diff --git a/.changeset/poor-cougars-remember.md b/.changeset/poor-cougars-remember.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e667c8e69b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/poor-cougars-remember.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/catalog-client': patch
+---
+
+Add the `presence` argument to the `CatalogApi` to be able to register optional locations.
diff --git a/packages/catalog-client/src/CatalogClient.ts b/packages/catalog-client/src/CatalogClient.ts
index 362b1e71da..c3d9749161 100644
--- a/packages/catalog-client/src/CatalogClient.ts
+++ b/packages/catalog-client/src/CatalogClient.ts
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ export class CatalogClient implements CatalogApi {
     type = 'url',
     target,
     dryRun,
+    presence,
   }: AddLocationRequest): Promise<AddLocationResponse> {
     const response = await fetch(
       `${await this.discoveryApi.getBaseUrl('catalog')}/locations${
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ export class CatalogClient implements CatalogApi {
           'Content-Type': 'application/json',
         },
         method: 'POST',
-        body: JSON.stringify({ type, target }),
+        body: JSON.stringify({ type, target, presence }),
       },
     );
 
diff --git a/packages/catalog-client/src/types.ts b/packages/catalog-client/src/types.ts
index e72317d444..52b001a2bc 100644
--- a/packages/catalog-client/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/catalog-client/src/types.ts
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ export type AddLocationRequest = {
   type?: string;
   target: string;
   dryRun?: boolean;
+  presence?: 'optional' | 'required';
 };
 
 export type AddLocationResponse = {