diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/Kconfig b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/Kconfig
index 517ad949f36..bfeb7e80e9a 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/Kconfig
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/Kconfig
@@ -168,6 +168,13 @@ config BT_MESH_PROXY_FILTER_SIZE
 
 endif # BT_CONN
 
+config BT_MESH_ACCESS_LAYER_MSG
+	bool "Enable direct Bluetooth message access layer messages"
+	help
+	  This option allows the applicaiton to directly access
+	  Bluetooth access layer messages without the need to
+	  instantiate Bluetooth mesh models.
+
 config BT_MESH_SELF_TEST
 	bool "Perform self-tests"
 	help
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/access.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/access.c
index 16717fdcfac..cec98380c5f 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/access.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/access.c
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ struct mod_pub_val {
 
 static const struct bt_mesh_comp *dev_comp;
 static uint16_t dev_primary_addr;
+static void (*msg_cb)(uint32_t opcode, struct bt_mesh_msg_ctx *ctx, struct net_buf_simple *buf);
 
 void bt_mesh_model_foreach(void (*func)(struct bt_mesh_model *mod,
 					struct bt_mesh_elem *elem,
@@ -486,24 +487,67 @@ struct bt_mesh_elem *bt_mesh_elem_find(uint16_t addr)
 {
 	uint16_t index;
 
+	if (!BT_MESH_ADDR_IS_UNICAST(addr)) {
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	index = addr - dev_comp->elem[0].addr;
+	if (index >= dev_comp->elem_count) {
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	return &dev_comp->elem[index];
+}
+
+bool bt_mesh_has_addr(uint16_t addr)
+{
+	uint16_t index;
+
 	if (BT_MESH_ADDR_IS_UNICAST(addr)) {
-		index = (addr - dev_comp->elem[0].addr);
-		if (index < dev_comp->elem_count) {
-			return &dev_comp->elem[index];
-		} else {
-			return NULL;
-		}
+		return bt_mesh_elem_find(addr) != NULL;
+	}
+
+	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_BT_MESH_ACCESS_LAYER_MSG) && msg_cb) {
+		return true;
 	}
 
 	for (index = 0; index < dev_comp->elem_count; index++) {
 		struct bt_mesh_elem *elem = &dev_comp->elem[index];
 
 		if (bt_mesh_elem_find_group(elem, addr)) {
-			return elem;
+			return true;
 		}
 	}
 
-	return NULL;
+	return false;
+}
+
+#if defined(CONFIG_BT_MESH_ACCESS_LAYER_MSG)
+void bt_mesh_msg_cb_set(void (*cb)(uint32_t opcode, struct bt_mesh_msg_ctx *ctx,
+			struct net_buf_simple *buf))
+{
+	msg_cb = cb;
+}
+#endif
+
+int bt_mesh_msg_send(struct bt_mesh_msg_ctx *ctx, struct net_buf_simple *buf, uint16_t src_addr,
+		const struct bt_mesh_send_cb *cb, void *cb_data)
+{
+	struct bt_mesh_net_tx tx = {
+		.ctx = ctx,
+		.src = src_addr,
+	};
+
+	BT_DBG("net_idx 0x%04x app_idx 0x%04x dst 0x%04x", tx.ctx->net_idx,
+	       tx.ctx->app_idx, tx.ctx->addr);
+	BT_DBG("len %u: %s", buf->len, bt_hex(buf->data, buf->len));
+
+	if (!bt_mesh_is_provisioned()) {
+		BT_ERR("Local node is not yet provisioned");
+		return -EAGAIN;
+	}
+
+	return bt_mesh_trans_send(&tx, buf, cb, cb_data);
 }
 
 uint8_t bt_mesh_elem_count(void)
@@ -677,32 +721,22 @@ void bt_mesh_model_recv(struct bt_mesh_net_rx *rx, struct net_buf_simple *buf)
 		(void)op->func(model, &rx->ctx, buf);
 		net_buf_simple_restore(buf, &state);
 	}
+
+	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_BT_MESH_ACCESS_LAYER_MSG) && msg_cb) {
+		msg_cb(opcode, &rx->ctx, buf);
+	}
 }
 
 int bt_mesh_model_send(struct bt_mesh_model *model, struct bt_mesh_msg_ctx *ctx,
 		       struct net_buf_simple *msg,
 		       const struct bt_mesh_send_cb *cb, void *cb_data)
 {
-	struct bt_mesh_net_tx tx = {
-		.ctx = ctx,
-		.src = bt_mesh_model_elem(model)->addr,
-	};
-
-	BT_DBG("net_idx 0x%04x app_idx 0x%04x dst 0x%04x", tx.ctx->net_idx,
-	       tx.ctx->app_idx, tx.ctx->addr);
-	BT_DBG("len %u: %s", msg->len, bt_hex(msg->data, msg->len));
-
-	if (!bt_mesh_is_provisioned()) {
-		BT_ERR("Local node is not yet provisioned");
-		return -EAGAIN;
-	}
-
-	if (!model_has_key(model, tx.ctx->app_idx)) {
-		BT_ERR("Model not bound to AppKey 0x%04x", tx.ctx->app_idx);
+	if (!model_has_key(model, ctx->app_idx)) {
+		BT_ERR("Model not bound to AppKey 0x%04x", ctx->app_idx);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
-	return bt_mesh_trans_send(&tx, msg, cb, cb_data);
+	return bt_mesh_msg_send(ctx, msg, bt_mesh_model_elem(model)->addr, cb, cb_data);
 }
 
 int bt_mesh_model_publish(struct bt_mesh_model *model)
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/access.h b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/access.h
index ae61256b04d..855a9ee168e 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/access.h
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/access.h
@@ -14,9 +14,11 @@ void bt_mesh_elem_register(struct bt_mesh_elem *elem, uint8_t count);
 
 uint8_t bt_mesh_elem_count(void);
 
-/* Find local element based on unicast or group address */
+/* Find local element based on unicast address */
 struct bt_mesh_elem *bt_mesh_elem_find(uint16_t addr);
 
+bool bt_mesh_has_addr(uint16_t addr);
+
 struct bt_mesh_model *bt_mesh_model_root(struct bt_mesh_model *mod);
 void bt_mesh_model_tree_walk(struct bt_mesh_model *root,
 			     enum bt_mesh_walk (*cb)(struct bt_mesh_model *mod,
@@ -52,3 +54,26 @@ void bt_mesh_model_bind_store(struct bt_mesh_model *mod);
 void bt_mesh_model_sub_store(struct bt_mesh_model *mod);
 void bt_mesh_model_pub_store(struct bt_mesh_model *mod);
 void bt_mesh_model_settings_commit(void);
+
+/** @brief Register a callback function hook for mesh model messages.
+ *
+ * Register a callback function to act as a hook for recieving mesh model layer messages
+ * directly to the application without having instantiated the relevant models.
+ *
+ * @param cb A pointer to the callback function.
+ */
+void bt_mesh_msg_cb_set(void (*cb)(uint32_t opcode, struct bt_mesh_msg_ctx *ctx,
+			struct net_buf_simple *buf));
+
+/** @brief Send a mesh model message.
+ *
+ * Send a mesh model layer message out into the mesh network without having instantiated
+ * the relevant mesh models.
+ *
+ * @param ctx The Bluetooth mesh message context.
+ * @param buf The message payload.
+ *
+ * @return 0 on success or negative error code on failure.
+ */
+int bt_mesh_msg_send(struct bt_mesh_msg_ctx *ctx, struct net_buf_simple *buf, uint16_t src_addr,
+		     const struct bt_mesh_send_cb *cb, void *cb_data);
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/app_keys.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/app_keys.c
index a0353e194fb..84b564fdd9c 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/app_keys.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/app_keys.c
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ int bt_mesh_keys_resolve(struct bt_mesh_msg_ctx *ctx,
 		}
 
 		if (ctx->app_idx == BT_MESH_KEY_DEV_REMOTE &&
-		    !bt_mesh_elem_find(ctx->addr)) {
+		    !bt_mesh_has_addr(ctx->addr)) {
 			struct bt_mesh_cdb_node *node;
 
 			if (!IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_BT_MESH_CDB)) {
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/friend.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/friend.c
index c7cfe19debe..993325a1255 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/friend.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/friend.c
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ static int encrypt_friend_pdu(struct bt_mesh_friend *frnd, struct net_buf *buf,
 
 	src = sys_get_be16(&buf->data[5]);
 
-	if (bt_mesh_elem_find(src)) {
+	if (bt_mesh_has_addr(src)) {
 		uint32_t seq;
 
 		if (FRIEND_ADV(buf)->app_idx != BT_MESH_KEY_UNUSED) {
@@ -1034,7 +1034,7 @@ init_friend:
 	       frnd->lpn, rx->ctx.recv_rssi, frnd->recv_delay, frnd->poll_to);
 
 	if (BT_MESH_ADDR_IS_UNICAST(frnd->clear.frnd) &&
-	    !bt_mesh_elem_find(frnd->clear.frnd)) {
+	    !bt_mesh_has_addr(frnd->clear.frnd)) {
 		clear_procedure_start(frnd);
 	}
 
@@ -1402,7 +1402,7 @@ static void friend_lpn_enqueue_rx(struct bt_mesh_friend *frnd,
 	 * this rx function. These packets have already been added to the
 	 * queue, and should be ignored.
 	 */
-	if (bt_mesh_elem_find(rx->ctx.addr)) {
+	if (bt_mesh_has_addr(rx->ctx.addr)) {
 		return;
 	}
 
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/net.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/net.c
index 07891731cf5..16aa1187d11 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/net.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/net.c
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ int bt_mesh_net_send(struct bt_mesh_net_tx *tx, struct net_buf *buf,
 
 	/* Deliver to local network interface if necessary */
 	if (bt_mesh_fixed_group_match(tx->ctx->addr) ||
-	    bt_mesh_elem_find(tx->ctx->addr)) {
+	    bt_mesh_has_addr(tx->ctx->addr)) {
 		err = loopback(tx, buf->data, buf->len);
 
 		/* Local unicast messages should not go out to network */
@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@ static bool net_decrypt(struct bt_mesh_net_rx *rx, struct net_buf_simple *in,
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	if (bt_mesh_elem_find(rx->ctx.addr)) {
+	if (bt_mesh_has_addr(rx->ctx.addr)) {
 		BT_DBG("Dropping locally originated packet");
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -804,7 +804,7 @@ void bt_mesh_net_recv(struct net_buf_simple *data, int8_t rssi,
 	net_buf_simple_save(&buf, &state);
 
 	rx.local_match = (bt_mesh_fixed_group_match(rx.ctx.recv_dst) ||
-			  bt_mesh_elem_find(rx.ctx.recv_dst));
+			  bt_mesh_has_addr(rx.ctx.recv_dst));
 
 	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_BT_MESH_GATT_PROXY) &&
 	    net_if == BT_MESH_NET_IF_PROXY) {