diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/init.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/init.test.ts
index 4413a6cf..8c1d0713 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/init.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/init.test.ts
@@ -77,6 +77,9 @@ describe("init", () => {
 			agent: "cursor",
 			skipMigrations: undefined,
 			preview: undefined,
+			projectId: undefined,
+			orgId: undefined,
+			branchId: undefined,
 		});
 		expect(interactiveInit).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
 	});
@@ -96,6 +99,9 @@ describe("init", () => {
 			agent: "claude",
 			skipMigrations: true,
 			preview: undefined,
+			projectId: undefined,
+			orgId: undefined,
+			branchId: undefined,
 		});
 	});
 
@@ -105,7 +111,12 @@ describe("init", () => {
 
 		await handler({ preview: true });
 
-		expect(interactiveInit).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ preview: true });
+		expect(interactiveInit).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+			preview: true,
+			projectId: undefined,
+			orgId: undefined,
+			branchId: undefined,
+		});
 	});
 
 	test("should pass preview to orchestrate in agent mode", async () => {
@@ -120,6 +131,9 @@ describe("init", () => {
 			agent: "cursor",
 			skipMigrations: undefined,
 			preview: true,
+			projectId: undefined,
+			orgId: undefined,
+			branchId: undefined,
 		});
 	});
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/init.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/init.ts
index a2c4129c..c4fb45f6 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/init.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/init.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type yargs from "yargs";
 import { closeAnalytics, sendError } from "../analytics.js";
 import { detectAgent } from "../init/detect_agent.js";
 import { enrichResponse } from "../init/enrich_output.js";
+import { assertSafeId } from "../init/ids.js";
 import { interactiveInit } from "../init/interactive.js";
 import { orchestrate } from "../init/orchestrate.js";
 import { routeDataStep } from "../init/route_command.js";
@@ -38,6 +39,21 @@ export const builder = (yargs: yargs.Argv) =>
 			describe:
 				"Enable preview features (e.g. project bootstrapping from templates).",
 		})
+		.option("project-id", {
+			type: "string",
+			describe:
+				"Use an existing Neon project by ID. Skips organization and project selection.",
+		})
+		.option("org-id", {
+			type: "string",
+			describe:
+				"Scope setup to an existing organization by ID. Skips organization selection.",
+		})
+		.option("branch-id", {
+			type: "string",
+			describe:
+				"Target a specific branch by ID when pulling environment variables.",
+		})
 		.strict(false);
 
 /**
@@ -77,6 +93,9 @@ export const handler = async (argv: {
 	data?: string;
 	skipMigrations?: boolean;
 	preview?: boolean;
+	projectId?: string;
+	orgId?: string;
+	branchId?: string;
 	profile?: string;
 }) => {
 	// Auto-detect agent from environment. When --agent is explicitly passed,
@@ -115,6 +134,13 @@ export const handler = async (argv: {
 			);
 		}
 
+		// Validate IDs up front — they are interpolated into shell commands
+		// downstream, and an early, well-shaped rejection beats a confusing
+		// failure several phases later.
+		if (argv.projectId) assertSafeId(argv.projectId, "project ID");
+		if (argv.orgId) assertSafeId(argv.orgId, "org ID");
+		if (argv.branchId) assertSafeId(argv.branchId, "branch ID");
+
 		// --data with a "step" field routes to the appropriate phase
 		if (argv.data && isAgentMode) {
 			let data: Record<string, unknown>;
@@ -143,10 +169,18 @@ export const handler = async (argv: {
 					agent,
 					skipMigrations: argv.skipMigrations,
 					preview: argv.preview,
+					projectId: argv.projectId,
+					orgId: argv.orgId,
+					branchId: argv.branchId,
 				}),
 			);
 		} else {
-			await interactiveInit({ preview: argv.preview });
+			await interactiveInit({
+				preview: argv.preview,
+				projectId: argv.projectId,
+				orgId: argv.orgId,
+				branchId: argv.branchId,
+			});
 		}
 	} catch (error) {
 		const cause = error instanceof Error ? error : new Error(String(error));
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/init/__snapshots__/agent_snapshot.test.ts.snap b/packages/cli/src/init/__snapshots__/agent_snapshot.test.ts.snap
index c6059cac..f675a4ce 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/init/__snapshots__/agent_snapshot.test.ts.snap
+++ b/packages/cli/src/init/__snapshots__/agent_snapshot.test.ts.snap
@@ -14564,6 +14564,15 @@ Options:
 --preview
 └────────────────>  Enable preview features (e.g. project bootstrapping from tem
                     plates). [boolean] [default: false]
+--project-id
+└────────────────>  Use an existing Neon project by ID. Skips organization and p
+                    roject selection. [string]
+--org-id
+└────────────────>  Scope setup to an existing organization by ID. Skips organiz
+                    ation selection. [string]
+--branch-id
+└────────────────>  Target a specific branch by ID when pulling environment vari
+                    ables. [string]
 --- subprocesses ---
 "
 `;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/init/ids.ts b/packages/cli/src/init/ids.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..326d3f90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/init/ids.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+/**
+ * Validates that an ID contains only safe characters for shell interpolation.
+ * Neon org/project/branch IDs are UUIDs or slug-like strings.
+ */
+export function assertSafeId(value: string, label: string): void {
+	if (!/^[\w.:-]+$/.test(value)) {
+		throw new Error(
+			`Invalid ${label}: "${value}". Expected alphanumeric, hyphens, underscores, dots, or colons.`,
+		);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/init/interactive.ts b/packages/cli/src/init/interactive.ts
index b31fac9c..e4393366 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/init/interactive.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/init/interactive.ts
@@ -185,6 +185,12 @@ async function selectTemplate(
 
 export type InteractiveInitOptions = {
 	preview?: boolean;
+	/** Existing project to use — carried into the agent hand-off command. */
+	projectId?: string;
+	/** Existing org to scope to — carried into the agent hand-off command. */
+	orgId?: string;
+	/** Branch to target — carried into the agent hand-off command. */
+	branchId?: string;
 };
 
 export async function interactiveInit(
@@ -783,6 +789,11 @@ async function interactiveInitInner(
 	if (selectedFeatures.length > 0)
 		gettingStartedData.features = selectedFeatures;
 	if (options.preview) gettingStartedData.preview = true;
+	// Carry any explicitly provided IDs into the hand-off so the agent runs the
+	// verified fast path (single `neon link`) instead of the selection flow.
+	if (options.projectId) gettingStartedData.projectId = options.projectId;
+	if (options.orgId) gettingStartedData.orgId = options.orgId;
+	if (options.branchId) gettingStartedData.branchId = options.branchId;
 
 	// Build a prompt for the user to paste into their agent chat
 	const cmd = `neon init --agent --data '${JSON.stringify({ step: "getting-started", ...gettingStartedData })}'`;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/init/orchestrate.ts b/packages/cli/src/init/orchestrate.ts
index 20733af7..0d978e56 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/init/orchestrate.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/init/orchestrate.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,12 @@ export type OrchestratorOptions = {
 	skipMigrations?: boolean;
 	/** Enable preview features (e.g. project bootstrapping from templates) */
 	preview?: boolean;
+	/** Existing project to use — skips org/project selection in getting-started */
+	projectId?: string;
+	/** Existing org to scope to — skips org selection in getting-started */
+	orgId?: string;
+	/** Branch to target when pulling env */
+	branchId?: string;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -132,6 +138,9 @@ export async function orchestrate(
 			migrationDir: inspection.migrationDir as string | undefined,
 			features,
 			preview: options.preview,
+			projectId: options.projectId,
+			orgId: options.orgId,
+			branchId: options.branchId,
 		});
 	}
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/init/phases/db.ts b/packages/cli/src/init/phases/db.ts
index 3522e69f..9b1c1d56 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/init/phases/db.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/init/phases/db.ts
@@ -1,23 +1,13 @@
+import { assertSafeId } from "../ids.js";
 import { neonctlCmd } from "../neonctl.js";
 import { SKILL_REFERENCE_URLS } from "../skills.js";
 import type { PhaseResponse } from "../types.js";
 
-/**
- * Validates that an ID contains only safe characters for shell interpolation.
- * Neon org/project IDs are typically UUIDs or slug-like strings.
- */
-function assertSafeId(value: string, label: string): void {
-	if (!/^[\w.:-]+$/.test(value)) {
-		throw new Error(
-			`Invalid ${label}: "${value}". Expected alphanumeric, hyphens, underscores, dots, or colons.`,
-		);
-	}
-}
-
 export type DbPhaseOptions = {
 	agent?: string;
 	orgId?: string;
 	projectId?: string;
+	branchId?: string;
 	orgsResult?: string;
 	projectsResult?: string;
 	framework?: string;
@@ -35,6 +25,7 @@ export async function handleDbPhase(
 	// Validate IDs that will be interpolated into shell commands
 	if (options.projectId) assertSafeId(options.projectId, "project ID");
 	if (options.orgId) assertSafeId(options.orgId, "org ID");
+	if (options.branchId) assertSafeId(options.branchId, "branch ID");
 
 	// Error from a previous step
 	if (options.error) {
@@ -59,10 +50,16 @@ export async function handleDbPhase(
 
 	// If we have a project ID, we're in the "wire it up" phase
 	if (options.projectId) {
+		const branchFlag = options.branchId
+			? ` --branch-id ${options.branchId}`
+			: "";
 		return {
 			phase: "db",
 			status: "project_ready",
-			project: { id: options.projectId },
+			project: {
+				id: options.projectId,
+				...(options.branchId ? { branchId: options.branchId } : {}),
+			},
 			nextAction: {
 				type: "agent_action",
 				prerequisite: SKILL_REFERENCE_URLS.connectionMethods,
@@ -70,7 +67,7 @@ export async function handleDbPhase(
 					{
 						id: "get_connection_string",
 						description: "Get the database connection string",
-						command: `${neonctlCmd()} connection-string --project-id ${options.projectId}`,
+						command: `${neonctlCmd()} connection-string --project-id ${options.projectId}${branchFlag}`,
 					},
 					{
 						id: "store_env",
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/init/phases/getting_started.ts b/packages/cli/src/init/phases/getting_started.ts
index 6cba14f4..45dd5d76 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/init/phases/getting_started.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/init/phases/getting_started.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {
 	MISSING_BINARY_HINT,
 	resolvePackageManager,
 } from "../../utils/package_manager.js";
+import { assertSafeId } from "../ids.js";
 import { neonctlCmd } from "../neonctl.js";
 import { ensureSkillsUpToDate, SKILL_REFERENCE_URLS } from "../skills.js";
 import type { PhaseResponse } from "../types.js";
@@ -20,6 +21,15 @@ export type GettingStartedPhaseOptions = {
 	features?: string[];
 	/** Preview mode — restricts project creation to new projects in AWS us-east */
 	preview?: boolean;
+	/**
+	 * Existing project to use. When set, org/project selection is skipped and a
+	 * single verified `neon link` step writes the .neon context.
+	 */
+	projectId?: string;
+	/** Existing org to scope to. When set (without projectId), org selection is skipped. */
+	orgId?: string;
+	/** Branch to target — recorded in the .neon context so `env pull` uses it. */
+	branchId?: string;
 	/** The project directory the emitted commands will run in. */
 	cwd: string;
 };
@@ -43,45 +53,41 @@ export async function handleGettingStartedPhase(
 	const installPm = resolvePackageManager(options.cwd);
 
 	if (!options.hasConnectionString) {
-		if (options.preview) {
-			// Public beta: platform features are only in AWS us-east-2 for now
-			steps.push(
-				{
-					id: "select_org",
-					description: [
-						"List the user's Neon organizations using the CLI command below.",
-						"If only one org exists, use it automatically.",
-						"If multiple orgs exist, ask the user which one to use.",
-						"Remember the selected org ID for the next steps.",
-					].join(" "),
-					command: `${neonctlCmd()} orgs list --output json`,
-				},
-				{
-					id: "select_or_create_project",
-					description: [
-						"List existing Neon projects in the selected organization using the CLI command below (replace <org-id> with the selected org ID).",
-						"IMPORTANT: Neon features (Functions, Object Storage, and AI Gateway) are currently in beta and only available in the AWS us-east-2 region (more regions coming shortly). Projects must have region_id 'aws-us-east-2' and be created on or after 2026-06-15.",
-						"Filter the project list to ONLY show projects where region_id is 'aws-us-east-2' AND created_at is on or after '2026-06-15'.",
-						"If eligible projects exist, present them alongside a 'Create new project' option.",
-						"If no eligible projects exist, tell the user and proceed directly to creating a new one.",
-						"IMPORTANT: Always include --org-id when creating a project to avoid interactive prompts.",
-					].join(" "),
-					command: `${neonctlCmd()} projects list --org-id <org-id> --output json`,
-				},
-				{
-					id: "create_project_if_needed",
-					description: [
-						"If the user chose to create a new project, create it in the AWS us-east-2 region using the CLI command below (replace <org-id> and <project-name>).",
-						"Ask the user for a project name (suggest the current directory name).",
-						"If the user chose an existing eligible project, skip this step.",
-					].join(" "),
-					command: `${neonctlCmd()} projects create --name <project-name> --org-id <org-id> --region-id aws-us-east-2 --output json`,
-				},
-			);
+		if (options.projectId) {
+			// Verified fast path: the user named an existing project, so there is
+			// nothing to list or ask. A single `neon link` verifies the IDs against
+			// the account, infers the org, records the branch, and writes .neon —
+			// which makes the org/project selection steps and create_neon_context
+			// below unnecessary.
+			assertSafeId(options.projectId, "project ID");
+			const linkFlags = [`--project-id ${options.projectId}`];
+			if (options.orgId) {
+				assertSafeId(options.orgId, "org ID");
+				linkFlags.push(`--org-id ${options.orgId}`);
+			}
+			if (options.branchId) {
+				assertSafeId(options.branchId, "branch ID");
+				linkFlags.push(`--branch-id ${options.branchId}`);
+			}
+			steps.push({
+				id: "link_project",
+				description: [
+					"Link this directory to the existing Neon project using the CLI command below.",
+					"This verifies the IDs against the user's Neon account, infers the organization, and writes the .neon context file (merging into any existing file — do NOT overwrite it).",
+					"No organization or project selection is needed.",
+				].join(" "),
+				command: `${neonctlCmd()} link ${linkFlags.join(" ")}`,
+			});
 		} else {
-			// Standard mode: let user choose existing or create new
-			steps.push(
-				{
+			// No project chosen yet. If an org was provided, skip org selection and
+			// scope the project commands to it; otherwise start by listing orgs.
+			const orgKnown = Boolean(options.orgId);
+			if (orgKnown) assertSafeId(options.orgId as string, "org ID");
+			const orgRef = options.orgId ?? "<org-id>";
+			const orgFlag = `--org-id ${orgRef}`;
+
+			if (!orgKnown) {
+				steps.push({
 					id: "select_org",
 					description: [
 						"List the user's Neon organizations using the CLI command below.",
@@ -90,39 +96,77 @@ export async function handleGettingStartedPhase(
 						"Remember the selected org ID for the next steps.",
 					].join(" "),
 					command: `${neonctlCmd()} orgs list --output json`,
-				},
-				{
-					id: "select_or_create_project",
-					description: [
-						"List existing Neon projects in the selected organization using the CLI command below (replace <org-id> with the selected org ID).",
-						"Ask the user whether they want to use an existing project or create a new one.",
-						"If creating new, ask the user for a project name (suggest the current directory name).",
-						"IMPORTANT: Always include --org-id when creating a project to avoid interactive prompts.",
-					].join(" "),
-					command: `${neonctlCmd()} projects list --org-id <org-id> --output json`,
-				},
-				{
-					id: "create_project_if_needed",
-					description: [
-						"If the user chose to create a new project, create it using the CLI command below (replace <org-id> and <project-name>).",
-						"If the user chose an existing project, skip this step.",
-					].join(" "),
-					command: `${neonctlCmd()} projects create --name <project-name> --org-id <org-id> --output json`,
-				},
-			);
-		}
+				});
+			}
 
-		// Create/update .neon context file
-		steps.push({
-			id: "create_neon_context",
-			description: [
-				"Update the .neon context file in the project root with the selected org and project IDs.",
-				"IMPORTANT: If a .neon file already exists, you MUST read it first, then merge the new orgId and projectId into the existing content. Do NOT overwrite the file — other fields (like _init, branch, etc.) must be preserved.",
-				"If no .neon file exists, create one.",
-				'The file is JSON. Add/update only the orgId and projectId fields: {"orgId": "<org-id>", "projectId": "<project-id>", ...existing fields}.',
-				"This file is safe to commit — it contains no secrets.",
-			].join(" "),
-		});
+			const orgPhrase = orgKnown
+				? `organization ${orgRef}`
+				: "selected organization";
+			const listSuffix = orgKnown
+				? ""
+				: " (replace <org-id> with the selected org ID)";
+
+			if (options.preview) {
+				// Public beta: platform features are only in AWS us-east-2 for now
+				steps.push(
+					{
+						id: "select_or_create_project",
+						description: [
+							`List existing Neon projects in the ${orgPhrase} using the CLI command below${listSuffix}.`,
+							"IMPORTANT: Neon features (Functions, Object Storage, and AI Gateway) are currently in beta and only available in the AWS us-east-2 region (more regions coming shortly). Projects must have region_id 'aws-us-east-2' and be created on or after 2026-06-15.",
+							"Filter the project list to ONLY show projects where region_id is 'aws-us-east-2' AND created_at is on or after '2026-06-15'.",
+							"If eligible projects exist, present them alongside a 'Create new project' option.",
+							"If no eligible projects exist, tell the user and proceed directly to creating a new one.",
+							"IMPORTANT: Always include --org-id when creating a project to avoid interactive prompts.",
+						].join(" "),
+						command: `${neonctlCmd()} projects list ${orgFlag} --output json`,
+					},
+					{
+						id: "create_project_if_needed",
+						description: [
+							`If the user chose to create a new project, create it in the AWS us-east-2 region using the CLI command below${orgKnown ? "" : " (replace <org-id> and <project-name>)"}.`,
+							"Ask the user for a project name (suggest the current directory name).",
+							"If the user chose an existing eligible project, skip this step.",
+						].join(" "),
+						command: `${neonctlCmd()} projects create --name <project-name> ${orgFlag} --region-id aws-us-east-2 --output json`,
+					},
+				);
+			} else {
+				// Standard mode: let user choose existing or create new
+				steps.push(
+					{
+						id: "select_or_create_project",
+						description: [
+							`List existing Neon projects in the ${orgPhrase} using the CLI command below${listSuffix}.`,
+							"Ask the user whether they want to use an existing project or create a new one.",
+							"If creating new, ask the user for a project name (suggest the current directory name).",
+							"IMPORTANT: Always include --org-id when creating a project to avoid interactive prompts.",
+						].join(" "),
+						command: `${neonctlCmd()} projects list ${orgFlag} --output json`,
+					},
+					{
+						id: "create_project_if_needed",
+						description: [
+							`If the user chose to create a new project, create it using the CLI command below${orgKnown ? "" : " (replace <org-id> and <project-name>)"}.`,
+							"If the user chose an existing project, skip this step.",
+						].join(" "),
+						command: `${neonctlCmd()} projects create --name <project-name> ${orgFlag} --output json`,
+					},
+				);
+			}
+
+			// Create/update .neon context file
+			steps.push({
+				id: "create_neon_context",
+				description: [
+					"Update the .neon context file in the project root with the selected org and project IDs.",
+					"IMPORTANT: If a .neon file already exists, you MUST read it first, then merge the new orgId and projectId into the existing content. Do NOT overwrite the file — other fields (like _init, branch, etc.) must be preserved.",
+					"If no .neon file exists, create one.",
+					'The file is JSON. Add/update only the orgId and projectId fields: {"orgId": "<org-id>", "projectId": "<project-id>", ...existing fields}.',
+					"This file is safe to commit — it contains no secrets.",
+				].join(" "),
+			});
+		}
 
 		// Install project dependencies (required before env pull — config files may import packages)
 		steps.push({