diff --git a/doc/source/configuration/settings.rst b/doc/source/configuration/settings.rst
index 4fb6185d8..a8acc5a0a 100644
--- a/doc/source/configuration/settings.rst
+++ b/doc/source/configuration/settings.rst
@@ -1757,13 +1757,24 @@ supported_vnic_types
 
 .. versionadded:: 2015.1(Kilo)
 
+.. versionchanged:: 12.0.0(Pike)
+
+    Added ``virtio-forwarder`` VNIC type
+    Clarified VNIC type availability for users and operators
+
+
 Default ``['*']``
 
 For use with the port binding extension. Use this to explicitly set which VNIC
-types are supported; only those listed will be shown when creating or editing
-a port. VNIC types include ``normal``, ``direct``, ``direct-physical``,
-``macvtap`` and ``baremetal``. By default all VNIC types will be available to
-choose from.
+types are available for users to choose from, when creating or editing a port.
+The VNIC types actually supported are determined by resource availability and
+Neutron ML2 plugin support.
+Currently, error reporting for users selecting an incompatible or unavailable
+VNIC type is restricted to receiving a message from the scheduler that the
+instance cannot spawn because of insufficient resources.
+VNIC types include ``normal``, ``direct``, ``direct-physical``, ``macvtap``,
+``baremetal`` and ``virtio-forwarder``. By default all VNIC types will be
+available to choose from.
 
 Example: ``['normal', 'direct']``
 
diff --git a/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/admin/networks/ports/forms.py b/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/admin/networks/ports/forms.py
index e3c29d9ac..f852cc625 100644
--- a/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/admin/networks/ports/forms.py
+++ b/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/admin/networks/ports/forms.py
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ VNIC_TYPES = [('normal', _('Normal')),
               ('direct', _('Direct')),
               ('direct-physical', _('Direct Physical')),
               ('macvtap', _('MacVTap')),
-              ('baremetal', _('Bare Metal'))]
+              ('baremetal', _('Bare Metal')),
+              ('virtio-forwarder', _('Virtio Forwarder'))]
 
 
 class CreatePort(project_forms.CreatePort):
diff --git a/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/project/networks/ports/forms.py b/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/project/networks/ports/forms.py
index 62dd9c4a0..e0ab20fde 100644
--- a/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/project/networks/ports/forms.py
+++ b/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/project/networks/ports/forms.py
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ VNIC_TYPES = [('normal', _('Normal')),
               ('direct', _('Direct')),
               ('direct-physical', _('Direct Physical')),
               ('macvtap', _('MacVTap')),
-              ('baremetal', _('Bare Metal'))]
+              ('baremetal', _('Bare Metal')),
+              ('virtio-forwarder', _('Virtio Forwarder'))]
 
 
 class CreatePort(forms.SelfHandlingForm):
diff --git a/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/project/static/dashboard/project/workflow/launch-instance/networkports/ports.controller.js b/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/project/static/dashboard/project/workflow/launch-instance/networkports/ports.controller.js
index 9b527ea67..1a4cc4dd0 100644
--- a/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/project/static/dashboard/project/workflow/launch-instance/networkports/ports.controller.js
+++ b/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/project/static/dashboard/project/workflow/launch-instance/networkports/ports.controller.js
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@
       'direct': gettext('Direct'),
       'direct-physical': gettext('Direct Physical'),
       'macvtap': gettext('MacVTap'),
-      'baremetal': gettext('Bare Metal')
+      'baremetal': gettext('Bare Metal'),
+      'virtio-forwarder': gettext('Virtio Forwarder')
     };
 
     ctrl.tableDataMulti = {
diff --git a/openstack_dashboard/local/local_settings.py.example b/openstack_dashboard/local/local_settings.py.example
index 6b359eebc..86b6e0484 100644
--- a/openstack_dashboard/local/local_settings.py.example
+++ b/openstack_dashboard/local/local_settings.py.example
@@ -350,8 +350,8 @@ OPENSTACK_NEUTRON_NETWORK = {
     # Set which VNIC types are supported for port binding. Only the VNIC
     # types in this list will be available to choose from when creating a
     # port.
-    # VNIC types include 'normal', 'direct', 'direct-physical', 'macvtap' and
-    # 'baremetal'
+    # VNIC types include 'normal', 'direct', 'direct-physical', 'macvtap',
+    # 'baremetal' and 'virtio-forwarder'
     # Set to empty list or None to disable VNIC type selection.
     'supported_vnic_types': ['*'],
 
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/add-virtio-forwarder-vnic-type-03eba218d36e2aae.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/add-virtio-forwarder-vnic-type-03eba218d36e2aae.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..21360e37c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/add-virtio-forwarder-vnic-type-03eba218d36e2aae.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+features:
+  - The ``virtio-forwarder`` VNIC type has been added to the list of valid
+    types that may be set on a port. This requests a low-latency virtio port
+    inside the instance, likely backed by hardware acceleration and requires a
+    supporting Neutron mechanism driver.
+  - The configuration documentation for ``supported_vnic_types`` in
+    ``OPENSTACK_NEUTRON_NETWORK`` has been updated to help an operator decide
+    which VNIC types should be available for users to choose from.