diff --git a/Libraries/Geolocation/Geolocation.js b/Libraries/Geolocation/Geolocation.js
index 251666f4b1f9c1..7efa7b9e88c2e9 100644
--- a/Libraries/Geolocation/Geolocation.js
+++ b/Libraries/Geolocation/Geolocation.js
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ const PermissionsAndroid = require('PermissionsAndroid');
 var subscriptions = [];
 var updatesEnabled = false;
 
+type GeoConfiguration = {
+  skipPermissionRequests: bool;
+}
+
 type GeoOptions = {
   timeout?: number,
   maximumAge?: number,
@@ -75,6 +79,25 @@ type GeoOptions = {
  */
 var Geolocation = {
 
+  /*
+    * Sets configuration options that will be used in all location requests.
+    *
+    * ### Options
+    *
+    * #### iOS
+    *
+    * - `skipPermissionRequests` - defaults to `false`, if `true` you must request permissions
+    * before using Geolocation APIs.
+    *
+    */
+  setRNConfiguration: function(
+    config: GeoConfiguration
+  ) {
+    if (RCTLocationObserver.setConfiguration) {
+      RCTLocationObserver.setConfiguration(config);
+    }
+  },
+
   /*
    * Request suitable Location permission based on the key configured on pList.
    * If NSLocationAlwaysUsageDescription is set, it will request Always authorization,
diff --git a/Libraries/Geolocation/RCTLocationObserver.m b/Libraries/Geolocation/RCTLocationObserver.m
index f30a7b9dd736bb..4ea8a57dc1ea56 100644
--- a/Libraries/Geolocation/RCTLocationObserver.m
+++ b/Libraries/Geolocation/RCTLocationObserver.m
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ typedef NS_ENUM(NSInteger, RCTPositionErrorCode) {
 
 #define RCT_DEFAULT_LOCATION_ACCURACY kCLLocationAccuracyHundredMeters
 
+typedef struct {
+  BOOL skipPermissionRequests;
+} RCTLocationConfiguration;
+
 typedef struct {
   double timeout;
   double maximumAge;
@@ -37,6 +41,15 @@ typedef NS_ENUM(NSInteger, RCTPositionErrorCode) {
 
 @implementation RCTConvert (RCTLocationOptions)
 
++ (RCTLocationConfiguration)RCTLocationConfiguration:(id)json
+{
+  NSDictionary<NSString *, id> *options = [RCTConvert NSDictionary:json];
+
+  return (RCTLocationConfiguration) {
+    .skipPermissionRequests = [RCTConvert BOOL:options[@"skipPermissionRequests"]]
+  };
+}
+
 + (RCTLocationOptions)RCTLocationOptions:(id)json
 {
   NSDictionary<NSString *, id> *options = [RCTConvert NSDictionary:json];
@@ -111,6 +124,7 @@ @implementation RCTLocationObserver
   NSMutableArray<RCTLocationRequest *> *_pendingRequests;
   BOOL _observingLocation;
   BOOL _usingSignificantChanges;
+  RCTLocationConfiguration _locationConfiguration;
   RCTLocationOptions _observerOptions;
 }
 
@@ -141,7 +155,9 @@ - (dispatch_queue_t)methodQueue
 
 - (void)beginLocationUpdatesWithDesiredAccuracy:(CLLocationAccuracy)desiredAccuracy distanceFilter:(CLLocationDistance)distanceFilter useSignificantChanges:(BOOL)useSignificantChanges
 {
-  [self requestAuthorization];
+  if (!_locationConfiguration.skipPermissionRequests) {
+    [self requestAuthorization];
+  }
 
   _locationManager.distanceFilter  = distanceFilter;
   _locationManager.desiredAccuracy = desiredAccuracy;
@@ -172,6 +188,11 @@ - (void)timeout:(NSTimer *)timer
 
 #pragma mark - Public API
 
+RCT_EXPORT_METHOD(setConfiguration:(RCTLocationConfiguration)config)
+{
+  _locationConfiguration = config;
+}
+
 RCT_EXPORT_METHOD(requestAuthorization)
 {
   if (!_locationManager) {