diff --git a/pkg/filekit/models/attachments.go b/pkg/filekit/models/attachments.go
index d42ba17..865318b 100644
--- a/pkg/filekit/models/attachments.go
+++ b/pkg/filekit/models/attachments.go
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	AttachmentDstTemporary = 0 // The destination 0 is a reserved config for pre-upload processing
+	AttachmentDstExternal  = -1 // The destination marked the file did not store inside our service
+	AttachmentDstTemporary = 0  // Destination 0 is a reserved config for pre-upload processing
 )
 
 const (
diff --git a/pkg/internal/fs/downloader.go b/pkg/internal/fs/downloader.go
index 9c92554..c01fbcc 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/fs/downloader.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/fs/downloader.go
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 
-	pkg "git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
+	pkg "git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal"
 	jsoniter "github.com/json-iterator/go"
 	"github.com/minio/minio-go/v7"
 	"github.com/spf13/viper"
diff --git a/pkg/internal/server/api/boost_api.go b/pkg/internal/server/api/boost_api.go
index e369ef1..c0b84fd 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/server/api/boost_api.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/server/api/boost_api.go
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ package api
 
 import (
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/nexus/pkg/nex/sec"
-	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
+	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/server/exts"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/services"
 	"github.com/gofiber/fiber/v2"
diff --git a/pkg/internal/server/api/index.go b/pkg/internal/server/api/index.go
index dba7dc2..4efc084 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/server/api/index.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/server/api/index.go
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ func MapAPIs(app *fiber.App, baseURL string) {
 			attachments.Get("/:id/meta", getAttachmentMeta)
 			attachments.Get("/:id", openAttachment)
 			attachments.Post("/", sec.ValidatorMiddleware, createAttachmentDirectly)
+			attachments.Post("/referenced", sec.ValidatorMiddleware, createAttachmentWithURL)
 			attachments.Put("/:id", sec.ValidatorMiddleware, updateAttachmentMeta)
 			attachments.Delete("/:id", sec.ValidatorMiddleware, deleteAttachment)
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/internal/server/api/sticker_packs_api.go b/pkg/internal/server/api/sticker_packs_api.go
index 920f9f5..4b5b746 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/server/api/sticker_packs_api.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/server/api/sticker_packs_api.go
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ package api
 
 import (
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/nexus/pkg/nex/sec"
+	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/gap"
-	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/server/exts"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/services"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/passport/pkg/authkit"
diff --git a/pkg/internal/server/api/up_direct_api.go b/pkg/internal/server/api/up_direct_api.go
index 6b21ea1..d88456f 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/server/api/up_direct_api.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/server/api/up_direct_api.go
@@ -2,10 +2,11 @@ package api
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/server/exts"
 
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/nexus/pkg/nex/sec"
-	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
+	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/services"
 	"github.com/gofiber/fiber/v2"
 	jsoniter "github.com/json-iterator/go"
@@ -81,3 +82,50 @@ func createAttachmentDirectly(c *fiber.Ctx) error {
 
 	return c.JSON(metadata)
 }
+
+func createAttachmentWithURL(c *fiber.Ctx) error {
+	user := c.Locals("nex_user").(*sec.UserInfo)
+
+	poolAlias := c.FormValue("pool")
+	aliasingMap := viper.GetStringMapString("pools.aliases")
+	if val, ok := aliasingMap[poolAlias]; ok {
+		poolAlias = val
+	}
+
+	var data struct {
+		URL         string         `json:"url"`
+		Metadata    map[string]any `json:"metadata"`
+		Mimetype    string         `json:"mimetype"`
+		Name        string         `json:"filename"`
+		Alternative string         `json:"alt"`
+	}
+	if err := exts.BindAndValidate(c, &data); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if !user.HasPermNode("CreateReferencedAttachments", true) {
+		return fiber.NewError(fiber.StatusForbidden, "you are not permitted to create attachments with URL")
+	}
+
+	pool, err := services.GetAttachmentPoolByAlias(poolAlias)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fiber.NewError(fiber.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Sprintf("unable to get attachment pool info: %v", err))
+	}
+
+	attachment := models.Attachment{
+		Name:        data.Name,
+		Alternative: data.Alternative,
+		MimeType:    c.FormValue("mimetype"),
+		Usermeta:    data.Metadata,
+		IsAnalyzed:  true,
+		Destination: models.AttachmentDstExternal,
+		Pool:        &pool,
+		PoolID:      &pool.ID,
+	}
+
+	if attachment, err = services.NewRefURLAttachment(database.C, user, attachment); err != nil {
+		return fiber.NewError(fiber.StatusBadRequest, err.Error())
+	}
+
+	return c.JSON(attachment)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/internal/server/api/up_multipart_api.go b/pkg/internal/server/api/up_multipart_api.go
index 6201a06..45ba3d0 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/server/api/up_multipart_api.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/server/api/up_multipart_api.go
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/nexus/pkg/nex/sec"
+	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/fs"
-	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/server/exts"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/services"
 	"github.com/gofiber/fiber/v2"
diff --git a/pkg/internal/services/attachments.go b/pkg/internal/services/attachments.go
index 3d46cac..369a8e2 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/services/attachments.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/services/attachments.go
@@ -158,6 +158,25 @@ func NewAttachmentMetadata(tx *gorm.DB, user *sec.UserInfo, file *multipart.File
 	return attachment, nil
 }
 
+func NewRefURLAttachment(tx *gorm.DB, user *sec.UserInfo, attachment models.Attachment) (models.Attachment, error) {
+	if attachment.RefURL == nil {
+		return attachment, fmt.Errorf("attachment doesn't have a ref url")
+	}
+
+	attachment.Uuid = uuid.NewString()
+	attachment.Rid = RandString(16)
+	attachment.Size = 0
+	attachment.Destination = models.AttachmentDstExternal
+	attachment.Type = models.AttachmentTypeNormal
+	attachment.AccountID = user.ID
+
+	if err := tx.Save(&attachment).Error; err != nil {
+		return attachment, fmt.Errorf("failed to save attachment record: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	return attachment, nil
+}
+
 func TryLinkAttachment(tx *gorm.DB, og models.Attachment, hash string) (bool, error) {
 	prev, err := GetAttachmentByHash(hash)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/internal/services/boost.go b/pkg/internal/services/boost.go
index b1618ac..ec2d1b2 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/services/boost.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/services/boost.go
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/nexus/pkg/nex/sec"
+	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/fs"
-	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
 	jsoniter "github.com/json-iterator/go"
 	"github.com/rs/zerolog/log"
 	"github.com/spf13/cast"
diff --git a/pkg/internal/services/cleaner.go b/pkg/internal/services/cleaner.go
index 4086e4e..b52ea16 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/services/cleaner.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/services/cleaner.go
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ package services
 import (
 	"time"
 
-	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
+	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 
 	"github.com/rs/zerolog/log"
 )
diff --git a/pkg/internal/services/fragments.go b/pkg/internal/services/fragments.go
index 34c616d..8926c90 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/services/fragments.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/services/fragments.go
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ import (
 
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/nexus/pkg/nex/cachekit"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/nexus/pkg/nex/sec"
+	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/gap"
-	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
 	"github.com/gofiber/fiber/v2"
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
 	jsoniter "github.com/json-iterator/go"
diff --git a/pkg/internal/services/opener.go b/pkg/internal/services/opener.go
index 04283fc..c3220b3 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/services/opener.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/services/opener.go
@@ -66,6 +66,12 @@ func OpenAttachmentByRID(rid string, preferredSize int, region ...string) (url s
 		mimetype = result.Attachment.MimeType
 	}
 
+	if result.Attachment.RefURL != nil {
+		url = *result.Attachment.RefURL
+		filesize = 0
+		return
+	}
+
 	filesize = result.Attachment.Size
 
 	var dest models.BaseDestination
diff --git a/pkg/internal/services/payment.go b/pkg/internal/services/payment.go
index 7436f88..70cec4b 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/services/payment.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/services/payment.go
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"time"
 
-	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
+	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/gap"
 	wproto "git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/wallet/pkg/proto"
diff --git a/pkg/internal/services/pools.go b/pkg/internal/services/pools.go
index 732cbf3..0492579 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/services/pools.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/services/pools.go
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 package services
 
 import (
-	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
+	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 )
 
 func ListAttachmentPool() ([]models.AttachmentPool, error) {
diff --git a/pkg/internal/services/related.go b/pkg/internal/services/related.go
index 9e6a4b5..4de331c 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/services/related.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/services/related.go
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 
-	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
+	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 )
 
 func SetAttachmentAsThumbnail(item models.Attachment) (models.Attachment, error) {
diff --git a/pkg/internal/services/sticker_packs.go b/pkg/internal/services/sticker_packs.go
index 00c053e..96ee0ce 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/services/sticker_packs.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/services/sticker_packs.go
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ package services
 
 import (
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/nexus/pkg/nex/sec"
-	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
+	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"gorm.io/gorm"
 )
 
diff --git a/pkg/internal/services/stickers.go b/pkg/internal/services/stickers.go
index 4a9b2c8..641e644 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/services/stickers.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/services/stickers.go
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ import (
 
 	"gorm.io/gorm"
 
-	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
+	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 )
 
diff --git a/pkg/internal/services/uploader.go b/pkg/internal/services/uploader.go
index d57c950..d9cb7bb 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/services/uploader.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/services/uploader.go
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 
+	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/database"
 	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/internal/fs"
-	"git.solsynth.dev/hypernet/paperclip/pkg/filekit/models"
 	"github.com/gofiber/fiber/v2"
 	jsoniter "github.com/json-iterator/go"
 	"github.com/minio/minio-go/v7"