diff --git a/dvc/commands/stage.py b/dvc/commands/stage.py
index dffcce3fe9..019e226597 100644
--- a/dvc/commands/stage.py
+++ b/dvc/commands/stage.py
@@ -195,12 +195,6 @@ def _add_common_args(parser):
         help="Declare output file or directory (do not put into DVC cache).",
         metavar="<filename>",
     ).complete = completion.FILE
-    parser.add_argument(
-        "--external",
-        action="store_true",
-        default=False,
-        help="Allow outputs that are outside of the DVC repository.",
-    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--outs-persist",
         action="append",
diff --git a/tests/unit/command/test_stage.py b/tests/unit/command/test_stage.py
index c902187a8b..4122106a75 100644
--- a/tests/unit/command/test_stage.py
+++ b/tests/unit/command/test_stage.py
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ def test_stage_add(mocker, dvc, command, parsed_command):
             "file:param1,param2",
             "--params",
             "param3",
-            "--external",
             "--desc",
             "description",
             "--force",