diff --git a/.golangci-kal.yml b/.golangci-kal.yml
index 8d5d915d5a73..3a3b66a47021 100644
--- a/.golangci-kal.yml
+++ b/.golangci-kal.yml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ linters-settings:
         linters:
           enable:
           - "conditions" # Ensure conditions have the correct json tags and markers.
+          - "integers" # Ensure only int32 and int64 are used for integers.
 
           # Per discussion in July 2024, we are keeping phase fields for now.
           # See https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/pull/10897#discussion_r1685929508
@@ -25,7 +26,6 @@ linters-settings:
           
           # Linters below this line are disabled, pending conversation on how and when to enable them.
           # - "commentstart" # Ensure comments start with the serialized version of the field name.
-          # - "integers" # Ensure only int32 and int64 are used for integers.
           # - "jsontags" # Ensure every field has a json tag.
           # - "maxlength" # Ensure all strings and arrays have maximum lengths/maximum items.
           # - "nobools" # Bools do not evolve over time, should use enums instead.
@@ -65,3 +65,11 @@ issues:
     text: "Conditions field must be a slice of metav1.Condition"
     linters:
       - kal
+  - path: "api/v1beta1/*"
+    text: "type ClusterIPFamily should not use an int, int8 or int16. Use int32 or int64 depending on bounding requirements"
+    linters:
+      - kal
+  - path: "exp/ipam/api/v1alpha1/*|exp/ipam/api/v1beta1/*"
+    text: "field Prefix should not use an int, int8 or int16. Use int32 or int64 depending on bounding requirements"
+    linters:
+      - kal
diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/api/v1alpha3/metadata_type.go b/cmd/clusterctl/api/v1alpha3/metadata_type.go
index 6533491fb2ed..c5c01d29cc64 100644
--- a/cmd/clusterctl/api/v1alpha3/metadata_type.go
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/api/v1alpha3/metadata_type.go
@@ -36,10 +36,10 @@ type Metadata struct {
 // ReleaseSeries maps a provider release series (major/minor) with a API Version of Cluster API (contract).
 type ReleaseSeries struct {
 	// major version of the release series
-	Major uint `json:"major,omitempty"`
+	Major int32 `json:"major,omitempty"`
 
 	// minor version of the release series
-	Minor uint `json:"minor,omitempty"`
+	Minor int32 `json:"minor,omitempty"`
 
 	// contract defines the Cluster API contract supported by this series.
 	//
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func init() {
 // GetReleaseSeriesForVersion returns the release series for a given version.
 func (m *Metadata) GetReleaseSeriesForVersion(version *version.Version) *ReleaseSeries {
 	for _, releaseSeries := range m.ReleaseSeries {
-		if version.Major() == releaseSeries.Major && version.Minor() == releaseSeries.Minor {
+		if version.Major() == uint(releaseSeries.Major) && version.Minor() == uint(releaseSeries.Minor) {
 			return &releaseSeries
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/client/cluster/upgrader_info.go b/cmd/clusterctl/client/cluster/upgrader_info.go
index 40dc6b3f9a2c..97b58fdf4bc8 100644
--- a/cmd/clusterctl/client/cluster/upgrader_info.go
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/client/cluster/upgrader_info.go
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ func (i *upgradeInfo) getContractsForUpgrade() []string {
 	contractsForUpgrade := sets.Set[string]{}
 	for _, releaseSeries := range i.metadata.ReleaseSeries {
 		// Drop the release series if older than the current version, because not relevant for upgrade.
-		if i.currentVersion.Major() > releaseSeries.Major || (i.currentVersion.Major() == releaseSeries.Major && i.currentVersion.Minor() > releaseSeries.Minor) {
+		if i.currentVersion.Major() > uint(releaseSeries.Major) || (i.currentVersion.Major() == uint(releaseSeries.Major) && i.currentVersion.Minor() > uint(releaseSeries.Minor)) {
 			continue
 		}
 		contractsForUpgrade.Insert(releaseSeries.Contract)
@@ -177,8 +177,8 @@ func (i *upgradeInfo) getLatestNextVersion(contract string) *version.Version {
 
 			// Drop the nextVersion version if not linked with the current
 			// release series or if it is a pre-release.
-			if nextVersion.Major() != releaseSeries.Major ||
-				nextVersion.Minor() != releaseSeries.Minor ||
+			if nextVersion.Major() != uint(releaseSeries.Major) ||
+				nextVersion.Minor() != uint(releaseSeries.Minor) ||
 				nextVersion.PreRelease() != "" {
 				continue
 			}
diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/client/repository/repository_github_test.go b/cmd/clusterctl/client/repository/repository_github_test.go
index 7535ddcb9a19..07eed06cc85e 100644
--- a/cmd/clusterctl/client/repository/repository_github_test.go
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/client/repository/repository_github_test.go
@@ -698,9 +698,9 @@ func Test_gitHubRepository_getLatestPatchRelease(t *testing.T) {
 		fmt.Fprint(w, "apiVersion: clusterctl.cluster.x-k8s.io/v1alpha3\nreleaseSeries:\n  - major: 0\n    minor: 4\n    contract: v1alpha4\n  - major: 0\n    minor: 5\n    contract: v1alpha4\n  - major: 0\n    minor: 3\n    contract: v1alpha3\n")
 	})
 
-	major0 := uint(0)
-	minor3 := uint(3)
-	minor4 := uint(4)
+	major0 := int32(0)
+	minor3 := int32(3)
+	minor4 := int32(4)
 
 	configVariablesClient := test.NewFakeVariableClient()
 
@@ -710,8 +710,8 @@ func Test_gitHubRepository_getLatestPatchRelease(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name    string
 		field   field
-		major   *uint
-		minor   *uint
+		major   *int32
+		minor   *int32
 		want    string
 		wantErr bool
 	}{
diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/client/repository/repository_versions.go b/cmd/clusterctl/client/repository/repository_versions.go
index 599fb942f457..35150f0be661 100644
--- a/cmd/clusterctl/client/repository/repository_versions.go
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/client/repository/repository_versions.go
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func latestContractRelease(ctx context.Context, repo Repository, contract string
 
 	// If the Major or Minor version of the latest release doesn't match the release series for the current contract,
 	// return the latest patch release of the desired Major/Minor version.
-	if sv.Major() != releaseSeries.Major || sv.Minor() != releaseSeries.Minor {
+	if sv.Major() != uint(releaseSeries.Major) || sv.Minor() != uint(releaseSeries.Minor) {
 		return latestPatchRelease(ctx, repo, &releaseSeries.Major, &releaseSeries.Minor)
 	}
 	return latest, nil
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func latestRelease(ctx context.Context, repo Repository) (string, error) {
 }
 
 // latestPatchRelease returns the latest patch release for a given Major and Minor version.
-func latestPatchRelease(ctx context.Context, repo Repository, major, minor *uint) (string, error) {
+func latestPatchRelease(ctx context.Context, repo Repository, major, minor *int32) (string, error) {
 	versions, err := repo.GetVersions(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", errors.Wrapf(err, "failed to get repository versions")
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func latestPatchRelease(ctx context.Context, repo Repository, major, minor *uint
 			continue
 		}
 
-		if (major != nil && sv.Major() != *major) || (minor != nil && sv.Minor() != *minor) {
+		if (major != nil && sv.Major() != uint(*major)) || (minor != nil && sv.Minor() != uint(*minor)) {
 			// skip versions that don't match the desired Major.Minor version.
 			continue
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/config/crd/bases/clusterctl.cluster.x-k8s.io_metadata.yaml b/cmd/clusterctl/config/crd/bases/clusterctl.cluster.x-k8s.io_metadata.yaml
index b4e667a8ee3a..8dda452e35e9 100644
--- a/cmd/clusterctl/config/crd/bases/clusterctl.cluster.x-k8s.io_metadata.yaml
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/config/crd/bases/clusterctl.cluster.x-k8s.io_metadata.yaml
@@ -49,9 +49,11 @@ spec:
                   type: string
                 major:
                   description: major version of the release series
+                  format: int32
                   type: integer
                 minor:
                   description: minor version of the release series
+                  format: int32
                   type: integer
               type: object
             type: array