | `--user-name` | **NOT STARTED** |
diff --git a/spinifex/gateway/auth_test.go b/spinifex/gateway/auth_test.go
index 13fe4989f..a7c000402 100644
--- a/spinifex/gateway/auth_test.go
+++ b/spinifex/gateway/auth_test.go
@@ -222,6 +222,18 @@ func (m *mockIAMService) DeleteGroupPolicy(_ string, _ *iam.DeleteGroupPolicyInp
 func (m *mockIAMService) ListGroupPolicies(_ string, _ *iam.ListGroupPoliciesInput) (*iam.ListGroupPoliciesOutput, error) {
 	return &iam.ListGroupPoliciesOutput{}, nil
 }
+func (m *mockIAMService) PutUserPolicy(_ string, _ *iam.PutUserPolicyInput) (*iam.PutUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	return &iam.PutUserPolicyOutput{}, nil
+}
+func (m *mockIAMService) GetUserPolicy(_ string, _ *iam.GetUserPolicyInput) (*iam.GetUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	return &iam.GetUserPolicyOutput{}, nil
+}
+func (m *mockIAMService) DeleteUserPolicy(_ string, _ *iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput) (*iam.DeleteUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	return &iam.DeleteUserPolicyOutput{}, nil
+}
+func (m *mockIAMService) ListUserPolicies(_ string, _ *iam.ListUserPoliciesInput) (*iam.ListUserPoliciesOutput, error) {
+	return &iam.ListUserPoliciesOutput{}, nil
+}
 
 // testMasterKey is a fixed 32-byte key for deterministic tests.
 var testMasterKey []byte
diff --git a/spinifex/gateway/ec2/instance/IamInstanceProfileAssociation_test.go b/spinifex/gateway/ec2/instance/IamInstanceProfileAssociation_test.go
index 008d97136..163a1a40a 100644
--- a/spinifex/gateway/ec2/instance/IamInstanceProfileAssociation_test.go
+++ b/spinifex/gateway/ec2/instance/IamInstanceProfileAssociation_test.go
@@ -212,6 +212,18 @@ func (f *fakeIAMService) DeleteGroupPolicy(string, *iam.DeleteGroupPolicyInput)
 func (f *fakeIAMService) ListGroupPolicies(string, *iam.ListGroupPoliciesInput) (*iam.ListGroupPoliciesOutput, error) {
 	return &iam.ListGroupPoliciesOutput{}, nil
 }
+func (f *fakeIAMService) PutUserPolicy(string, *iam.PutUserPolicyInput) (*iam.PutUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	return &iam.PutUserPolicyOutput{}, nil
+}
+func (f *fakeIAMService) GetUserPolicy(string, *iam.GetUserPolicyInput) (*iam.GetUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	return &iam.GetUserPolicyOutput{}, nil
+}
+func (f *fakeIAMService) DeleteUserPolicy(string, *iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput) (*iam.DeleteUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	return &iam.DeleteUserPolicyOutput{}, nil
+}
+func (f *fakeIAMService) ListUserPolicies(string, *iam.ListUserPoliciesInput) (*iam.ListUserPoliciesOutput, error) {
+	return &iam.ListUserPoliciesOutput{}, nil
+}
 
 var _ handlers_iam.IAMService = (*fakeIAMService)(nil)
 
diff --git a/spinifex/gateway/iam.go b/spinifex/gateway/iam.go
index 3a758b55c..703d413a2 100644
--- a/spinifex/gateway/iam.go
+++ b/spinifex/gateway/iam.go
@@ -97,6 +97,20 @@ var iamActions = map[string]IAMHandler{
 		return gateway_iam.ListAttachedUserPolicies(accountID, input, gw.IAMService)
 	}),
 
+	// User inline policies
+	"PutUserPolicy": iamHandler(func(accountID string, input *iam.PutUserPolicyInput, gw *GatewayConfig) (any, error) {
+		return gateway_iam.PutUserPolicy(accountID, input, gw.IAMService)
+	}),
+	"GetUserPolicy": iamHandler(func(accountID string, input *iam.GetUserPolicyInput, gw *GatewayConfig) (any, error) {
+		return gateway_iam.GetUserPolicy(accountID, input, gw.IAMService)
+	}),
+	"DeleteUserPolicy": iamHandler(func(accountID string, input *iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput, gw *GatewayConfig) (any, error) {
+		return gateway_iam.DeleteUserPolicy(accountID, input, gw.IAMService)
+	}),
+	"ListUserPolicies": iamHandler(func(accountID string, input *iam.ListUserPoliciesInput, gw *GatewayConfig) (any, error) {
+		return gateway_iam.ListUserPolicies(accountID, input, gw.IAMService)
+	}),
+
 	// Role CRUD
 	"CreateRole": iamHandler(func(accountID string, input *iam.CreateRoleInput, gw *GatewayConfig) (any, error) {
 		return gateway_iam.CreateRole(accountID, input, gw.IAMService)
diff --git a/spinifex/gateway/iam/handler_test.go b/spinifex/gateway/iam/handler_test.go
index 1469a280e..2eb64e18c 100644
--- a/spinifex/gateway/iam/handler_test.go
+++ b/spinifex/gateway/iam/handler_test.go
@@ -217,6 +217,18 @@ func (s *stubIAMService) DeleteGroupPolicy(_ string, _ *iam.DeleteGroupPolicyInp
 func (s *stubIAMService) ListGroupPolicies(_ string, _ *iam.ListGroupPoliciesInput) (*iam.ListGroupPoliciesOutput, error) {
 	return &iam.ListGroupPoliciesOutput{}, nil
 }
+func (s *stubIAMService) PutUserPolicy(_ string, _ *iam.PutUserPolicyInput) (*iam.PutUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	return &iam.PutUserPolicyOutput{}, nil
+}
+func (s *stubIAMService) GetUserPolicy(_ string, _ *iam.GetUserPolicyInput) (*iam.GetUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	return &iam.GetUserPolicyOutput{}, nil
+}
+func (s *stubIAMService) DeleteUserPolicy(_ string, _ *iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput) (*iam.DeleteUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	return &iam.DeleteUserPolicyOutput{}, nil
+}
+func (s *stubIAMService) ListUserPolicies(_ string, _ *iam.ListUserPoliciesInput) (*iam.ListUserPoliciesOutput, error) {
+	return &iam.ListUserPoliciesOutput{}, nil
+}
 
 func TestCreateUser(t *testing.T) {
 	svc := &stubIAMService{}
diff --git a/spinifex/gateway/iam/user.go b/spinifex/gateway/iam/user.go
index 77f2130b2..0b7c06de7 100644
--- a/spinifex/gateway/iam/user.go
+++ b/spinifex/gateway/iam/user.go
@@ -32,3 +32,43 @@ func DeleteUser(accountID string, input *iam.DeleteUserInput, svc handlers_iam.I
 	}
 	return svc.DeleteUser(accountID, input)
 }
+
+func PutUserPolicy(accountID string, input *iam.PutUserPolicyInput, svc handlers_iam.IAMService) (*iam.PutUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	if input.UserName == nil || *input.UserName == "" {
+		return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter)
+	}
+	if input.PolicyName == nil || *input.PolicyName == "" {
+		return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter)
+	}
+	if input.PolicyDocument == nil || *input.PolicyDocument == "" {
+		return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter)
+	}
+	return svc.PutUserPolicy(accountID, input)
+}
+
+func GetUserPolicy(accountID string, input *iam.GetUserPolicyInput, svc handlers_iam.IAMService) (*iam.GetUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	if input.UserName == nil || *input.UserName == "" {
+		return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter)
+	}
+	if input.PolicyName == nil || *input.PolicyName == "" {
+		return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter)
+	}
+	return svc.GetUserPolicy(accountID, input)
+}
+
+func DeleteUserPolicy(accountID string, input *iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput, svc handlers_iam.IAMService) (*iam.DeleteUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	if input.UserName == nil || *input.UserName == "" {
+		return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter)
+	}
+	if input.PolicyName == nil || *input.PolicyName == "" {
+		return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter)
+	}
+	return svc.DeleteUserPolicy(accountID, input)
+}
+
+func ListUserPolicies(accountID string, input *iam.ListUserPoliciesInput, svc handlers_iam.IAMService) (*iam.ListUserPoliciesOutput, error) {
+	if input.UserName == nil || *input.UserName == "" {
+		return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter)
+	}
+	return svc.ListUserPolicies(accountID, input)
+}
diff --git a/spinifex/gateway/iam/user_test.go b/spinifex/gateway/iam/user_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..024400c0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spinifex/gateway/iam/user_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+package gateway_iam
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/iam"
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/awserrors"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+const validUserInlineDoc = `{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Allow","Action":"ec2:DescribeInstances","Resource":"*"}]}`
+
+func TestPutUserPolicy(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := &stubIAMService{}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		input   *iam.PutUserPolicyInput
+		wantErr string
+	}{
+		{"nil UserName", &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{PolicyName: aws.String("p"), PolicyDocument: aws.String(validUserInlineDoc)}, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter},
+		{"empty UserName", &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{UserName: aws.String(""), PolicyName: aws.String("p"), PolicyDocument: aws.String(validUserInlineDoc)}, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter},
+		{"nil PolicyName", &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{UserName: aws.String("u"), PolicyDocument: aws.String(validUserInlineDoc)}, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter},
+		{"empty PolicyName", &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{UserName: aws.String("u"), PolicyName: aws.String(""), PolicyDocument: aws.String(validUserInlineDoc)}, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter},
+		{"nil PolicyDocument", &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{UserName: aws.String("u"), PolicyName: aws.String("p")}, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter},
+		{"empty PolicyDocument", &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{UserName: aws.String("u"), PolicyName: aws.String("p"), PolicyDocument: aws.String("")}, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter},
+		{"valid", &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{UserName: aws.String("u"), PolicyName: aws.String("p"), PolicyDocument: aws.String(validUserInlineDoc)}, ""},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := PutUserPolicy(testAccountID, tc.input, svc)
+			if tc.wantErr != "" {
+				require.Error(t, err)
+				assert.Equal(t, tc.wantErr, err.Error())
+			} else {
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGetUserPolicy(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := &stubIAMService{}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		input   *iam.GetUserPolicyInput
+		wantErr string
+	}{
+		{"nil UserName", &iam.GetUserPolicyInput{PolicyName: aws.String("p")}, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter},
+		{"empty UserName", &iam.GetUserPolicyInput{UserName: aws.String(""), PolicyName: aws.String("p")}, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter},
+		{"nil PolicyName", &iam.GetUserPolicyInput{UserName: aws.String("u")}, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter},
+		{"empty PolicyName", &iam.GetUserPolicyInput{UserName: aws.String("u"), PolicyName: aws.String("")}, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter},
+		{"valid", &iam.GetUserPolicyInput{UserName: aws.String("u"), PolicyName: aws.String("p")}, ""},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := GetUserPolicy(testAccountID, tc.input, svc)
+			if tc.wantErr != "" {
+				require.Error(t, err)
+				assert.Equal(t, tc.wantErr, err.Error())
+			} else {
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDeleteUserPolicy(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := &stubIAMService{}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		input   *iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput
+		wantErr string
+	}{
+		{"nil UserName", &iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput{PolicyName: aws.String("p")}, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter},
+		{"empty UserName", &iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput{UserName: aws.String(""), PolicyName: aws.String("p")}, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter},
+		{"nil PolicyName", &iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput{UserName: aws.String("u")}, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter},
+		{"empty PolicyName", &iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput{UserName: aws.String("u"), PolicyName: aws.String("")}, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter},
+		{"valid", &iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput{UserName: aws.String("u"), PolicyName: aws.String("p")}, ""},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := DeleteUserPolicy(testAccountID, tc.input, svc)
+			if tc.wantErr != "" {
+				require.Error(t, err)
+				assert.Equal(t, tc.wantErr, err.Error())
+			} else {
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestListUserPolicies(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := &stubIAMService{}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		input   *iam.ListUserPoliciesInput
+		wantErr string
+	}{
+		{"nil UserName", &iam.ListUserPoliciesInput{}, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter},
+		{"empty UserName", &iam.ListUserPoliciesInput{UserName: aws.String("")}, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter},
+		{"valid", &iam.ListUserPoliciesInput{UserName: aws.String("u")}, ""},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := ListUserPolicies(testAccountID, tc.input, svc)
+			if tc.wantErr != "" {
+				require.Error(t, err)
+				assert.Equal(t, tc.wantErr, err.Error())
+			} else {
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/spinifex/gateway/iam_request_test.go b/spinifex/gateway/iam_request_test.go
index 1056058d9..c6278b5bc 100644
--- a/spinifex/gateway/iam_request_test.go
+++ b/spinifex/gateway/iam_request_test.go
@@ -247,6 +247,18 @@ func (m *flexMockIAMService) DeleteGroupPolicy(_ string, _ *iam.DeleteGroupPolic
 func (m *flexMockIAMService) ListGroupPolicies(_ string, _ *iam.ListGroupPoliciesInput) (*iam.ListGroupPoliciesOutput, error) {
 	return &iam.ListGroupPoliciesOutput{}, nil
 }
+func (m *flexMockIAMService) PutUserPolicy(_ string, _ *iam.PutUserPolicyInput) (*iam.PutUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	return &iam.PutUserPolicyOutput{}, nil
+}
+func (m *flexMockIAMService) GetUserPolicy(_ string, _ *iam.GetUserPolicyInput) (*iam.GetUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	return &iam.GetUserPolicyOutput{}, nil
+}
+func (m *flexMockIAMService) DeleteUserPolicy(_ string, _ *iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput) (*iam.DeleteUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	return &iam.DeleteUserPolicyOutput{}, nil
+}
+func (m *flexMockIAMService) ListUserPolicies(_ string, _ *iam.ListUserPoliciesInput) (*iam.ListUserPoliciesOutput, error) {
+	return &iam.ListUserPoliciesOutput{}, nil
+}
 
 // setupIAMRequestHandler wires an http.Handler for IAM_Request with injected SigV4 context values.
 func setupIAMRequestHandler(svc handlers_iam.IAMService) http.Handler {
diff --git a/spinifex/gateway/sts/handler_test.go b/spinifex/gateway/sts/handler_test.go
index 109e9a8d0..e6c1a048a 100644
--- a/spinifex/gateway/sts/handler_test.go
+++ b/spinifex/gateway/sts/handler_test.go
@@ -272,6 +272,18 @@ func (s *stubIAMService) DeleteGroupPolicy(string, *iam.DeleteGroupPolicyInput)
 func (s *stubIAMService) ListGroupPolicies(string, *iam.ListGroupPoliciesInput) (*iam.ListGroupPoliciesOutput, error) {
 	panic("unexpected ListGroupPolicies call")
 }
+func (s *stubIAMService) PutUserPolicy(string, *iam.PutUserPolicyInput) (*iam.PutUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	panic("unexpected PutUserPolicy call")
+}
+func (s *stubIAMService) GetUserPolicy(string, *iam.GetUserPolicyInput) (*iam.GetUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	panic("unexpected GetUserPolicy call")
+}
+func (s *stubIAMService) DeleteUserPolicy(string, *iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput) (*iam.DeleteUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	panic("unexpected DeleteUserPolicy call")
+}
+func (s *stubIAMService) ListUserPolicies(string, *iam.ListUserPoliciesInput) (*iam.ListUserPoliciesOutput, error) {
+	panic("unexpected ListUserPolicies call")
+}
 
 func TestAssumeRole_HappyPath(t *testing.T) {
 	var calledWith struct {
diff --git a/spinifex/handlers/iam/service.go b/spinifex/handlers/iam/service.go
index f5d218196..b54e299ab 100644
--- a/spinifex/handlers/iam/service.go
+++ b/spinifex/handlers/iam/service.go
@@ -31,6 +31,12 @@ type IAMService interface {
 	DetachUserPolicy(accountID string, input *iam.DetachUserPolicyInput) (*iam.DetachUserPolicyOutput, error)
 	ListAttachedUserPolicies(accountID string, input *iam.ListAttachedUserPoliciesInput) (*iam.ListAttachedUserPoliciesOutput, error)
 
+	// User inline policies — account-scoped
+	PutUserPolicy(accountID string, input *iam.PutUserPolicyInput) (*iam.PutUserPolicyOutput, error)
+	GetUserPolicy(accountID string, input *iam.GetUserPolicyInput) (*iam.GetUserPolicyOutput, error)
+	DeleteUserPolicy(accountID string, input *iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput) (*iam.DeleteUserPolicyOutput, error)
+	ListUserPolicies(accountID string, input *iam.ListUserPoliciesInput) (*iam.ListUserPoliciesOutput, error)
+
 	// Role CRUD — account-scoped
 	CreateRole(accountID string, input *iam.CreateRoleInput) (*iam.CreateRoleOutput, error)
 	GetRole(accountID string, input *iam.GetRoleInput) (*iam.GetRoleOutput, error)
diff --git a/spinifex/handlers/iam/service_impl.go b/spinifex/handlers/iam/service_impl.go
index 11e8d86d3..9b05783d8 100644
--- a/spinifex/handlers/iam/service_impl.go
+++ b/spinifex/handlers/iam/service_impl.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"log/slog"
+	"maps"
 	"slices"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -392,6 +393,9 @@ func (s *IAMServiceImpl) DeleteUser(accountID string, input *iam.DeleteUserInput
 	if len(user.Groups) > 0 {
 		return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorIAMDeleteConflict)
 	}
+	if len(user.InlinePolicies) > 0 {
+		return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorIAMDeleteConflict)
+	}
 
 	if err := s.usersBucket.Delete(kvKey); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("delete user: %w", err)
@@ -1274,6 +1278,123 @@ func (s *IAMServiceImpl) ListAttachedUserPolicies(accountID string, input *iam.L
 	}, nil
 }
 
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// User inline policies
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+// PutUserPolicy embeds an inline policy document in a user, keyed by PolicyName.
+// Idempotent upsert: a same-name policy is overwritten, mirroring AWS. Uses a
+// blind read-modify-write Put like the other user writers (no CAS).
+func (s *IAMServiceImpl) PutUserPolicy(accountID string, input *iam.PutUserPolicyInput) (*iam.PutUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	userName := *input.UserName
+	policyName := *input.PolicyName
+	policyDoc := *input.PolicyDocument
+	userKVKey := accountID + "." + userName
+
+	if err := validatePolicyName(policyName); err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorIAMInvalidInput)
+	}
+	if _, err := ValidatePolicyDocument(policyDoc); err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorIAMMalformedPolicyDocument)
+	}
+
+	user, err := s.getUser(accountID, userName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if user.InlinePolicies == nil {
+		user.InlinePolicies = map[string]string{}
+	}
+	user.InlinePolicies[policyName] = policyDoc
+
+	userData, err := json.Marshal(user)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("marshal user: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if _, err := s.usersBucket.Put(userKVKey, userData); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("update user: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	slog.Info("IAM inline policy put on user", "accountID", accountID, "userName", userName, "policyName", policyName)
+	return &iam.PutUserPolicyOutput{}, nil
+}
+
+// GetUserPolicy returns a user's inline policy document by name as a raw JSON
+// string, matching the in-repo convention used by GetGroupPolicy.
+func (s *IAMServiceImpl) GetUserPolicy(accountID string, input *iam.GetUserPolicyInput) (*iam.GetUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	userName := *input.UserName
+	policyName := *input.PolicyName
+
+	user, err := s.getUser(accountID, userName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	doc, ok := user.InlinePolicies[policyName]
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorIAMNoSuchEntity)
+	}
+
+	return &iam.GetUserPolicyOutput{
+		UserName:       aws.String(userName),
+		PolicyName:     aws.String(policyName),
+		PolicyDocument: aws.String(doc),
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// DeleteUserPolicy removes a user's inline policy by name. A missing name
+// yields NoSuchEntity, matching AWS. Blind Put like the other user writers.
+func (s *IAMServiceImpl) DeleteUserPolicy(accountID string, input *iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput) (*iam.DeleteUserPolicyOutput, error) {
+	userName := *input.UserName
+	policyName := *input.PolicyName
+	userKVKey := accountID + "." + userName
+
+	user, err := s.getUser(accountID, userName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if _, ok := user.InlinePolicies[policyName]; !ok {
+		return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorIAMNoSuchEntity)
+	}
+	delete(user.InlinePolicies, policyName)
+
+	userData, err := json.Marshal(user)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("marshal user: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if _, err := s.usersBucket.Put(userKVKey, userData); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("update user: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	slog.Info("IAM inline policy deleted from user", "accountID", accountID, "userName", userName, "policyName", policyName)
+	return &iam.DeleteUserPolicyOutput{}, nil
+}
+
+// ListUserPolicies returns the names of a user's inline policies, sorted for
+// deterministic output. Pagination is not implemented: IsTruncated is always false.
+func (s *IAMServiceImpl) ListUserPolicies(accountID string, input *iam.ListUserPoliciesInput) (*iam.ListUserPoliciesOutput, error) {
+	user, err := s.getUser(accountID, *input.UserName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	rawNames := slices.Sorted(maps.Keys(user.InlinePolicies))
+
+	names := make([]*string, 0, len(rawNames))
+	for _, name := range rawNames {
+		names = append(names, aws.String(name))
+	}
+
+	return &iam.ListUserPoliciesOutput{
+		PolicyNames: names,
+		IsTruncated: aws.Bool(false),
+	}, nil
+}
+
 // GetUserPolicies resolves all policy documents attached to a user.
 // Used internally by the gateway for policy evaluation.
 func (s *IAMServiceImpl) GetUserPolicies(accountID, userName string) ([]PolicyDocument, error) {
@@ -1295,6 +1416,17 @@ func (s *IAMServiceImpl) GetUserPolicies(accountID, userName string) ([]PolicyDo
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Direct user-inline policies. A malformed document fails closed so a broken
+	// inline grant denies rather than silently permitting, mirroring the
+	// group-inline handling below.
+	for name, raw := range user.InlinePolicies {
+		var doc PolicyDocument
+		if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(raw), &doc); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("parse user inline policy %s/%s: %w", userName, name, err)
+		}
+		docs = append(docs, doc)
+	}
+
 	// Group-inherited managed policies. A membership to a deleted group is inert
 	// (AWS makes that state impossible by refusing to delete a non-empty group),
 	// so a missing group is skipped with a warn and the user keeps their other
diff --git a/spinifex/handlers/iam/types.go b/spinifex/handlers/iam/types.go
index 8e450108e..d7c0d780c 100644
--- a/spinifex/handlers/iam/types.go
+++ b/spinifex/handlers/iam/types.go
@@ -28,16 +28,17 @@ type (
 
 // User represents an IAM user stored in JetStream KV.
 type User struct {
-	UserName         string   `json:"user_name"`
-	UserID           string   `json:"user_id"`
-	AccountID        string   `json:"account_id"`
-	ARN              string   `json:"arn"`
-	Path             string   `json:"path"`
-	CreatedAt        string   `json:"created_at"`
-	AccessKeys       []string `json:"access_keys"`
-	Tags             []Tag    `json:"tags"`
-	AttachedPolicies []string `json:"attached_policies"` // policy ARNs
-	Groups           []string `json:"groups"`            // group NAMES the user belongs to (≤10)
+	UserName         string            `json:"user_name"`
+	UserID           string            `json:"user_id"`
+	AccountID        string            `json:"account_id"`
+	ARN              string            `json:"arn"`
+	Path             string            `json:"path"`
+	CreatedAt        string            `json:"created_at"`
+	AccessKeys       []string          `json:"access_keys"`
+	Tags             []Tag             `json:"tags"`
+	AttachedPolicies []string          `json:"attached_policies"`         // policy ARNs
+	Groups           []string          `json:"groups"`                    // group NAMES the user belongs to (≤10)
+	InlinePolicies   map[string]string `json:"inline_policies,omitempty"` // policyName → document JSON
 }
 
 // Group is a permission-grouping IAM identity stored in JetStream KV.
diff --git a/spinifex/handlers/iam/user_inline_test.go b/spinifex/handlers/iam/user_inline_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dd1c626d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spinifex/handlers/iam/user_inline_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,397 @@
+package handlers_iam
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/iam"
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/awserrors"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// ============================================================================
+// User Inline Policy Tests (Put / Get / Delete / List)
+// ============================================================================
+
+func TestPutUserPolicy_RoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+	createTestUser(t, svc, "inline-user")
+
+	_, err := svc.PutUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:       aws.String("inline-user"),
+		PolicyName:     aws.String("AllowDescribe"),
+		PolicyDocument: aws.String(validPolicyDocument()),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	out, err := svc.GetUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.GetUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:   aws.String("inline-user"),
+		PolicyName: aws.String("AllowDescribe"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "inline-user", *out.UserName)
+	assert.Equal(t, "AllowDescribe", *out.PolicyName)
+	assert.Equal(t, validPolicyDocument(), *out.PolicyDocument)
+}
+
+func TestPutUserPolicy_IdempotentOverwrite(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+	createTestUser(t, svc, "overwrite-user")
+
+	_, err := svc.PutUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:       aws.String("overwrite-user"),
+		PolicyName:     aws.String("Policy"),
+		PolicyDocument: aws.String(validPolicyDocument()),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = svc.PutUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:       aws.String("overwrite-user"),
+		PolicyName:     aws.String("Policy"),
+		PolicyDocument: aws.String(inlineDenyDocument()),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	out, err := svc.GetUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.GetUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:   aws.String("overwrite-user"),
+		PolicyName: aws.String("Policy"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, inlineDenyDocument(), *out.PolicyDocument)
+
+	list, err := svc.ListUserPolicies(testAccountID, &iam.ListUserPoliciesInput{
+		UserName: aws.String("overwrite-user"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Len(t, list.PolicyNames, 1, "overwrite must not duplicate the name")
+}
+
+func TestPutUserPolicy_InvalidName(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+	createTestUser(t, svc, "badname-user")
+
+	_, err := svc.PutUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:       aws.String("badname-user"),
+		PolicyName:     aws.String("bad name"),
+		PolicyDocument: aws.String(validPolicyDocument()),
+	})
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), awserrors.ErrorIAMInvalidInput)
+}
+
+func TestPutUserPolicy_MalformedDocument(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+	createTestUser(t, svc, "malformed-user")
+
+	_, err := svc.PutUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:       aws.String("malformed-user"),
+		PolicyName:     aws.String("Bad"),
+		PolicyDocument: aws.String(`{not valid json`),
+	})
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), awserrors.ErrorIAMMalformedPolicyDocument)
+}
+
+func TestPutUserPolicy_OversizedDocument(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+	createTestUser(t, svc, "oversized-user")
+
+	huge := strings.Repeat("a", maxPolicyDocumentSize+1)
+	_, err := svc.PutUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:       aws.String("oversized-user"),
+		PolicyName:     aws.String("Huge"),
+		PolicyDocument: aws.String(huge),
+	})
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), awserrors.ErrorIAMMalformedPolicyDocument)
+}
+
+func TestPutUserPolicy_UserNotFound(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+
+	_, err := svc.PutUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:       aws.String("ghost"),
+		PolicyName:     aws.String("Policy"),
+		PolicyDocument: aws.String(validPolicyDocument()),
+	})
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), awserrors.ErrorIAMNoSuchEntity)
+}
+
+func TestGetUserPolicy_UnknownName(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+	createTestUser(t, svc, "get-unknown")
+
+	_, err := svc.GetUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.GetUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:   aws.String("get-unknown"),
+		PolicyName: aws.String("missing"),
+	})
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), awserrors.ErrorIAMNoSuchEntity)
+}
+
+func TestGetUserPolicy_UserNotFound(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+
+	_, err := svc.GetUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.GetUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:   aws.String("ghost"),
+		PolicyName: aws.String("Policy"),
+	})
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), awserrors.ErrorIAMNoSuchEntity)
+}
+
+func TestListUserPolicies_Sorted(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+	createTestUser(t, svc, "list-user")
+
+	for _, name := range []string{"Charlie", "Alpha", "Bravo"} {
+		_, err := svc.PutUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{
+			UserName:       aws.String("list-user"),
+			PolicyName:     aws.String(name),
+			PolicyDocument: aws.String(validPolicyDocument()),
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+	}
+
+	out, err := svc.ListUserPolicies(testAccountID, &iam.ListUserPoliciesInput{
+		UserName: aws.String("list-user"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.False(t, *out.IsTruncated)
+	got := make([]string, 0, len(out.PolicyNames))
+	for _, n := range out.PolicyNames {
+		got = append(got, *n)
+	}
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"Alpha", "Bravo", "Charlie"}, got)
+}
+
+func TestListUserPolicies_Empty(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+	createTestUser(t, svc, "empty-inline-user")
+
+	out, err := svc.ListUserPolicies(testAccountID, &iam.ListUserPoliciesInput{
+		UserName: aws.String("empty-inline-user"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.NotNil(t, out.PolicyNames)
+	assert.Len(t, out.PolicyNames, 0)
+	assert.False(t, *out.IsTruncated)
+}
+
+func TestListUserPolicies_UserNotFound(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+
+	_, err := svc.ListUserPolicies(testAccountID, &iam.ListUserPoliciesInput{
+		UserName: aws.String("ghost"),
+	})
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), awserrors.ErrorIAMNoSuchEntity)
+}
+
+func TestDeleteUserPolicy(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+	createTestUser(t, svc, "del-inline-user")
+
+	_, err := svc.PutUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:       aws.String("del-inline-user"),
+		PolicyName:     aws.String("Doomed"),
+		PolicyDocument: aws.String(validPolicyDocument()),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = svc.DeleteUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:   aws.String("del-inline-user"),
+		PolicyName: aws.String("Doomed"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = svc.GetUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.GetUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:   aws.String("del-inline-user"),
+		PolicyName: aws.String("Doomed"),
+	})
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), awserrors.ErrorIAMNoSuchEntity)
+
+	list, err := svc.ListUserPolicies(testAccountID, &iam.ListUserPoliciesInput{
+		UserName: aws.String("del-inline-user"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Len(t, list.PolicyNames, 0)
+}
+
+func TestDeleteUserPolicy_DoubleDelete(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+	createTestUser(t, svc, "double-del-user")
+
+	_, err := svc.PutUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:       aws.String("double-del-user"),
+		PolicyName:     aws.String("Once"),
+		PolicyDocument: aws.String(validPolicyDocument()),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = svc.DeleteUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:   aws.String("double-del-user"),
+		PolicyName: aws.String("Once"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = svc.DeleteUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:   aws.String("double-del-user"),
+		PolicyName: aws.String("Once"),
+	})
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), awserrors.ErrorIAMNoSuchEntity)
+}
+
+func TestDeleteUserPolicy_UserNotFound(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+
+	_, err := svc.DeleteUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:   aws.String("ghost"),
+		PolicyName: aws.String("Policy"),
+	})
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), awserrors.ErrorIAMNoSuchEntity)
+}
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Authorization Integration — the linchpin (GetUserPolicies resolves user inline)
+// ============================================================================
+
+// putRawUserInlinePolicy writes an inline policy document into a user record
+// directly via the bucket, bypassing PutUserPolicy validation. Used to plant a
+// corrupt stored document that the write path would otherwise reject.
+func putRawUserInlinePolicy(t *testing.T, svc *IAMServiceImpl, userName, policyName, raw string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	user, err := svc.getUser(testAccountID, userName)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	if user.InlinePolicies == nil {
+		user.InlinePolicies = map[string]string{}
+	}
+	user.InlinePolicies[policyName] = raw
+	data, err := json.Marshal(user)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	_, err = svc.usersBucket.Put(testAccountID+"."+userName, data)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
+// TestGetUserPolicies_UserInlineEnforced is the linchpin: a user's own inline
+// policy must contribute its grant to the user's effective permission set, and
+// stop contributing once the inline policy is removed. Without this, put-user-policy
+// appears to succeed while granting nothing — a silent no-op.
+func TestGetUserPolicies_UserInlineEnforced(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+	createTestUser(t, svc, "quinn")
+
+	// Before the inline policy exists: the grant is absent.
+	docs, err := svc.GetUserPolicies(testAccountID, "quinn")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.False(t, policiesGrant(docs, "ec2:DescribeInstances"), "grant must be absent before the inline policy")
+
+	_, err = svc.PutUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:       aws.String("quinn"),
+		PolicyName:     aws.String("InlineGrant"),
+		PolicyDocument: aws.String(validPolicyDocument()),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// After the inline policy is added: the grant flows through.
+	docs, err = svc.GetUserPolicies(testAccountID, "quinn")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Len(t, docs, 1)
+	assert.True(t, policiesGrant(docs, "ec2:DescribeInstances"), "user inline grant must be enforced")
+
+	// After removing the inline policy: the grant disappears again.
+	_, err = svc.DeleteUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:   aws.String("quinn"),
+		PolicyName: aws.String("InlineGrant"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	docs, err = svc.GetUserPolicies(testAccountID, "quinn")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.False(t, policiesGrant(docs, "ec2:DescribeInstances"), "grant must vanish after the inline policy is deleted")
+}
+
+// TestGetUserPolicies_UserManagedAndInline proves a user's direct managed
+// attachment and its own inline document both surface in one combined effective
+// set — inline grants supplement managed grants rather than replacing them, so a
+// deny-wins evaluator can honour an inline Deny alongside a managed Allow.
+func TestGetUserPolicies_UserManagedAndInline(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+	createTestUser(t, svc, "rita")
+	managed := createTestPolicy(t, svc, "ManagedGrant")
+
+	_, err := svc.AttachUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.AttachUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:  aws.String("rita"),
+		PolicyArn: managed.Arn,
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = svc.PutUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:       aws.String("rita"),
+		PolicyName:     aws.String("InlineDeny"),
+		PolicyDocument: aws.String(inlineDenyDocument()),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	docs, err := svc.GetUserPolicies(testAccountID, "rita")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Len(t, docs, 2, "both the managed attachment and the inline document must resolve")
+	assert.True(t, policiesGrant(docs, "ec2:DescribeInstances"), "managed Allow surfaced")
+	assert.True(t, policiesGrant(docs, "s3:DeleteObject"), "inline doc surfaced")
+}
+
+// TestGetUserPolicies_UserInlineMalformedFailsClosed proves a corrupt inline
+// document on a user fails the whole resolution closed rather than silently
+// dropping the grant source, mirroring the group-inline handling.
+func TestGetUserPolicies_UserInlineMalformedFailsClosed(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+	createTestUser(t, svc, "sam")
+
+	putRawUserInlinePolicy(t, svc, "sam", "Bad", `{not valid json`)
+
+	_, err := svc.GetUserPolicies(testAccountID, "sam")
+	assert.Error(t, err, "a malformed user inline doc must fail closed")
+}
+
+// ============================================================================
+// DeleteUser inline-policy guard
+// ============================================================================
+
+// TestDeleteUser_WithInlinePolicy proves a user carrying an inline policy refuses
+// deletion until the inline policy is removed, mirroring DeleteGroup.
+func TestDeleteUser_WithInlinePolicy(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+	createTestUser(t, svc, "inline-conflict-user")
+
+	_, err := svc.PutUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.PutUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:       aws.String("inline-conflict-user"),
+		PolicyName:     aws.String("Blocker"),
+		PolicyDocument: aws.String(validPolicyDocument()),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = svc.DeleteUser(testAccountID, &iam.DeleteUserInput{
+		UserName: aws.String("inline-conflict-user"),
+	})
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), awserrors.ErrorIAMDeleteConflict)
+
+	// Succeeds once the inline policy is removed.
+	_, err = svc.DeleteUserPolicy(testAccountID, &iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:   aws.String("inline-conflict-user"),
+		PolicyName: aws.String("Blocker"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = svc.DeleteUser(testAccountID, &iam.DeleteUserInput{
+		UserName: aws.String("inline-conflict-user"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+}
diff --git a/tests/e2e/iam/iam_test.go b/tests/e2e/iam/iam_test.go
index f1b2c124a..35d33a18e 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/iam/iam_test.go
+++ b/tests/e2e/iam/iam_test.go
@@ -776,6 +776,18 @@ func iamDeleteUserBestEffort(fix *Fixture, user string) {
 			})
 		}
 	}
+	// Delete any inline policies so the inline-policy guard can't block the final
+	// DeleteUser after a partial run.
+	if inline, err := fix.AWS.IAM.ListUserPolicies(&iam.ListUserPoliciesInput{
+		UserName: aws.String(user),
+	}); err == nil {
+		for _, name := range inline.PolicyNames {
+			_, _ = fix.AWS.IAM.DeleteUserPolicy(&iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput{
+				UserName:   aws.String(user),
+				PolicyName: name,
+			})
+		}
+	}
 	// Delete every access key for this user.
 	keys, err := fix.AWS.IAM.ListAccessKeys(&iam.ListAccessKeysInput{
 		UserName: aws.String(user),
diff --git a/tests/e2e/iam/iam_user_inline_test.go b/tests/e2e/iam/iam_user_inline_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cf8003dd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/iam/iam_user_inline_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+//go:build e2e
+
+package iam
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/ec2"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/iam"
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/tests/e2e/harness"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+const (
+	usrInlineEnforceUser = "usr-e2e-inl-enf-user"
+	usrInlineEnforceName = "usr-e2e-inl-enf-describe-regions"
+
+	// A single-action grant so the positive case proves the user's own inline
+	// document was resolved and evaluated — not a blanket allow.
+	usrInlinePolicyDoc = `{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Allow","Action":"ec2:DescribeRegions","Resource":"*"}]}`
+)
+
+// runIAMUserInlineEnforcement proves the user-inline linchpin: a policy embedded
+// directly in a user record grants that user its permission with no group or
+// managed attachment involved. A user with its own access key is denied a guarded
+// action; once an inline policy granting that action is put on the user, the same
+// live credentials are allowed (policies resolved per request); after the inline
+// policy is deleted the action is denied again, isolating the user's own inline
+// document as the sole grant source. Mirrors runIAMGroupInlineEnforcement without
+// the group indirection.
+func runIAMUserInlineEnforcement(t *testing.T, fix *Fixture) {
+	harness.Phase(t, "Single — IAM User inline-policy authorization enforcement")
+
+	// No group or managed policy — the inline doc lives on the user record, so the
+	// best-effort sweep clears it via ListUserPolicies/DeleteUserPolicy.
+	sweep := func() {
+		iamDeleteUserBestEffort(fix, usrInlineEnforceUser)
+	}
+	sweep()
+	fix.Harness.RegisterCleanup(sweep)
+
+	// User with its own static credentials.
+	harness.Step(t, "create-user %q + access key", usrInlineEnforceUser)
+	_, err := fix.AWS.IAM.CreateUser(&iam.CreateUserInput{UserName: aws.String(usrInlineEnforceUser)})
+	require.NoError(t, err, "create-user")
+	key, err := fix.AWS.IAM.CreateAccessKey(&iam.CreateAccessKeyInput{UserName: aws.String(usrInlineEnforceUser)})
+	require.NoError(t, err, "create-access-key")
+	userCli := harness.NewAWSClientWithCreds(t, fix.Env,
+		aws.StringValue(key.AccessKey.AccessKeyId),
+		aws.StringValue(key.AccessKey.SecretAccessKey))
+
+	// No grant anywhere yet: the active key authenticates, then default-denies.
+	harness.Step(t, "describe-regions with no grant (expect AccessDenied)")
+	harness.ExpectError(t, "AccessDenied", func() error {
+		_, e := userCli.EC2.DescribeRegions(&ec2.DescribeRegionsInput{})
+		return e
+	})
+
+	// Put an inline policy granting ec2:DescribeRegions directly on the user.
+	harness.Step(t, "put-user-policy %q (grants ec2:DescribeRegions)", usrInlineEnforceName)
+	_, err = fix.AWS.IAM.PutUserPolicy(&iam.PutUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:       aws.String(usrInlineEnforceUser),
+		PolicyName:     aws.String(usrInlineEnforceName),
+		PolicyDocument: aws.String(usrInlinePolicyDoc),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err, "put-user-policy")
+
+	// Same live credentials are now allowed — the user's own inline grant applies.
+	harness.Step(t, "describe-regions after inline user grant (expect success)")
+	_, err = userCli.EC2.DescribeRegions(&ec2.DescribeRegionsInput{})
+	require.NoError(t, err, "describe-regions must be allowed once the user inline policy grants it")
+
+	// Delete the inline policy — the grant must evaporate, isolating the inline
+	// document as the sole grant source.
+	harness.Step(t, "delete-user-policy %s", usrInlineEnforceName)
+	_, err = fix.AWS.IAM.DeleteUserPolicy(&iam.DeleteUserPolicyInput{
+		UserName:   aws.String(usrInlineEnforceUser),
+		PolicyName: aws.String(usrInlineEnforceName),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err, "delete-user-policy")
+
+	harness.Step(t, "describe-regions after inline policy removed (expect AccessDenied)")
+	harness.ExpectError(t, "AccessDenied", func() error {
+		_, e := userCli.EC2.DescribeRegions(&ec2.DescribeRegionsInput{})
+		return e
+	})
+}
diff --git a/tests/e2e/iam/tests_test.go b/tests/e2e/iam/tests_test.go
index 30283152a..5abb94d37 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/iam/tests_test.go
+++ b/tests/e2e/iam/tests_test.go
@@ -86,6 +86,14 @@ func TestIAMGroupInlineEnforcement(t *testing.T) {
 	runIAMGroupInlineEnforcement(t, requireIAMFixture(t))
 }
 
+// TestIAMUserInlineEnforcement proves a user's own inline policy grants its
+// permission with no group or managed attachment: denied with no grant, allowed
+// once the inline policy is put, denied again after it is deleted. Sequential to
+// avoid racing the mid-test grant.
+func TestIAMUserInlineEnforcement(t *testing.T) {
+	runIAMUserInlineEnforcement(t, requireIAMFixture(t))
+}
+
 // TestIAMInstanceProfileAssociation exercises the EC2 IAM instance-profile
 // association lifecycle (associate/replace/disassociate, RunInstances
 // --iam-instance-profile, auto-disassociate on terminate). It boots its own