diff --git a/drivers/vfio/vfio.c b/drivers/vfio/vfio.c
index 842f450..d3cb342 100644
--- a/drivers/vfio/vfio.c
+++ b/drivers/vfio/vfio.c
@@ -1353,6 +1353,68 @@
 };
 
 /**
+ * External user API, exported by symbols to be linked dynamically.
+ *
+ * The protocol includes:
+ *  1. do normal VFIO init operation:
+ *	- opening a new container;
+ *	- attaching group(s) to it;
+ *	- setting an IOMMU driver for a container.
+ * When IOMMU is set for a container, all groups in it are
+ * considered ready to use by an external user.
+ *
+ * 2. User space passes a group fd to an external user.
+ * The external user calls vfio_group_get_external_user()
+ * to verify that:
+ *	- the group is initialized;
+ *	- IOMMU is set for it.
+ * If both checks passed, vfio_group_get_external_user()
+ * increments the container user counter to prevent
+ * the VFIO group from disposal before KVM exits.
+ *
+ * 3. The external user calls vfio_external_user_iommu_id()
+ * to know an IOMMU ID.
+ *
+ * 4. When the external KVM finishes, it calls
+ * vfio_group_put_external_user() to release the VFIO group.
+ * This call decrements the container user counter.
+ */
+struct vfio_group *vfio_group_get_external_user(struct file *filep)
+{
+	struct vfio_group *group = filep->private_data;
+
+	if (filep->f_op != &vfio_group_fops)
+		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
+
+	if (!atomic_inc_not_zero(&group->container_users))
+		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
+
+	if (!group->container->iommu_driver ||
+			!vfio_group_viable(group)) {
+		atomic_dec(&group->container_users);
+		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
+	}
+
+	vfio_group_get(group);
+
+	return group;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(vfio_group_get_external_user);
+
+void vfio_group_put_external_user(struct vfio_group *group)
+{
+	vfio_group_put(group);
+	vfio_group_try_dissolve_container(group);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(vfio_group_put_external_user);
+
+int vfio_external_user_iommu_id(struct vfio_group *group)
+{
+	return iommu_group_id(group->iommu_group);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(vfio_external_user_iommu_id);
+
+/**
  * Module/class support
  */
 static char *vfio_devnode(struct device *dev, umode_t *mode)
diff --git a/include/linux/vfio.h b/include/linux/vfio.h
index ac8d488..24579a0 100644
--- a/include/linux/vfio.h
+++ b/include/linux/vfio.h
@@ -90,4 +90,11 @@
 	TYPE tmp;						\
 	offsetof(TYPE, MEMBER) + sizeof(tmp.MEMBER); })		\
 
+/*
+ * External user API
+ */
+extern struct vfio_group *vfio_group_get_external_user(struct file *filep);
+extern void vfio_group_put_external_user(struct vfio_group *group);
+extern int vfio_external_user_iommu_id(struct vfio_group *group);
+
 #endif /* VFIO_H */