diff --git a/docs/configuration/overview.mdx b/docs/configuration/overview.mdx
index 6b1b28c9fa..25b1d9c83f 100644
--- a/docs/configuration/overview.mdx
+++ b/docs/configuration/overview.mdx
@@ -240,8 +240,8 @@ export default buildConfig({
   // highlight-start
   cors: {
     origins: ['http://localhost:3000'],
-    headers: ['x-custom-header']
-  }
+    headers: ['x-custom-header'],
+  },
   // highlight-end
 })
 ```
diff --git a/docs/fields/blocks.mdx b/docs/fields/blocks.mdx
index edb5e51e86..aa1b860c2c 100644
--- a/docs/fields/blocks.mdx
+++ b/docs/fields/blocks.mdx
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ const config = buildConfig({
         },
       ],
     },
-     {
+    {
       slug: 'collection2',
       fields: [
         {
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ const config = buildConfig({
                 blocks: ['TextBlock'],
               }),
             ],
-          })
+          }),
         },
       ],
     },
diff --git a/docs/getting-started/installation.mdx b/docs/getting-started/installation.mdx
index d42d3e7ca4..2f507862a6 100644
--- a/docs/getting-started/installation.mdx
+++ b/docs/getting-started/installation.mdx
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ To install a Database Adapter, you can run **one** of the following commands:
   ```
 
 - To install the [Postgres Adapter](../database/postgres), run:
+
   ```bash
   pnpm i @payloadcms/db-postgres
   ```
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ To install a Database Adapter, you can run **one** of the following commands:
 
 #### 2. Copy Payload files into your Next.js app folder
 
-Payload installs directly in your Next.js `/app` folder, and you'll need to place some files into that folder for Payload to run. You can copy these files from the [Blank Template](https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/tree/main/templates/blank/src/app/(payload)) on GitHub. Once you have the required Payload files in place in your `/app` folder, you should have something like this:
+Payload installs directly in your Next.js `/app` folder, and you'll need to place some files into that folder for Payload to run. You can copy these files from the [Blank Template](<https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/tree/main/templates/blank/src/app/(payload)>) on GitHub. Once you have the required Payload files in place in your `/app` folder, you should have something like this:
 
 ```plaintext
 app/
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/config/useAsTitle.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/config/useAsTitle.ts
index a57aa32e17..c4633f94f7 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/config/useAsTitle.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/config/useAsTitle.ts
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ export const validateUseAsTitle = (config: CollectionConfig) => {
         }
       }
     } else {
-      if (useAsTitleField && fieldIsVirtual(useAsTitleField)) {
+      if (useAsTitleField && 'virtual' in useAsTitleField && useAsTitleField.virtual === true) {
         throw new InvalidConfiguration(
-          `The field "${config.admin.useAsTitle}" specified in "admin.useAsTitle" in the collection "${config.slug}" is virtual. A virtual field cannot be used as the title.`,
+          `The field "${config.admin.useAsTitle}" specified in "admin.useAsTitle" in the collection "${config.slug}" is virtual. A virtual field can be used as the title only when linked to a relationship field.`,
         )
       }
       if (!useAsTitleField) {
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/find.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/find.ts
index 48810c7285..f0c9117f00 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/find.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/find.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import { buildVersionCollectionFields } from '../../versions/buildCollectionFiel
 import { appendVersionToQueryKey } from '../../versions/drafts/appendVersionToQueryKey.js'
 import { getQueryDraftsSelect } from '../../versions/drafts/getQueryDraftsSelect.js'
 import { getQueryDraftsSort } from '../../versions/drafts/getQueryDraftsSort.js'
+import { sanitizeSortQuery } from './utilities/sanitizeSortQuery.js'
 import { buildAfterOperation } from './utils.js'
 
 export type Arguments = {
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ export const findOperation = async <
       req,
       select: incomingSelect,
       showHiddenFields,
-      sort,
+      sort: incomingSort,
       where,
     } = args
 
@@ -143,6 +144,11 @@ export const findOperation = async <
 
     let fullWhere = combineQueries(where, accessResult)
 
+    const sort = sanitizeSortQuery({
+      fields: collection.config.flattenedFields,
+      sort: incomingSort,
+    })
+
     const sanitizedJoins = await sanitizeJoinQuery({
       collectionConfig,
       joins,
@@ -170,7 +176,10 @@ export const findOperation = async <
         pagination: usePagination,
         req,
         select: getQueryDraftsSelect({ select }),
-        sort: getQueryDraftsSort({ collectionConfig, sort }),
+        sort: getQueryDraftsSort({
+          collectionConfig,
+          sort,
+        }),
         where: fullWhere,
       })
     } else {
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/update.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/update.ts
index f64ca7f47d..ab2e2308fa 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/update.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/update.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import { sanitizeSelect } from '../../utilities/sanitizeSelect.js'
 import { buildVersionCollectionFields } from '../../versions/buildCollectionFields.js'
 import { appendVersionToQueryKey } from '../../versions/drafts/appendVersionToQueryKey.js'
 import { getQueryDraftsSort } from '../../versions/drafts/getQueryDraftsSort.js'
+import { sanitizeSortQuery } from './utilities/sanitizeSortQuery.js'
 import { updateDocument } from './utilities/update.js'
 import { buildAfterOperation } from './utils.js'
 
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ export const updateOperation = async <
       req,
       select: incomingSelect,
       showHiddenFields,
-      sort,
+      sort: incomingSort,
       where,
     } = args
 
@@ -136,6 +137,11 @@ export const updateOperation = async <
 
     const fullWhere = combineQueries(where, accessResult)
 
+    const sort = sanitizeSortQuery({
+      fields: collection.config.flattenedFields,
+      sort: incomingSort,
+    })
+
     let docs
 
     if (collectionConfig.versions?.drafts && shouldSaveDraft) {
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/utilities/sanitizeSortQuery.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/utilities/sanitizeSortQuery.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..692d13d318
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/utilities/sanitizeSortQuery.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+import type { FlattenedField } from '../../../fields/config/types.js'
+
+const sanitizeSort = ({ fields, sort }: { fields: FlattenedField[]; sort: string }): string => {
+  let sortProperty = sort
+  let desc = false
+  if (sort.indexOf('-') === 0) {
+    desc = true
+    sortProperty = sortProperty.substring(1)
+  }
+
+  const segments = sortProperty.split('.')
+
+  for (const segment of segments) {
+    const field = fields.find((each) => each.name === segment)
+    if (!field) {
+      return sort
+    }
+
+    if ('fields' in field) {
+      fields = field.flattenedFields
+      continue
+    }
+
+    if ('virtual' in field && typeof field.virtual === 'string') {
+      return `${desc ? '-' : ''}${field.virtual}`
+    }
+  }
+
+  return sort
+}
+
+/**
+ * Sanitizes the sort parameter, for example virtual fields linked to relationships are replaced with the full path.
+ */
+export const sanitizeSortQuery = ({
+  fields,
+  sort,
+}: {
+  fields: FlattenedField[]
+  sort?: string | string[]
+}): string | string[] | undefined => {
+  if (!sort) {
+    return undefined
+  }
+
+  if (Array.isArray(sort)) {
+    return sort.map((sort) => sanitizeSort({ fields, sort }))
+  }
+
+  return sanitizeSort({ fields, sort })
+}
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/database/queryValidation/validateQueryPaths.ts b/packages/payload/src/database/queryValidation/validateQueryPaths.ts
index 563b90b051..c6af5ccf23 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/database/queryValidation/validateQueryPaths.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/database/queryValidation/validateQueryPaths.ts
@@ -28,22 +28,6 @@ type Args = {
     }
 )
 
-const flattenWhere = (query: Where): WhereField[] => {
-  const flattenedConstraints: WhereField[] = []
-
-  for (const [key, val] of Object.entries(query)) {
-    if ((key === 'and' || key === 'or') && Array.isArray(val)) {
-      for (const subVal of val) {
-        flattenedConstraints.push(...flattenWhere(subVal))
-      }
-    } else {
-      flattenedConstraints.push({ [key]: val })
-    }
-  }
-
-  return flattenedConstraints
-}
-
 export async function validateQueryPaths({
   collectionConfig,
   errors = [],
@@ -61,17 +45,47 @@ export async function validateQueryPaths({
   const fields = versionFields || (globalConfig || collectionConfig).flattenedFields
 
   if (typeof where === 'object') {
-    const whereFields = flattenWhere(where)
     // We need to determine if the whereKey is an AND, OR, or a schema path
     const promises = []
-    for (const constraint of whereFields) {
-      for (const path in constraint) {
-        for (const operator in constraint[path]) {
-          const val = constraint[path][operator]
+    for (const path in where) {
+      const constraint = where[path]
+
+      if ((path === 'and' || path === 'or') && Array.isArray(constraint)) {
+        for (const item of constraint) {
+          if (collectionConfig) {
+            promises.push(
+              validateQueryPaths({
+                collectionConfig,
+                errors,
+                overrideAccess,
+                policies,
+                req,
+                versionFields,
+                where: item,
+              }),
+            )
+          } else {
+            promises.push(
+              validateQueryPaths({
+                errors,
+                globalConfig,
+                overrideAccess,
+                policies,
+                req,
+                versionFields,
+                where: item,
+              }),
+            )
+          }
+        }
+      } else if (!Array.isArray(constraint)) {
+        for (const operator in constraint) {
+          const val = constraint[operator]
           if (validOperatorSet.has(operator as Operator)) {
             promises.push(
               validateSearchParam({
                 collectionConfig,
+                constraint: where as WhereField,
                 errors,
                 fields,
                 globalConfig,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/database/queryValidation/validateSearchParams.ts b/packages/payload/src/database/queryValidation/validateSearchParams.ts
index 9ec7fde56d..125df0336a 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/database/queryValidation/validateSearchParams.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/database/queryValidation/validateSearchParams.ts
@@ -2,17 +2,19 @@
 import type { SanitizedCollectionConfig } from '../../collections/config/types.js'
 import type { FlattenedField } from '../../fields/config/types.js'
 import type { SanitizedGlobalConfig } from '../../globals/config/types.js'
-import type { PayloadRequest } from '../../types/index.js'
+import type { PayloadRequest, WhereField } from '../../types/index.js'
 import type { EntityPolicies, PathToQuery } from './types.js'
 
 import { fieldAffectsData, fieldIsVirtual } from '../../fields/config/types.js'
 import { getEntityPolicies } from '../../utilities/getEntityPolicies.js'
+import { getFieldByPath } from '../../utilities/getFieldByPath.js'
 import isolateObjectProperty from '../../utilities/isolateObjectProperty.js'
 import { getLocalizedPaths } from '../getLocalizedPaths.js'
 import { validateQueryPaths } from './validateQueryPaths.js'
 
 type Args = {
   collectionConfig?: SanitizedCollectionConfig
+  constraint: WhereField
   errors: { path: string }[]
   fields: FlattenedField[]
   globalConfig?: SanitizedGlobalConfig
@@ -32,6 +34,7 @@ type Args = {
  */
 export async function validateSearchParam({
   collectionConfig,
+  constraint,
   errors,
   fields,
   globalConfig,
@@ -100,8 +103,13 @@ export async function validateSearchParam({
         return
       }
 
-      if (fieldIsVirtual(field)) {
-        errors.push({ path })
+      if ('virtual' in field && field.virtual) {
+        if (field.virtual === true) {
+          errors.push({ path })
+        } else {
+          constraint[`${field.virtual}`] = constraint[path]
+          delete constraint[path]
+        }
       }
 
       if (polymorphicJoin && path === 'relationTo') {
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/fields/config/types.ts b/packages/payload/src/fields/config/types.ts
index 835c91da5e..3050e6250c 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/fields/config/types.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/fields/config/types.ts
@@ -514,9 +514,9 @@ export interface FieldBase {
   /**
    * Pass `true` to disable field in the DB
    * for [Virtual Fields](https://payloadcms.com/blog/learn-how-virtual-fields-can-help-solve-common-cms-challenges):
-   * A virtual field cannot be used in `admin.useAsTitle`
+   * A virtual field can be used in `admin.useAsTitle` only when linked to a relationship.
    */
-  virtual?: boolean
+  virtual?: boolean | string
 }
 
 export interface FieldBaseClient {
@@ -1955,7 +1955,7 @@ export function fieldShouldBeLocalized({
 }
 
 export function fieldIsVirtual(field: Field | Tab): boolean {
-  return 'virtual' in field && field.virtual
+  return 'virtual' in field && Boolean(field.virtual)
 }
 
 export type HookName =
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/promise.ts b/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/promise.ts
index fd2b0d1443..20612d465c 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/promise.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/promise.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 import type { RichTextAdapter } from '../../../admin/RichText.js'
 import type { SanitizedCollectionConfig } from '../../../collections/config/types.js'
 import type { SanitizedGlobalConfig } from '../../../globals/config/types.js'
-import type { RequestContext } from '../../../index.js'
 import type {
   JsonObject,
   PayloadRequest,
@@ -13,6 +12,7 @@ import type {
 import type { Block, Field, TabAsField } from '../../config/types.js'
 
 import { MissingEditorProp } from '../../../errors/index.js'
+import { type RequestContext } from '../../../index.js'
 import { getBlockSelect } from '../../../utilities/getBlockSelect.js'
 import { stripUnselectedFields } from '../../../utilities/stripUnselectedFields.js'
 import { fieldAffectsData, fieldShouldBeLocalized, tabHasName } from '../../config/types.js'
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import { getDefaultValue } from '../../getDefaultValue.js'
 import { getFieldPathsModified as getFieldPaths } from '../../getFieldPaths.js'
 import { relationshipPopulationPromise } from './relationshipPopulationPromise.js'
 import { traverseFields } from './traverseFields.js'
+import { virtualFieldPopulationPromise } from './virtualFieldPopulationPromise.js'
 
 type Args = {
   /**
@@ -306,6 +307,24 @@ export const promise = async ({
       }
     }
 
+    if ('virtual' in field && typeof field.virtual === 'string') {
+      populationPromises.push(
+        virtualFieldPopulationPromise({
+          name: field.name,
+          draft,
+          fallbackLocale,
+          fields: (collection || global).flattenedFields,
+          locale,
+          overrideAccess,
+          ref: doc,
+          req,
+          segments: field.virtual.split('.'),
+          showHiddenFields,
+          siblingDoc,
+        }),
+      )
+    }
+
     // Execute access control
     let allowDefaultValue = true
     if (triggerAccessControl && field.access && field.access.read) {
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/virtualFieldPopulationPromise.ts b/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/virtualFieldPopulationPromise.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4c8eb758d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/virtualFieldPopulationPromise.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+import type { PayloadRequest } from '../../../types/index.js'
+import type { FlattenedField } from '../../config/types.js'
+
+import { createDataloaderCacheKey } from '../../../collections/dataloader.js'
+
+export const virtualFieldPopulationPromise = async ({
+  name,
+  draft,
+  fallbackLocale,
+  fields,
+  locale,
+  overrideAccess,
+  ref,
+  req,
+  segments,
+  showHiddenFields,
+  siblingDoc,
+}: {
+  draft: boolean
+  fallbackLocale: string
+  fields: FlattenedField[]
+  locale: string
+  name: string
+  overrideAccess: boolean
+  ref: any
+  req: PayloadRequest
+  segments: string[]
+  showHiddenFields: boolean
+  siblingDoc: Record<string, unknown>
+}): Promise<void> => {
+  const currentSegment = segments.shift()
+
+  if (!currentSegment) {
+    return
+  }
+
+  const currentValue = ref[currentSegment]
+
+  if (typeof currentValue === 'undefined') {
+    return
+  }
+
+  // Final step
+  if (segments.length === 0) {
+    siblingDoc[name] = currentValue
+    return
+  }
+
+  const currentField = fields.find((each) => each.name === currentSegment)
+
+  if (!currentField) {
+    return
+  }
+
+  if (currentField.type === 'group' || currentField.type === 'tab') {
+    if (!currentValue || typeof currentValue !== 'object') {
+      return
+    }
+
+    return virtualFieldPopulationPromise({
+      name,
+      draft,
+      fallbackLocale,
+      fields: currentField.flattenedFields,
+      locale,
+      overrideAccess,
+      ref: currentValue,
+      req,
+      segments,
+      showHiddenFields,
+      siblingDoc,
+    })
+  }
+
+  if (
+    (currentField.type === 'relationship' || currentField.type === 'upload') &&
+    typeof currentField.relationTo === 'string' &&
+    !currentField.hasMany
+  ) {
+    let docID: number | string
+
+    if (typeof currentValue === 'object' && currentValue) {
+      docID = currentValue.id
+    } else {
+      docID = currentValue
+    }
+
+    if (typeof docID !== 'string' && typeof docID !== 'number') {
+      return
+    }
+
+    const select = {}
+    let currentSelectRef: any = select
+    const currentFields = req.payload.collections[currentField.relationTo].config.flattenedFields
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < segments.length; i++) {
+      const field = currentFields.find((each) => each.name === segments[i])
+
+      const shouldBreak =
+        i === segments.length - 1 || field?.type === 'relationship' || field?.type === 'upload'
+
+      currentSelectRef[segments[i]] = shouldBreak ? true : {}
+      currentSelectRef = currentSelectRef[segments[i]]
+
+      if (shouldBreak) {
+        break
+      }
+    }
+
+    const populatedDoc = await req.payloadDataLoader.load(
+      createDataloaderCacheKey({
+        collectionSlug: currentField.relationTo,
+        currentDepth: 0,
+        depth: 0,
+        docID,
+        draft,
+        fallbackLocale,
+        locale,
+        overrideAccess,
+        select,
+        showHiddenFields,
+        transactionID: req.transactionID as number,
+      }),
+    )
+
+    if (!populatedDoc) {
+      return
+    }
+
+    return virtualFieldPopulationPromise({
+      name,
+      draft,
+      fallbackLocale,
+      fields: req.payload.collections[currentField.relationTo].config.flattenedFields,
+      locale,
+      overrideAccess,
+      ref: populatedDoc,
+      req,
+      segments,
+      showHiddenFields,
+      siblingDoc,
+    })
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/plugin-seo/src/translations/es.ts b/packages/plugin-seo/src/translations/es.ts
index fe0cc4c852..014f03ba1b 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-seo/src/translations/es.ts
+++ b/packages/plugin-seo/src/translations/es.ts
@@ -25,4 +25,4 @@ export const es: GenericTranslationsObject = {
     tooLong: 'Demasiado largo',
     tooShort: 'Demasiado corto',
   },
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/test/database/config.ts b/test/database/config.ts
index f9f8be424d..d1656c347a 100644
--- a/test/database/config.ts
+++ b/test/database/config.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,15 @@ export default buildConfigWithDefaults({
     },
   },
   collections: [
+    {
+      slug: 'categories',
+      fields: [
+        {
+          type: 'text',
+          name: 'title',
+        },
+      ],
+    },
     {
       slug: postsSlug,
       fields: [
@@ -43,6 +52,17 @@ export default buildConfigWithDefaults({
           name: 'title',
           type: 'text',
           required: true,
+          // access: { read: () => false },
+        },
+        {
+          type: 'relationship',
+          relationTo: 'categories',
+          name: 'category',
+        },
+        {
+          name: 'localized',
+          type: 'text',
+          localized: true,
         },
         {
           name: 'text',
@@ -437,6 +457,33 @@ export default buildConfigWithDefaults({
         },
       ],
     },
+    {
+      slug: 'virtual-relations',
+      admin: { useAsTitle: 'postTitle' },
+      fields: [
+        {
+          name: 'postTitle',
+          type: 'text',
+          virtual: 'post.title',
+        },
+        {
+          name: 'postCategoryTitle',
+          type: 'text',
+          virtual: 'post.category.title',
+        },
+        {
+          name: 'postLocalized',
+          type: 'text',
+          virtual: 'post.localized',
+        },
+        {
+          name: 'post',
+          type: 'relationship',
+          relationTo: 'posts',
+        },
+      ],
+      versions: { drafts: true },
+    },
     {
       slug: fieldsPersistanceSlug,
       fields: [
@@ -662,6 +709,21 @@ export default buildConfigWithDefaults({
         },
       ],
     },
+    {
+      slug: 'virtual-relation-global',
+      fields: [
+        {
+          type: 'text',
+          name: 'postTitle',
+          virtual: 'post.title',
+        },
+        {
+          type: 'relationship',
+          name: 'post',
+          relationTo: 'posts',
+        },
+      ],
+    },
   ],
   localization: {
     defaultLocale: 'en',
diff --git a/test/database/int.spec.ts b/test/database/int.spec.ts
index 2cb385f815..a4c3210a9a 100644
--- a/test/database/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/database/int.spec.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   migrateRelationshipsV2_V3,
   migrateVersionsV1_V2,
 } from '@payloadcms/db-mongodb/migration-utils'
+import { objectToFrontmatter } from '@payloadcms/richtext-lexical'
 import { randomUUID } from 'crypto'
 import { type Table } from 'drizzle-orm'
 import * as drizzlePg from 'drizzle-orm/pg-core'
@@ -1977,6 +1978,132 @@ describe('database', () => {
       expect(res.textWithinRow).toBeUndefined()
       expect(res.textWithinTabs).toBeUndefined()
     })
+
+    it('should allow virtual field with reference', async () => {
+      const post = await payload.create({ collection: 'posts', data: { title: 'my-title' } })
+      const { id } = await payload.create({
+        collection: 'virtual-relations',
+        depth: 0,
+        data: { post: post.id },
+      })
+
+      const doc = await payload.findByID({ collection: 'virtual-relations', depth: 0, id })
+      expect(doc.postTitle).toBe('my-title')
+      const draft = await payload.find({
+        collection: 'virtual-relations',
+        depth: 0,
+        where: { id: { equals: id } },
+        draft: true,
+      })
+      expect(draft.docs[0]?.postTitle).toBe('my-title')
+    })
+
+    it('should allow virtual field with reference localized', async () => {
+      const post = await payload.create({
+        collection: 'posts',
+        data: { title: 'my-title', localized: 'localized en' },
+      })
+
+      await payload.update({
+        collection: 'posts',
+        id: post.id,
+        locale: 'es',
+        data: { localized: 'localized es' },
+      })
+
+      const { id } = await payload.create({
+        collection: 'virtual-relations',
+        depth: 0,
+        data: { post: post.id },
+      })
+
+      let doc = await payload.findByID({ collection: 'virtual-relations', depth: 0, id })
+      expect(doc.postLocalized).toBe('localized en')
+
+      doc = await payload.findByID({ collection: 'virtual-relations', depth: 0, id, locale: 'es' })
+      expect(doc.postLocalized).toBe('localized es')
+    })
+
+    it('should allow to query by a virtual field with reference', async () => {
+      await payload.delete({ collection: 'posts', where: {} })
+      await payload.delete({ collection: 'virtual-relations', where: {} })
+      const post_1 = await payload.create({ collection: 'posts', data: { title: 'Dan' } })
+      const post_2 = await payload.create({ collection: 'posts', data: { title: 'Mr.Dan' } })
+
+      const doc_1 = await payload.create({
+        collection: 'virtual-relations',
+        depth: 0,
+        data: { post: post_1.id },
+      })
+      const doc_2 = await payload.create({
+        collection: 'virtual-relations',
+        depth: 0,
+        data: { post: post_2.id },
+      })
+
+      const { docs: ascDocs } = await payload.find({
+        collection: 'virtual-relations',
+        sort: 'postTitle',
+        depth: 0,
+      })
+
+      expect(ascDocs[0]?.id).toBe(doc_1.id)
+
+      expect(ascDocs[1]?.id).toBe(doc_2.id)
+
+      const { docs: descDocs } = await payload.find({
+        collection: 'virtual-relations',
+        sort: '-postTitle',
+        depth: 0,
+      })
+
+      expect(descDocs[1]?.id).toBe(doc_1.id)
+
+      expect(descDocs[0]?.id).toBe(doc_2.id)
+    })
+
+    it.todo('should allow to sort by a virtual field with reference')
+
+    it('should allow virtual field 2x deep', async () => {
+      const category = await payload.create({
+        collection: 'categories',
+        data: { title: '1-category' },
+      })
+      const post = await payload.create({
+        collection: 'posts',
+        data: { title: '1-post', category: category.id },
+      })
+      const doc = await payload.create({ collection: 'virtual-relations', data: { post: post.id } })
+      expect(doc.postCategoryTitle).toBe('1-category')
+    })
+
+    it('should allow to query by virtual field 2x deep', async () => {
+      const category = await payload.create({
+        collection: 'categories',
+        data: { title: '2-category' },
+      })
+      const post = await payload.create({
+        collection: 'posts',
+        data: { title: '2-post', category: category.id },
+      })
+      const doc = await payload.create({ collection: 'virtual-relations', data: { post: post.id } })
+      const found = await payload.find({
+        collection: 'virtual-relations',
+        where: { postCategoryTitle: { equals: '2-category' } },
+      })
+      expect(found.docs).toHaveLength(1)
+      expect(found.docs[0].id).toBe(doc.id)
+    })
+
+    it('should allow referenced virtual field in globals', async () => {
+      const post = await payload.create({ collection: 'posts', data: { title: 'post' } })
+      const globalData = await payload.updateGlobal({
+        slug: 'virtual-relation-global',
+        data: { post: post.id },
+        depth: 0,
+      })
+      expect(globalData.postTitle).toBe('post')
+    })
   })
 
   it('should convert numbers to text', async () => {
diff --git a/test/database/payload-types.ts b/test/database/payload-types.ts
index f2692eaaa8..f29cf028fc 100644
--- a/test/database/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/database/payload-types.ts
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ export interface Config {
   };
   blocks: {};
   collections: {
+    categories: Category;
     posts: Post;
     'error-on-unnamed-fields': ErrorOnUnnamedField;
     'default-values': DefaultValue;
@@ -75,6 +76,7 @@ export interface Config {
     'pg-migrations': PgMigration;
     'custom-schema': CustomSchema;
     places: Place;
+    'virtual-relations': VirtualRelation;
     'fields-persistance': FieldsPersistance;
     'custom-ids': CustomId;
     'fake-custom-ids': FakeCustomId;
@@ -88,6 +90,7 @@ export interface Config {
   };
   collectionsJoins: {};
   collectionsSelect: {
+    categories: CategoriesSelect<false> | CategoriesSelect<true>;
     posts: PostsSelect<false> | PostsSelect<true>;
     'error-on-unnamed-fields': ErrorOnUnnamedFieldsSelect<false> | ErrorOnUnnamedFieldsSelect<true>;
     'default-values': DefaultValuesSelect<false> | DefaultValuesSelect<true>;
@@ -96,6 +99,7 @@ export interface Config {
     'pg-migrations': PgMigrationsSelect<false> | PgMigrationsSelect<true>;
     'custom-schema': CustomSchemaSelect<false> | CustomSchemaSelect<true>;
     places: PlacesSelect<false> | PlacesSelect<true>;
+    'virtual-relations': VirtualRelationsSelect<false> | VirtualRelationsSelect<true>;
     'fields-persistance': FieldsPersistanceSelect<false> | FieldsPersistanceSelect<true>;
     'custom-ids': CustomIdsSelect<false> | CustomIdsSelect<true>;
     'fake-custom-ids': FakeCustomIdsSelect<false> | FakeCustomIdsSelect<true>;
@@ -114,11 +118,13 @@ export interface Config {
     global: Global;
     'global-2': Global2;
     'global-3': Global3;
+    'virtual-relation-global': VirtualRelationGlobal;
   };
   globalsSelect: {
     global: GlobalSelect<false> | GlobalSelect<true>;
     'global-2': Global2Select<false> | Global2Select<true>;
     'global-3': Global3Select<false> | Global3Select<true>;
+    'virtual-relation-global': VirtualRelationGlobalSelect<false> | VirtualRelationGlobalSelect<true>;
   };
   locale: 'en' | 'es';
   user: User & {
@@ -147,6 +153,16 @@ export interface UserAuthOperations {
     password: string;
   };
 }
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "categories".
+ */
+export interface Category {
+  id: string;
+  title?: string | null;
+  updatedAt: string;
+  createdAt: string;
+}
 /**
  * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
  * via the `definition` "posts".
@@ -154,6 +170,9 @@ export interface UserAuthOperations {
 export interface Post {
   id: string;
   title: string;
+  category?: (string | null) | Category;
+  localized?: string | null;
+  text?: string | null;
   number?: number | null;
   D1?: {
     D2?: {
@@ -346,6 +365,20 @@ export interface Place {
   updatedAt: string;
   createdAt: string;
 }
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "virtual-relations".
+ */
+export interface VirtualRelation {
+  id: string;
+  postTitle?: string | null;
+  postCategoryTitle?: string | null;
+  postLocalized?: string | null;
+  post?: (string | null) | Post;
+  updatedAt: string;
+  createdAt: string;
+  _status?: ('draft' | 'published') | null;
+}
 /**
  * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
  * via the `definition` "fields-persistance".
@@ -465,6 +498,10 @@ export interface User {
 export interface PayloadLockedDocument {
   id: string;
   document?:
+    | ({
+        relationTo: 'categories';
+        value: string | Category;
+      } | null)
     | ({
         relationTo: 'posts';
         value: string | Post;
@@ -497,6 +534,10 @@ export interface PayloadLockedDocument {
         relationTo: 'places';
         value: string | Place;
       } | null)
+    | ({
+        relationTo: 'virtual-relations';
+        value: string | VirtualRelation;
+      } | null)
     | ({
         relationTo: 'fields-persistance';
         value: string | FieldsPersistance;
@@ -567,12 +608,24 @@ export interface PayloadMigration {
   updatedAt: string;
   createdAt: string;
 }
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "categories_select".
+ */
+export interface CategoriesSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
+  title?: T;
+  updatedAt?: T;
+  createdAt?: T;
+}
 /**
  * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
  * via the `definition` "posts_select".
  */
 export interface PostsSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
   title?: T;
+  category?: T;
+  localized?: T;
+  text?: T;
   number?: T;
   D1?:
     | T
@@ -747,6 +800,19 @@ export interface PlacesSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
   updatedAt?: T;
   createdAt?: T;
 }
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "virtual-relations_select".
+ */
+export interface VirtualRelationsSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
+  postTitle?: T;
+  postCategoryTitle?: T;
+  postLocalized?: T;
+  post?: T;
+  updatedAt?: T;
+  createdAt?: T;
+  _status?: T;
+}
 /**
  * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
  * via the `definition` "fields-persistance_select".
@@ -917,6 +983,17 @@ export interface Global3 {
   updatedAt?: string | null;
   createdAt?: string | null;
 }
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "virtual-relation-global".
+ */
+export interface VirtualRelationGlobal {
+  id: string;
+  postTitle?: string | null;
+  post?: (string | null) | Post;
+  updatedAt?: string | null;
+  createdAt?: string | null;
+}
 /**
  * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
  * via the `definition` "global_select".
@@ -947,6 +1024,17 @@ export interface Global3Select<T extends boolean = true> {
   createdAt?: T;
   globalType?: T;
 }
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "virtual-relation-global_select".
+ */
+export interface VirtualRelationGlobalSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
+  postTitle?: T;
+  post?: T;
+  updatedAt?: T;
+  createdAt?: T;
+  globalType?: T;
+}
 /**
  * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
  * via the `definition` "auth".