diff --git a/lib/banzai/filter/abstract_reference_filter.rb b/lib/banzai/filter/abstract_reference_filter.rb
index 81d66271136a..d77a5e3ff090 100644
--- a/lib/banzai/filter/abstract_reference_filter.rb
+++ b/lib/banzai/filter/abstract_reference_filter.rb
@@ -160,11 +160,7 @@ def object_link_filter(text, pattern, link_text: nil)
             title = object_link_title(object)
             klass = reference_class(object_sym)
 
-            data  = data_attribute(
-              original:     link_text || match,
-              project:      project.id,
-              object_sym => object.id
-            )
+            data = data_attributes_for(link_text || match, project, object)
 
             if matches.names.include?("url") && matches[:url]
               url = matches[:url]
@@ -183,6 +179,14 @@ def object_link_filter(text, pattern, link_text: nil)
         end
       end
 
+      def data_attributes_for(text, project, object)
+        data_attribute(
+          original:     text,
+          project:      project.id,
+          object_sym => object.id
+        )
+      end
+
       def object_link_text_extras(object, matches)
         extras = []
 
diff --git a/lib/banzai/filter/issue_reference_filter.rb b/lib/banzai/filter/issue_reference_filter.rb
index 5351272f42d0..4042e9a4c250 100644
--- a/lib/banzai/filter/issue_reference_filter.rb
+++ b/lib/banzai/filter/issue_reference_filter.rb
@@ -46,6 +46,26 @@ def issues_per_project
         end
       end
 
+      def object_link_title(object)
+        if object.is_a?(ExternalIssue)
+          "Issue in #{object.project.external_issue_tracker.title}"
+        else
+          super
+        end
+      end
+
+      def data_attributes_for(text, project, object)
+        if object.is_a?(ExternalIssue)
+          data_attribute(
+            project: project.id,
+            external_issue: object.id,
+            reference_type: ExternalIssueReferenceFilter.reference_type
+          )
+        else
+          super
+        end
+      end
+
       def find_projects_for_paths(paths)
         super(paths).includes(:gitlab_issue_tracker_service)
       end
diff --git a/lib/banzai/filter/reference_filter.rb b/lib/banzai/filter/reference_filter.rb
index 2d6f34c9cd86..bf058241cda7 100644
--- a/lib/banzai/filter/reference_filter.rb
+++ b/lib/banzai/filter/reference_filter.rb
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class << self
       def data_attribute(attributes = {})
         attributes = attributes.reject { |_, v| v.nil? }
 
-        attributes[:reference_type] = self.class.reference_type
+        attributes[:reference_type] ||= self.class.reference_type
         attributes.delete(:original) if context[:no_original_data]
         attributes.map { |key, value| %Q(data-#{key.to_s.dasherize}="#{escape_once(value)}") }.join(" ")
       end
diff --git a/spec/lib/banzai/filter/issue_reference_filter_spec.rb b/spec/lib/banzai/filter/issue_reference_filter_spec.rb
index 8d6ce114aa90..a005b4990e79 100644
--- a/spec/lib/banzai/filter/issue_reference_filter_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/banzai/filter/issue_reference_filter_spec.rb
@@ -199,6 +199,19 @@ def helper
     end
   end
 
+  context 'referencing external issues' do
+    let(:project) { create(:redmine_project) }
+
+    it 'renders internal issue IDs as external issue links' do
+      doc = reference_filter('#1')
+      link = doc.css('a').first
+
+      expect(link.attr('data-reference-type')).to eq('external_issue')
+      expect(link.attr('title')).to eq('Issue in Redmine')
+      expect(link.attr('data-external-issue')).to eq('1')
+    end
+  end
+
   describe '#issues_per_Project' do
     context 'using an internal issue tracker' do
       it 'returns a Hash containing the issues per project' do
diff --git a/spec/services/git_push_service_spec.rb b/spec/services/git_push_service_spec.rb
index 1ceb7c3e6ff8..48d374883d75 100644
--- a/spec/services/git_push_service_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/git_push_service_spec.rb
@@ -350,6 +350,8 @@
       it "doesn't close issues when external issue tracker is in use" do
         allow_any_instance_of(Project).to receive(:default_issues_tracker?).
           and_return(false)
+        external_issue_tracker = double(title: 'My Tracker', issue_path: issue.iid)
+        allow_any_instance_of(Project).to receive(:external_issue_tracker).and_return(external_issue_tracker)
 
         # The push still shouldn't create cross-reference notes.
         expect do