diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/README.md b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/README.md
index edee5fdf403c0..cb2f664d87b09 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/README.md
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/README.md
@@ -14,6 +14,14 @@ Managed policies can be attached using `xxx.attachManagedPolicy(arn)`:
 
 [attaching managed policies](test/example.managedpolicy.lit.ts)
 
+### Configuring an ExternalId
+
+If you need to create roles that will be assumed by 3rd parties, it is generally a good idea to [require an `ExternalId`
+to assume them](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_roles_create_for-user_externalid.html).  Configuring
+an `ExternalId` works like this:
+
+[supplying an external ID](test/example.external-id.lit.ts)
+
 ### Features
 
  * Policy name uniqueness is enforced. If two policies by the same name are attached to the same
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/lib/role.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/lib/role.ts
index 7b377ef30b427..63a81907e4576 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/lib/role.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/lib/role.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,16 @@ export interface RoleProps {
    */
   assumedBy: PolicyPrincipal;
 
+  /**
+   * ID that the role assumer needs to provide when assuming this role
+   *
+   * If the configured and provided external IDs do not match, the
+   * AssumeRole operation will fail.
+   *
+   * @default No external ID required
+   */
+  externalId?: string;
+
   /**
    * A list of ARNs for managed policies associated with this role.
    * You can add managed policies later using `attachManagedPolicy(arn)`.
@@ -120,7 +130,7 @@ export class Role extends Construct implements IRole {
   constructor(parent: Construct, name: string, props: RoleProps) {
     super(parent, name);
 
-    this.assumeRolePolicy = createAssumeRolePolicy(props.assumedBy);
+    this.assumeRolePolicy = createAssumeRolePolicy(props.assumedBy, props.externalId);
     this.managedPolicyArns = props.managedPolicyArns || [ ];
 
     validateMaxSessionDuration(props.maxSessionDurationSec);
@@ -194,11 +204,17 @@ export interface IRole extends IPrincipal, IDependable {
   readonly roleArn: string;
 }
 
-function createAssumeRolePolicy(principal: PolicyPrincipal) {
-  return new PolicyDocument()
-    .addStatement(new PolicyStatement()
+function createAssumeRolePolicy(principal: PolicyPrincipal, externalId?: string) {
+  const statement = new PolicyStatement();
+  statement
       .addPrincipal(principal)
-      .addAction(principal.assumeRoleAction));
+      .addAction(principal.assumeRoleAction);
+
+  if (externalId !== undefined) {
+    statement.addCondition('StringEquals', { 'sts:ExternalId': externalId });
+  }
+
+  return new PolicyDocument().addStatement(statement);
 }
 
 function validateMaxSessionDuration(duration?: number) {
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/test/example.external-id.lit.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/test/example.external-id.lit.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..879f16867f4eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/test/example.external-id.lit.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import cdk = require('@aws-cdk/cdk');
+import iam = require('../lib');
+
+export class ExampleConstruct extends cdk.Construct {
+  constructor(parent: cdk.Construct, id: string) {
+    super(parent, id);
+
+    /// !show
+    const role = new iam.Role(this, 'MyRole', {
+      assumedBy: new iam.AccountPrincipal('123456789012'),
+      externalId: 'SUPPLY-ME',
+    });
+    /// !hide
+
+    Array.isArray(role);
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/test/integ.role.expected.json b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/test/integ.role.expected.json
index e22731b253dd9..21aa4898932ab 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/test/integ.role.expected.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/test/integ.role.expected.json
@@ -58,6 +58,43 @@
           }
         ]
       }
+    },
+    "TestRole25D98AB21": {
+      "Type": "AWS::IAM::Role",
+      "Properties": {
+        "AssumeRolePolicyDocument": {
+          "Statement": [
+            {
+              "Action": "sts:AssumeRole",
+              "Condition": {
+                "StringEquals": {
+                  "sts:ExternalId": "supply-me"
+                }
+              },
+              "Effect": "Allow",
+              "Principal": {
+                "AWS": {
+                  "Fn::Join": [
+                    "",
+                    [
+                      "arn:",
+                      {
+                        "Ref": "AWS::Partition"
+                      },
+                      ":iam::",
+                      {
+                        "Ref": "AWS::AccountId"
+                      },
+                      ":root"
+                    ]
+                  ]
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          ],
+          "Version": "2012-10-17"
+        }
+      }
     }
   }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/test/integ.role.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/test/integ.role.ts
index 8b976678d625f..f3074a389aeac 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/test/integ.role.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/test/integ.role.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { App, Stack } from "@aws-cdk/cdk";
-import { Policy, PolicyStatement, Role, ServicePrincipal } from "../lib";
+import { AccountRootPrincipal, Policy, PolicyStatement, Role, ServicePrincipal } from "../lib";
 
 const app = new App();
 
@@ -15,4 +15,10 @@ const policy = new Policy(stack, 'HelloPolicy', { policyName: 'Default' });
 policy.addStatement(new PolicyStatement().addAction('ec2:*').addResource('*'));
 policy.attachToRole(role);
 
+// Role with an external ID
+new Role(stack, 'TestRole2', {
+  assumedBy: new AccountRootPrincipal(),
+  externalId: 'supply-me',
+});
+
 app.run();
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/test/test.role.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/test/test.role.ts
index 625e4461d7455..9696c72b531b7 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/test/test.role.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-iam/test/test.role.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,36 @@ export = {
     test.done();
   },
 
+  'can supply externalId'(test: Test) {
+    // GIVEN
+    const stack = new Stack();
+
+    // WHEN
+    new Role(stack, 'MyRole', {
+      assumedBy: new ServicePrincipal('sns.amazonaws.com'),
+      externalId: 'SomeSecret',
+    });
+
+    // THEN
+    expect(stack).to(haveResource('AWS::IAM::Role', {
+      AssumeRolePolicyDocument: {
+        Statement: [
+          {
+            Action: "sts:AssumeRole",
+            Condition: {
+              StringEquals: { "sts:ExternalId": "SomeSecret" }
+            },
+            Effect: "Allow",
+            Principal: { Service: "sns.amazonaws.com" }
+          }
+        ],
+        Version: "2012-10-17"
+      }
+    }));
+
+    test.done();
+  },
+
   'policy is created automatically when permissions are added'(test: Test) {
     const stack = new Stack();