pro for ‧ ma /ˌprəʊ ˈfɔːmə $ ˌproʊ ˈfɔːr-/ BrE AmE adjective , adverb formal
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: 'as a matter of form' ]
if something is approved, accepted etc pro forma, this is part of the usual way of doing things and does not involve any actual choice or decision:
pro forma approval