diff --git a/src/Validation/Validator.php b/src/Validation/Validator.php
index 96fb6ee0259..9eb31a85b1a 100644
--- a/src/Validation/Validator.php
+++ b/src/Validation/Validator.php
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ public function remove($field, $rule = null)
     /**
      * Sets whether a field is required to be present in data array.
      *
-     * @param string $field the name of the field
+     * @param string|array $field the name of the field
      * @param bool|string|callable $mode Valid values are true, false, 'create', 'update'.
      * If a callable is passed then the field will be required only when the callback
      * returns true.
@@ -433,10 +433,30 @@ public function remove($field, $rule = null)
      */
     public function requirePresence($field, $mode = true, $message = null)
     {
-        $this->field($field)->isPresenceRequired($mode);
-        if ($message) {
-            $this->_presenceMessages[$field] = $message;
+        if (!is_array($field)) {
+            $field = [
+                $field => [
+                    'mode' => $mode,
+                    'message' => $message
+                ]
+            ];
         }
+
+        foreach ($field as $fieldName => $setting) {
+            if (is_string($setting)) {
+                $fieldName = $setting;
+                $setting = [];
+            }
+            $setting += [
+                'mode' => $mode,
+                'message' => $message
+            ];
+            $this->field($fieldName)->isPresenceRequired($setting['mode']);
+            if ($setting['message']) {
+                $this->_presenceMessages[$fieldName] = $setting['message'];
+            }
+        }
+
         return $this;
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/TestCase/Validation/ValidatorTest.php b/tests/TestCase/Validation/ValidatorTest.php
index 2b9901d1c41..924a8f582b8 100644
--- a/tests/TestCase/Validation/ValidatorTest.php
+++ b/tests/TestCase/Validation/ValidatorTest.php
@@ -191,6 +191,32 @@ public function testRequirePresence()
         $this->assertEquals('update', $validator->field('title')->isPresenceRequired());
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Tests the requirePresence method
+     *
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function testRequirePresenceAsArray()
+    {
+        $validator = new Validator;
+        $validator->requirePresence(['title', 'created']);
+        $this->assertTrue($validator->field('title')->isPresenceRequired());
+        $this->assertTrue($validator->field('created')->isPresenceRequired());
+
+        $validator->requirePresence([
+            'title' => [
+                'mode' => false
+            ],
+            'content' => [
+                'mode' => 'update'
+            ],
+            'subject'
+        ], true);
+        $this->assertFalse($validator->field('title')->isPresenceRequired());
+        $this->assertEquals('update', $validator->field('content')->isPresenceRequired());
+        $this->assertTrue($validator->field('subject')->isPresenceRequired());
+    }
+
     /**
      * Tests the requirePresence method when passing a callback
      *
@@ -383,6 +409,36 @@ public function testCustomErrorsWithPresenceRequired()
         $this->assertEquals($expected, $errors);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Tests custom error messages generated when a field presence is required
+     *
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function testCustomErrorsWithPresenceRequiredAsArray()
+    {
+        $validator = new Validator;
+        $validator->requirePresence(['title', 'content'], true, 'Custom message');
+        $errors = $validator->errors(['foo' => 'something']);
+        $expected = [
+            'title' => ['_required' => 'Custom message'],
+            'content' => ['_required' => 'Custom message']
+        ];
+        $this->assertEquals($expected, $errors);
+
+        $validator->requirePresence([
+            'title' => [
+                'message' => 'Test message'
+            ],
+            'content'
+        ], true, 'Custom message');
+        $errors = $validator->errors(['foo' => 'something']);
+        $expected = [
+            'title' => ['_required' => 'Test message'],
+            'content' => ['_required' => 'Custom message']
+        ];
+        $this->assertEquals($expected, $errors);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Tests the allowEmpty method
      *
@@ -1380,6 +1436,7 @@ public function testRangeFailure()
         $validator = new Validator();
         $validator->range('username', [1]);
     }
+
     /**
      * Tests the url proxy method
      *