Test an API route with authentication

Hello,

I have a route to store a new model, this route is only accessible to admin users.

With Laravel 11.

class BranchTest extends TestCase
{
    use RefreshDatabase;

    public User $user;

    public function setUp(): void
    {
        parent::setUp();

        $this->user = User::create([
            'name' => 'Vincent',
            'email' => '[email protected]',
            'password' => 'ksdlfgjsldfkg',
            'admin' => true,
        ]);
    }

    /** @test */
    public function admin_can_create_a_branch(): void
    {
        $response = $this->actingAs($this->user)->postJson('/api/branches', [
            'name' => 'Ma super branche',
        ]);

        $response->assertCreated();

        $response->assertDatabaseHas('branches', [
            'name' => 'Ma super branche',
        ]);    
    }
}

It returns a 500 error because the policy doesn't work.

public function create(User $user): bool
{
    return $user->isAdmin();
}

And the controller checks for authorization via Gate::authorize('create', Branch::class);.

It works fine when I login and store a new branch, but the test fails.

Can you help me understand why ?

Thanks for your help.

V