diff --git a/src/components/collapse/README.md b/src/components/collapse/README.md
index f11df98a1a2..1523c239335 100644
--- a/src/components/collapse/README.md
+++ b/src/components/collapse/README.md
@@ -56,6 +56,10 @@ To make the `<b-collapse>` show initially, set the `visible` prop:
 <!-- b-collapse-visible.vue -->
 ```
 
+By default, an initially visible collapse will not animate on mount. To enable the collapse
+expanding animation on mount (when `visible` or `v-model` is `true`), set the `appear` prop on
+`<b-collapse>`.
+
 ## `v-model` support
 
 The component's collapsed (visible) state can also be set with `v-model` which binds internally to
diff --git a/src/components/collapse/collapse.js b/src/components/collapse/collapse.js
index 14c464e372e..3e843069dbb 100644
--- a/src/components/collapse/collapse.js
+++ b/src/components/collapse/collapse.js
@@ -3,15 +3,14 @@ import idMixin from '../../mixins/id'
 import listenOnRootMixin from '../../mixins/listen-on-root'
 import normalizeSlotMixin from '../../mixins/normalize-slot'
 import { isBrowser } from '../../utils/env'
+import { BVCollapse } from '../../utils/bv-collapse'
 import {
   addClass,
   hasClass,
   removeClass,
   closest,
   matches,
-  reflow,
   getCS,
-  getBCR,
   eventOn,
   eventOff
 } from '../../utils/dom'
@@ -54,6 +53,11 @@ export const BCollapse = /*#__PURE__*/ Vue.extend({
     tag: {
       type: String,
       default: 'div'
+    },
+    appear: {
+      // If `true` (and `visible` is `true` on mount), animate initially visible
+      type: Boolean,
+      default: false
     }
   },
   data() {
@@ -141,36 +145,26 @@ export const BCollapse = /*#__PURE__*/ Vue.extend({
       this.show = !this.show
     },
     onEnter(el) {
-      el.style.height = 0
-      reflow(el)
-      el.style.height = el.scrollHeight + 'px'
       this.transitioning = true
       // This should be moved out so we can add cancellable events
       this.$emit('show')
     },
     onAfterEnter(el) {
-      el.style.height = null
       this.transitioning = false
       this.$emit('shown')
     },
     onLeave(el) {
-      el.style.height = 'auto'
-      el.style.display = 'block'
-      el.style.height = getBCR(el).height + 'px'
-      reflow(el)
       this.transitioning = true
-      el.style.height = 0
       // This should be moved out so we can add cancellable events
       this.$emit('hide')
     },
     onAfterLeave(el) {
-      el.style.height = null
       this.transitioning = false
       this.$emit('hidden')
     },
     emitState() {
       this.$emit('input', this.show)
-      // Let v-b-toggle know the state of this collapse
+      // Let `v-b-toggle` know the state of this collapse
       this.$root.$emit(EVENT_STATE, this.safeId(), this.show)
       if (this.accordion && this.show) {
         // Tell the other collapses in this accordion to close
@@ -184,13 +178,15 @@ export const BCollapse = /*#__PURE__*/ Vue.extend({
       this.$root.$emit(EVENT_STATE_SYNC, this.safeId(), this.show)
     },
     checkDisplayBlock() {
-      // Check to see if the collapse has `display: block !important;` set.
-      // We can't set `display: none;` directly on this.$el, as it would
-      // trigger a new transition to start (or cancel a current one).
+      // Check to see if the collapse has `display: block !important` set
+      // We can't set `display: none` directly on `this.$el`, as it would
+      // trigger a new transition to start (or cancel a current one)
       const restore = hasClass(this.$el, 'show')
       removeClass(this.$el, 'show')
       const isBlock = getCS(this.$el).display === 'block'
-      restore && addClass(this.$el, 'show')
+      if (restore) {
+        addClass(this.$el, 'show')
+      }
       return isBlock
     },
     clickHandler(evt) {
@@ -202,7 +198,7 @@ export const BCollapse = /*#__PURE__*/ Vue.extend({
       }
       if (matches(el, '.nav-link,.dropdown-item') || closest('.nav-link,.dropdown-item', el)) {
         if (!this.checkDisplayBlock()) {
-          // Only close the collapse if it is not forced to be 'display: block !important;'
+          // Only close the collapse if it is not forced to be `display: block !important`
           this.show = false
         }
       }
@@ -246,16 +242,9 @@ export const BCollapse = /*#__PURE__*/ Vue.extend({
       [this.normalizeSlot('default')]
     )
     return h(
-      'transition',
+      BVCollapse,
       {
-        props: {
-          enterClass: '',
-          enterActiveClass: 'collapsing',
-          enterToClass: '',
-          leaveClass: '',
-          leaveActiveClass: 'collapsing',
-          leaveToClass: ''
-        },
+        props: { appear: this.appear },
         on: {
           enter: this.onEnter,
           afterEnter: this.onAfterEnter,
diff --git a/src/components/collapse/package.json b/src/components/collapse/package.json
index 9be02e5dcf4..8526099418a 100644
--- a/src/components/collapse/package.json
+++ b/src/components/collapse/package.json
@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@
           {
             "prop": "visible",
             "description": "When 'true', expands the collapse"
+          },
+          {
+            "prop": "appear",
+            "version": "2.2.0",
+            "description": "When set, and prop 'visible' is true on mount, will animate on initial mount"
           }
         ],
         "events": [
diff --git a/src/utils/bv-collapse.js b/src/utils/bv-collapse.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..41a5c1ea989
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/bv-collapse.js
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+// Generic collapse transion helper component
+//
+// Note:
+//   Applies the classes `collapse`, `show` and `collapsing`
+//   during the enter/leave transition phases only
+//   Although it appears that Vue may be leaving the classes
+//   in-place after the transition completes
+import Vue from './vue'
+import { mergeData } from 'vue-functional-data-merge'
+import { getBCR, reflow, requestAF } from './dom'
+
+// Transition event handler helpers
+const onEnter = el => {
+  el.style.height = 0
+  // Animaton frame delay neeeded for `appear` to work
+  requestAF(() => {
+    reflow(el)
+    el.style.height = `${el.scrollHeight}px`
+  })
+}
+
+const onAfterEnter = el => {
+  el.style.height = null
+}
+
+const onLeave = el => {
+  el.style.height = 'auto'
+  el.style.display = 'block'
+  el.style.height = `${getBCR(el).height}px`
+  reflow(el)
+  el.style.height = 0
+}
+
+const onAfterLeave = el => {
+  el.style.height = null
+}
+
+// Default transition props
+// `appear` will use the enter classes
+const TRANSITION_PROPS = {
+  css: true,
+  enterClass: '',
+  enterActiveClass: 'collapsing',
+  enterToClass: 'collapse show',
+  leaveClass: 'collapse show',
+  leaveActiveClass: 'collapsing',
+  leaveToClass: 'collapse'
+}
+
+// Default transition handlers
+// `appear` will use the enter handlers
+const TRANSITION_HANDLERS = {
+  enter: onEnter,
+  afterEnter: onAfterEnter,
+  leave: onLeave,
+  afterLeave: onAfterLeave
+}
+
+// @vue/component
+export const BVCollapse = /*#__PURE__*/ Vue.extend({
+  name: 'BVCollapse',
+  functional: true,
+  props: {
+    appear: {
+      // If `true` (and `visible` is `true` on mount), animate initially visible
+      type: Boolean,
+      default: false
+    }
+  },
+  render(h, { props, data, children }) {
+    return h(
+      'transition',
+      // We merge in the `appear` prop last
+      mergeData(data, { props: TRANSITION_PROPS, on: TRANSITION_HANDLERS }, { props }),
+      // Note: `<tranition>` supports a single root element only
+      children
+    )
+  }
+})