diff --git a/docs/library/ubluetooth.rst b/docs/library/ubluetooth.rst
index e103932efd2f6..445b25c79b79a 100644
--- a/docs/library/ubluetooth.rst
+++ b/docs/library/ubluetooth.rst
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ Broadcaster Role (Advertiser)
 Observer Role (Scanner)
 -----------------------
 
-.. method:: BLE.gap_scan(duration_ms, [interval_us], [window_us])
+.. method:: BLE.gap_scan(duration_ms, [interval_us, [window_us, [active]]])
 
     Run a scan operation lasting for the specified duration (in **milli**\ seconds).
 
@@ -218,6 +218,10 @@ Observer Role (Scanner)
     interval and window are 1.28 seconds and 11.25 milliseconds respectively
     (background scanning).
 
+    Use *active* set to ``True`` to initiate an active scan instead of a passive
+    one (the default). Each discovered device will be automatically scanned and any
+    active scan response will be raised as an event as below.
+
     For each scan result the ``_IRQ_SCAN_RESULT`` event will be raised, with event
     data ``(addr_type, addr, adv_type, rssi, adv_data)``.  ``adv_type`` values correspond
     to the Bluetooth Specification:
@@ -226,7 +230,7 @@ Observer Role (Scanner)
         * 0x01 - ADV_DIRECT_IND - connectable directed advertising
         * 0x02 - ADV_SCAN_IND - scannable undirected advertising
         * 0x03 - ADV_NONCONN_IND - non-connectable undirected advertising
-        * 0x04 - SCAN_RSP - scan response
+        * 0x04 - SCAN_RSP - active scan response
 
     When scanning is stopped (either due to the duration finishing or when
     explicitly stopped), the ``_IRQ_SCAN_DONE`` event will be raised.
diff --git a/extmod/modbluetooth.c b/extmod/modbluetooth.c
index 7bfb774782048..410d8a246b372 100644
--- a/extmod/modbluetooth.c
+++ b/extmod/modbluetooth.c
@@ -600,6 +600,7 @@ STATIC mp_obj_t bluetooth_ble_gap_scan(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *args) {
     mp_int_t duration_ms = 0;
     mp_int_t interval_us = 1280000;
     mp_int_t window_us = 11250;
+    mp_int_t active = 0;
     if (n_args > 1) {
         if (args[1] == mp_const_none) {
             // scan(None) --> stop scan.
@@ -610,12 +611,15 @@ STATIC mp_obj_t bluetooth_ble_gap_scan(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *args) {
             interval_us = mp_obj_get_int(args[2]);
             if (n_args > 3) {
                 window_us = mp_obj_get_int(args[3]);
+                if (n_args > 4) {
+                    active = mp_obj_get_int(args[4]);
+                }
             }
         }
     }
-    return bluetooth_handle_errno(mp_bluetooth_gap_scan_start(duration_ms, interval_us, window_us));
+    return bluetooth_handle_errno(mp_bluetooth_gap_scan_start(duration_ms, interval_us, window_us, active));
 }
-STATIC MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_VAR_BETWEEN(bluetooth_ble_gap_scan_obj, 1, 4, bluetooth_ble_gap_scan);
+STATIC MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_VAR_BETWEEN(bluetooth_ble_gap_scan_obj, 1, 5, bluetooth_ble_gap_scan);
 #endif // MICROPY_PY_BLUETOOTH_ENABLE_CENTRAL_MODE
 
 STATIC mp_obj_t bluetooth_ble_gap_disconnect(mp_obj_t self_in, mp_obj_t conn_handle_in) {
diff --git a/extmod/modbluetooth.h b/extmod/modbluetooth.h
index cdb86e5e63c44..259c289ddca21 100644
--- a/extmod/modbluetooth.h
+++ b/extmod/modbluetooth.h
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ int mp_bluetooth_gap_disconnect(uint16_t conn_handle);
 
 #if MICROPY_PY_BLUETOOTH_ENABLE_CENTRAL_MODE
 // Start a discovery (scan). Set duration to zero to run continuously.
-int mp_bluetooth_gap_scan_start(int32_t duration_ms, int32_t interval_us, int32_t window_us);
+int mp_bluetooth_gap_scan_start(int32_t duration_ms, int32_t interval_us, int32_t window_us, int32_t active);
 
 // Stop discovery (if currently active).
 int mp_bluetooth_gap_scan_stop(void);
diff --git a/extmod/nimble/modbluetooth_nimble.c b/extmod/nimble/modbluetooth_nimble.c
index 843989b2b8986..2ff1b4c9fc51b 100644
--- a/extmod/nimble/modbluetooth_nimble.c
+++ b/extmod/nimble/modbluetooth_nimble.c
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ STATIC int gap_scan_cb(struct ble_gap_event *event, void *arg) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-int mp_bluetooth_gap_scan_start(int32_t duration_ms, int32_t interval_us, int32_t window_us) {
+int mp_bluetooth_gap_scan_start(int32_t duration_ms, int32_t interval_us, int32_t window_us, int32_t active) {
     if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
         return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
     }
@@ -673,7 +673,7 @@ int mp_bluetooth_gap_scan_start(int32_t duration_ms, int32_t interval_us, int32_
         .window = MAX(BLE_HCI_SCAN_WINDOW_MIN, MIN(BLE_HCI_SCAN_WINDOW_MAX, window_us / BLE_HCI_SCAN_ITVL)),
         .filter_policy = BLE_HCI_CONN_FILT_NO_WL,
         .limited = 0,
-        .passive = 1,  // TODO: Handle BLE_HCI_ADV_RPT_EVTYPE_SCAN_RSP in gap_scan_cb above.
+        .passive = !active,
         .filter_duplicates = 0,
     };
     int err = ble_gap_disc(BLE_OWN_ADDR_PUBLIC, duration_ms, &discover_params, gap_scan_cb, NULL);