diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b3061594a..c05d4a045 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ This change log adheres to standards from [Keep a CHANGELOG](http://keepachangel
 - [`no-extraneous-dependencies`]: ensure `node.source` is truthy ([#1589], thanks [@ljharb])
 - [`extensions`]: Ignore query strings when checking for extensions ([#1572], thanks [@pcorpet])
 
+### Added
+- [`order`]: add option pathGroupsExcludedImportTypes to allow ordering of external import types ([#1565], thanks [@Mairu])
+
 ## [2.19.1] - 2019-12-08
 ### Fixed
 - [`no-extraneous-dependencies`]: ensure `node.source` exists
@@ -789,6 +792,7 @@ for info on changes for earlier releases.
 [#211]: https://github.com/benmosher/eslint-plugin-import/pull/211
 [#164]: https://github.com/benmosher/eslint-plugin-import/pull/164
 [#157]: https://github.com/benmosher/eslint-plugin-import/pull/157
+[#1565]: https://github.com/benmosher/eslint-plugin-import/issues/1565
 [#1366]: https://github.com/benmosher/eslint-plugin-import/issues/1366
 [#1334]: https://github.com/benmosher/eslint-plugin-import/issues/1334
 [#1323]: https://github.com/benmosher/eslint-plugin-import/issues/1323
diff --git a/docs/rules/order.md b/docs/rules/order.md
index 8012e637f..667b63374 100644
--- a/docs/rules/order.md
+++ b/docs/rules/order.md
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ You can set the options like this:
 
 ### `pathGroups: [array of objects]`:
 
-To be able so group by paths mostly needed with aliases pathGroups can be defined.
+To be able to group by paths mostly needed with aliases pathGroups can be defined.
 
 Properties of the objects
 
@@ -120,6 +120,28 @@ Properties of the objects
 }
 ```
 
+### `pathGroupsExcludedImportTypes: [array]`:
+
+This defines import types that are not handled by configured pathGroups.
+This is mostly needed when you want to handle path groups that look like external imports.
+
+Example:
+```json
+{
+  "import/order": ["error", {
+    "pathGroups": [
+      {
+        "pattern": "@app/**",
+        "group": "external",
+        "position": "after"
+      }
+    ],
+    "pathGroupsExcludedImportTypes": ["builtin"]
+  }]
+}
+```
+The default value is `["builtin", "external"]`.
+
 ### `newlines-between: [ignore|always|always-and-inside-groups|never]`:
 
 Enforces or forbids new lines between import groups:
diff --git a/src/rules/order.js b/src/rules/order.js
index a842f60af..fcdf12bda 100644
--- a/src/rules/order.js
+++ b/src/rules/order.js
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ function importsSorterDesc(importA, importB) {
 
 function mutateRanksToAlphabetize(imported, alphabetizeOptions) {
   const groupedByRanks = imported.reduce(function(acc, importedItem) {
-    if (!Array.isArray(acc[importedItem.rank])) { 
+    if (!Array.isArray(acc[importedItem.rank])) {
       acc[importedItem.rank] = []
     }
     acc[importedItem.rank].push(importedItem.name)
@@ -312,10 +312,10 @@ function computePathRank(ranks, pathGroups, path, maxPosition) {
   }
 }
 
-function computeRank(context, ranks, name, type) {
+function computeRank(context, ranks, name, type, excludedImportTypes) {
   const impType = importType(name, context)
   let rank
-  if (impType !== 'builtin' && impType !== 'external') {
+  if (!excludedImportTypes.has(impType)) {
     rank = computePathRank(ranks.groups, ranks.pathGroups, name, ranks.maxPosition)
   }
   if (!rank) {
@@ -328,8 +328,8 @@ function computeRank(context, ranks, name, type) {
   return rank
 }
 
-function registerNode(context, node, name, type, ranks, imported) {
-  const rank = computeRank(context, ranks, name, type)
+function registerNode(context, node, name, type, ranks, imported, excludedImportTypes) {
+  const rank = computeRank(context, ranks, name, type, excludedImportTypes)
   if (rank !== -1) {
     imported.push({name, rank, node})
   }
@@ -508,6 +508,9 @@ module.exports = {
           groups: {
             type: 'array',
           },
+          pathGroupsExcludedImportTypes: {
+            type: 'array',
+          },
           pathGroups: {
             type: 'array',
             items: {
@@ -562,6 +565,7 @@ module.exports = {
   create: function importOrderRule (context) {
     const options = context.options[0] || {}
     const newlinesBetweenImports = options['newlines-between'] || 'ignore'
+    const pathGroupsExcludedImportTypes = new Set(options['pathGroupsExcludedImportTypes'] || ['builtin', 'external'])
     const alphabetize = getAlphabetizeConfig(options)
     let ranks
 
@@ -594,7 +598,15 @@ module.exports = {
       ImportDeclaration: function handleImports(node) {
         if (node.specifiers.length) { // Ignoring unassigned imports
           const name = node.source.value
-          registerNode(context, node, name, 'import', ranks, imported)
+          registerNode(
+            context,
+            node,
+            name,
+            'import',
+            ranks,
+            imported,
+            pathGroupsExcludedImportTypes
+          )
         }
       },
       CallExpression: function handleRequires(node) {
@@ -602,7 +614,15 @@ module.exports = {
           return
         }
         const name = node.arguments[0].value
-        registerNode(context, node, name, 'require', ranks, imported)
+        registerNode(
+          context,
+          node,
+          name,
+          'require',
+          ranks,
+          imported,
+          pathGroupsExcludedImportTypes
+        )
       },
       'Program:exit': function reportAndReset() {
         if (newlinesBetweenImports !== 'ignore') {
diff --git a/tests/src/rules/order.js b/tests/src/rules/order.js
index 11309f933..8ba8b9f1e 100644
--- a/tests/src/rules/order.js
+++ b/tests/src/rules/order.js
@@ -276,6 +276,28 @@ ruleTester.run('order', rule, {
         ],
       }],
     }),
+    // Using pathGroups to customize ordering for imports that are recognized as 'external'
+    // by setting pathGroupsExcludedImportTypes without 'external'
+    test({
+      code: `
+        import fs from 'fs';
+
+        import { Input } from '@app/components/Input';
+
+        import { Button } from '@app2/components/Button';
+
+        import _ from 'lodash';
+
+        import { add } from './helper';`,
+      options: [{
+        'newlines-between': 'always',
+        pathGroupsExcludedImportTypes: ['builtin'],
+        pathGroups: [
+          { pattern: '@app/**', group: 'external', position: 'before' },
+          { pattern: '@app2/**', group: 'external', position: 'before' },
+        ],
+      }],
+    }),
 
     // Option: newlines-between: 'always'
     test({