diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9861a060
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+### Rationale for this change
+
+
+### What changes are included in this PR?
+
+
+### Are these changes tested?
+
+
+### Are there any user-facing changes?
+
diff --git a/dev/release/rat_exclude_files.txt b/dev/release/rat_exclude_files.txt
index 6365be90..e254fd7a 100644
--- a/dev/release/rat_exclude_files.txt
+++ b/dev/release/rat_exclude_files.txt
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 *.tmpldata
 go.sum
 
+.github/pull_request_template.md
+
 arrow/flight/gen/flight/*.pb.go
 arrow/type_string.go
 arrow/unionmode_string.go