diff --git a/chalk-integration/src/lowering.rs b/chalk-integration/src/lowering.rs
index e68ae55ea84..c803ee5ee97 100644
--- a/chalk-integration/src/lowering.rs
+++ b/chalk-integration/src/lowering.rs
@@ -2,8 +2,9 @@ use crate::interner::{ChalkFnAbi, ChalkIr};
 use chalk_ir::cast::{Cast, Caster};
 use chalk_ir::interner::{HasInterner, Interner};
 use chalk_ir::{
-    self, AdtId, AssocTypeId, BoundVar, ClausePriority, ClosureId, DebruijnIndex, FnDefId, ImplId,
-    OpaqueTyId, QuantifiedWhereClauses, Substitution, ToGenericArg, TraitId, TyKind, VariableKinds,
+    self, AdtId, AssocTypeId, BoundVar, ClausePriority, ClosureId, DebruijnIndex, FnDefId,
+    ForeignDefId, ImplId, OpaqueTyId, QuantifiedWhereClauses, Substitution, ToGenericArg, TraitId,
+    TyKind, VariableKinds,
 };
 use chalk_parse::ast::*;
 use chalk_solve::rust_ir::{
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ type OpaqueTyKinds = BTreeMap<chalk_ir::OpaqueTyId<ChalkIr>, TypeKind>;
 type AssociatedTyLookups = BTreeMap<(chalk_ir::TraitId<ChalkIr>, Ident), AssociatedTyLookup>;
 type AssociatedTyValueIds =
     BTreeMap<(chalk_ir::ImplId<ChalkIr>, Ident), AssociatedTyValueId<ChalkIr>>;
+type ForeignIds = BTreeMap<Ident, chalk_ir::ForeignDefId<ChalkIr>>;
 
 type ParameterMap = BTreeMap<Ident, chalk_ir::WithKind<ChalkIr, BoundVar>>;
 
@@ -53,6 +55,7 @@ struct Env<'k> {
     opaque_ty_kinds: &'k OpaqueTyKinds,
     associated_ty_lookups: &'k AssociatedTyLookups,
     auto_traits: &'k AutoTraits,
+    foreign_ty_ids: &'k ForeignIds,
     /// GenericArg identifiers are used as keys, therefore
     /// all identifiers in an environment must be unique (no shadowing).
     parameter_map: ParameterMap,
@@ -177,6 +180,16 @@ impl<'k> Env<'k> {
                 .cast(interner),
             );
         }
+
+        if let Some(id) = self.foreign_ty_ids.get(&name.str) {
+            return Ok(chalk_ir::TyData::Apply(chalk_ir::ApplicationTy {
+                name: chalk_ir::TypeName::Foreign(*id),
+                substitution: chalk_ir::Substitution::empty(interner),
+            })
+            .intern(interner)
+            .cast(interner));
+        }
+
         if let Some(_) = self.trait_ids.get(&name.str) {
             return Err(RustIrError::NotStruct(name.clone()));
         }
@@ -408,6 +421,7 @@ impl LowerProgram for Program {
                 }
                 Item::Impl(_) => continue,
                 Item::Clause(_) => continue,
+                Item::Foreign(_) => continue,
             };
         }
 
@@ -425,6 +439,8 @@ impl LowerProgram for Program {
         let mut opaque_ty_data = BTreeMap::new();
         let mut hidden_opaque_types = BTreeMap::new();
         let mut custom_clauses = Vec::new();
+        let mut foreign_ty_ids = BTreeMap::new();
+
         for (item, &raw_id) in self.items.iter().zip(&raw_ids) {
             let empty_env = Env {
                 adt_ids: &adt_ids,
@@ -441,6 +457,7 @@ impl LowerProgram for Program {
                 associated_ty_lookups: &associated_ty_lookups,
                 parameter_map: BTreeMap::new(),
                 auto_traits: &auto_traits,
+                foreign_ty_ids: &foreign_ty_ids,
             };
 
             match *item {
@@ -638,6 +655,9 @@ impl LowerProgram for Program {
                         );
                     }
                 }
+                Item::Foreign(ForeignDefn(ref ident)) => {
+                    foreign_ty_ids.insert(ident.str.clone(), ForeignDefId(raw_id));
+                }
             }
         }
 
@@ -667,6 +687,7 @@ impl LowerProgram for Program {
             hidden_opaque_types,
             custom_clauses,
             object_safe_traits,
+            foreign_ty_ids,
         };
 
         Ok(program)
@@ -2016,6 +2037,7 @@ impl LowerGoal<LoweredProgram> for Goal {
             trait_kinds: &program.trait_kinds,
             opaque_ty_kinds: &program.opaque_ty_kinds,
             associated_ty_lookups: &associated_ty_lookups,
+            foreign_ty_ids: &program.foreign_ty_ids,
             parameter_map: BTreeMap::new(),
             auto_traits: &auto_traits,
         };
diff --git a/chalk-integration/src/program.rs b/chalk-integration/src/program.rs
index fba68382395..de12b0875bc 100644
--- a/chalk-integration/src/program.rs
+++ b/chalk-integration/src/program.rs
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ use chalk_ir::could_match::CouldMatch;
 use chalk_ir::debug::Angle;
 use chalk_ir::{
     debug::SeparatorTraitRef, AdtId, AliasTy, ApplicationTy, AssocTypeId, Binders,
-    CanonicalVarKinds, ClosureId, FnDefId, GenericArg, Goal, Goals, ImplId, Lifetime, OpaqueTy,
-    OpaqueTyId, ProgramClause, ProgramClauseImplication, ProgramClauses, ProjectionTy,
+    CanonicalVarKinds, ClosureId, FnDefId, ForeignDefId, GenericArg, Goal, Goals, ImplId, Lifetime,
+    OpaqueTy, OpaqueTyId, ProgramClause, ProgramClauseImplication, ProgramClauses, ProjectionTy,
     Substitution, TraitId, Ty,
 };
 use chalk_solve::rust_ir::{
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ pub struct Program {
 
     /// Store the traits marked with `#[object_safe]`
     pub object_safe_traits: HashSet<TraitId<ChalkIr>>,
+
+    /// For each foreign type `extern { type A; }`
+    pub foreign_ty_ids: BTreeMap<Identifier, ForeignDefId<ChalkIr>>,
 }
 
 impl Program {
diff --git a/chalk-ir/src/debug.rs b/chalk-ir/src/debug.rs
index 7a7d3638c31..aaf2025b6c9 100644
--- a/chalk-ir/src/debug.rs
+++ b/chalk-ir/src/debug.rs
@@ -35,6 +35,13 @@ impl<I: Interner> Debug for ClosureId<I> {
     }
 }
 
+impl<I: Interner> Debug for ForeignDefId<I> {
+    fn fmt(&self, fmt: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        I::debug_foreign_def_id(*self, fmt)
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| write!(fmt, "ForeignDefId({:?})", self.0))
+    }
+}
+
 impl<I: Interner> Debug for Ty<I> {
     fn fmt(&self, fmt: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> Result<(), Error> {
         I::debug_ty(self, fmt).unwrap_or_else(|| write!(fmt, "{:?}", self.interned))
@@ -184,6 +191,7 @@ impl<I: Interner> Debug for TypeName<I> {
             TypeName::Never => write!(fmt, "Never"),
             TypeName::Array => write!(fmt, "{{array}}"),
             TypeName::Closure(id) => write!(fmt, "{{closure:{:?}}}", id),
+            TypeName::Foreign(foreign_ty) => write!(fmt, "{:?}", foreign_ty),
             TypeName::Error => write!(fmt, "{{error}}"),
         }
     }
diff --git a/chalk-ir/src/fold/boring_impls.rs b/chalk-ir/src/fold/boring_impls.rs
index 9922315a398..9d6f835e1d6 100644
--- a/chalk-ir/src/fold/boring_impls.rs
+++ b/chalk-ir/src/fold/boring_impls.rs
@@ -303,6 +303,7 @@ id_fold!(AssocTypeId);
 id_fold!(OpaqueTyId);
 id_fold!(FnDefId);
 id_fold!(ClosureId);
+id_fold!(ForeignDefId);
 
 impl<I: Interner, TI: TargetInterner<I>> SuperFold<I, TI> for ProgramClauseData<I> {
     fn super_fold_with<'i>(
diff --git a/chalk-ir/src/interner.rs b/chalk-ir/src/interner.rs
index c996059d97b..4accb4ac46a 100644
--- a/chalk-ir/src/interner.rs
+++ b/chalk-ir/src/interner.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use crate::ClosureId;
 use crate::Constraint;
 use crate::Constraints;
 use crate::FnDefId;
+use crate::ForeignDefId;
 use crate::GenericArg;
 use crate::GenericArgData;
 use crate::Goal;
@@ -245,6 +246,16 @@ pub trait Interner: Debug + Copy + Eq + Ord + Hash {
         None
     }
 
+    /// Prints the debug representation of a foreign-def-id.
+    /// Returns `None` to fallback to the default debug output.
+    #[allow(unused_variables)]
+    fn debug_foreign_def_id(
+        foreign_def_id: ForeignDefId<Self>,
+        fmt: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>,
+    ) -> Option<fmt::Result> {
+        None
+    }
+
     /// Prints the debug representation of an alias.
     /// Returns `None` to fallback to the default debug output.
     #[allow(unused_variables)]
diff --git a/chalk-ir/src/lib.rs b/chalk-ir/src/lib.rs
index 6bdc09237b1..1963cd2421a 100644
--- a/chalk-ir/src/lib.rs
+++ b/chalk-ir/src/lib.rs
@@ -254,6 +254,9 @@ pub enum TypeName<I: Interner> {
     /// A closure.
     Closure(ClosureId<I>),
 
+    /// foreign types
+    Foreign(ForeignDefId<I>),
+
     /// This can be used to represent an error, e.g. during name resolution of a type.
     /// Chalk itself will not produce this, just pass it through when given.
     Error,
@@ -363,6 +366,10 @@ pub struct FnDefId<I: Interner>(pub I::DefId);
 #[derive(Copy, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash)]
 pub struct ClosureId<I: Interner>(pub I::DefId);
 
+/// Id for foreign types.
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash)]
+pub struct ForeignDefId<I: Interner>(pub I::DefId);
+
 impl_debugs!(ImplId, ClauseId);
 
 /// A Rust type. The actual type data is stored in `TyData`.
diff --git a/chalk-ir/src/visit/boring_impls.rs b/chalk-ir/src/visit/boring_impls.rs
index 242844fc40e..43e4cf16522 100644
--- a/chalk-ir/src/visit/boring_impls.rs
+++ b/chalk-ir/src/visit/boring_impls.rs
@@ -6,9 +6,10 @@
 
 use crate::{
     AdtId, AssocTypeId, ClausePriority, ClosureId, Constraints, DebruijnIndex, FloatTy, FnDefId,
-    GenericArg, Goals, ImplId, IntTy, Interner, Mutability, OpaqueTyId, PlaceholderIndex,
-    ProgramClause, ProgramClauses, QuantifiedWhereClauses, QuantifierKind, Safety, Scalar,
-    Substitution, SuperVisit, TraitId, UintTy, UniverseIndex, Visit, VisitResult, Visitor,
+    ForeignDefId, GenericArg, Goals, ImplId, IntTy, Interner, Mutability, OpaqueTyId,
+    PlaceholderIndex, ProgramClause, ProgramClauses, QuantifiedWhereClauses, QuantifierKind,
+    Safety, Scalar, Substitution, SuperVisit, TraitId, UintTy, UniverseIndex, Visit, VisitResult,
+    Visitor,
 };
 use std::{marker::PhantomData, sync::Arc};
 
@@ -239,6 +240,7 @@ id_visit!(OpaqueTyId);
 id_visit!(AssocTypeId);
 id_visit!(FnDefId);
 id_visit!(ClosureId);
+id_visit!(ForeignDefId);
 
 impl<I: Interner> SuperVisit<I> for ProgramClause<I> {
     fn super_visit_with<'i, R: VisitResult>(
diff --git a/chalk-parse/src/ast.rs b/chalk-parse/src/ast.rs
index 81f025c77a9..aee71042791 100644
--- a/chalk-parse/src/ast.rs
+++ b/chalk-parse/src/ast.rs
@@ -27,8 +27,12 @@ pub enum Item {
     OpaqueTyDefn(OpaqueTyDefn),
     Impl(Impl),
     Clause(Clause),
+    Foreign(ForeignDefn),
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Debug)]
+pub struct ForeignDefn(pub Identifier);
+
 #[derive(Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Debug)]
 pub struct AdtDefn {
     pub name: Identifier,
diff --git a/chalk-parse/src/parser.lalrpop b/chalk-parse/src/parser.lalrpop
index 838a54f14ad..f24d98b11a3 100644
--- a/chalk-parse/src/parser.lalrpop
+++ b/chalk-parse/src/parser.lalrpop
@@ -20,6 +20,11 @@ Item: Option<Item> = {
     OpaqueTyDefn => Some(Item::OpaqueTyDefn(<>)),
     Impl => Some(Item::Impl(<>)),
     Clause => Some(Item::Clause(<>)),
+    ForeignType => Some(Item::Foreign(<>)),
+};
+
+ForeignType: ForeignDefn = {
+    "extern" "type" <id:Id> ";" => ForeignDefn(id),
 };
 
 Comment: () = r"//.*";
diff --git a/chalk-solve/src/clauses.rs b/chalk-solve/src/clauses.rs
index db54807664e..afb6a256bef 100644
--- a/chalk-solve/src/clauses.rs
+++ b/chalk-solve/src/clauses.rs
@@ -635,7 +635,8 @@ fn match_type_name<I: Interner>(
         | TypeName::Ref(_)
         | TypeName::Array
         | TypeName::Never
-        | TypeName::Closure(_) => {
+        | TypeName::Closure(_)
+        | TypeName::Foreign(_) => {
             builder.push_fact(WellFormed::Ty(application.clone().intern(interner)))
         }
     }
diff --git a/chalk-solve/src/clauses/builtin_traits/copy.rs b/chalk-solve/src/clauses/builtin_traits/copy.rs
index 5fd9c1a17ac..d8528da8f2e 100644
--- a/chalk-solve/src/clauses/builtin_traits/copy.rs
+++ b/chalk-solve/src/clauses/builtin_traits/copy.rs
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ pub fn add_copy_program_clauses<I: Interner>(
             | TypeName::AssociatedType(_)
             | TypeName::Slice
             | TypeName::OpaqueType(_)
+            | TypeName::Foreign(_)
             | TypeName::Error => {}
         },
 
diff --git a/chalk-solve/src/clauses/builtin_traits/sized.rs b/chalk-solve/src/clauses/builtin_traits/sized.rs
index 786c705a29c..b256a4bf828 100644
--- a/chalk-solve/src/clauses/builtin_traits/sized.rs
+++ b/chalk-solve/src/clauses/builtin_traits/sized.rs
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ pub fn add_sized_program_clauses<I: Interner>(
             | TypeName::Slice
             | TypeName::OpaqueType(_)
             | TypeName::Str
+            | TypeName::Foreign(_)
             | TypeName::Error => {}
         },
 
diff --git a/chalk-solve/src/display/ty.rs b/chalk-solve/src/display/ty.rs
index 67927030964..8454cd15b67 100644
--- a/chalk-solve/src/display/ty.rs
+++ b/chalk-solve/src/display/ty.rs
@@ -217,6 +217,7 @@ impl<I: Interner> RenderAsRust<I> for ApplicationTy<I> {
             // FIXME: write out valid types for these variants
             TypeName::FnDef(_) => write!(f, "<fn_def>")?,
             TypeName::Closure(..) => write!(f, "<closure>")?,
+            TypeName::Foreign(_) => write!(f, "<foreign>")?,
 
             TypeName::Array => write!(
                 f,
diff --git a/tests/test/foreign_types.rs b/tests/test/foreign_types.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d525dbd0272
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test/foreign_types.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+//! Tests for foreign types
+
+use super::*;
+
+// foreign types don't implement any builtin traits
+#[test]
+fn foreign_ty_trait_impl() {
+    test! {
+        program {
+            extern type A;
+            trait Foo {}
+            impl Foo for A {}
+        }
+
+        goal { A: Foo } yields { "Unique" }
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn foreign_ty_lowering() {
+    lowering_success! {
+        program {
+            extern type A;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+// foreign types are always well-formed
+#[test]
+fn foreign_ty_is_well_formed() {
+    test! {
+        program {
+            extern type A;
+        }
+
+        goal { WellFormed(A) } yields { "Unique" }
+    }
+}
+
+// foreign types don't implement any builtin traits
+#[test]
+fn foreign_ty_is_not_sized() {
+    test! {
+        program {
+            #[lang(sized)] trait Sized {}
+            extern type A;
+        }
+
+        goal { not { A: Sized } } yields { "Unique" }
+    }
+}
+
+// foreign types don't implement any builtin traits
+#[test]
+fn foreign_ty_is_not_copy() {
+    test! {
+        program {
+            #[lang(copy)] trait Copy {}
+            extern type A;
+        }
+
+        goal { not { A: Copy } } yields { "Unique" }
+    }
+}
+
+// foreign types don't implement any builtin traits
+#[test]
+fn foreign_ty_is_not_clone() {
+    test! {
+        program {
+            #[lang(clone)] trait Clone {}
+            extern type A;
+        }
+
+        goal { not { A: Clone } } yields { "Unique" }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/test/mod.rs b/tests/test/mod.rs
index b62ef509e5e..b25dd98fea0 100644
--- a/tests/test/mod.rs
+++ b/tests/test/mod.rs
@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ mod constants;
 mod cycle;
 mod existential_types;
 mod fn_def;
+mod foreign_types;
 mod implied_bounds;
 mod impls;
 mod misc;