diff --git a/.changeset/tricky-ducks-juggle.md b/.changeset/tricky-ducks-juggle.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7f91c978a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/tricky-ducks-juggle.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/backend-app-api': patch
+---
+
+Add `packages` to backend-app-api configuration schema
diff --git a/packages/backend-app-api/config.d.ts b/packages/backend-app-api/config.d.ts
index a23bca447b..966ca61ae0 100644
--- a/packages/backend-app-api/config.d.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-app-api/config.d.ts
@@ -287,6 +287,11 @@ export interface Config {
           }
       >;
     };
+    /**
+     * @visibility frontend
+     * @deepVisibility frontend
+     */
+    packages?: 'all' | { include?: string[]; exclude?: string[] };
   };
 
   /** Discovery options. */