diff --git a/python/core/auto_generated/qgsprojutils.sip.in b/python/core/auto_generated/qgsprojutils.sip.in
index 5b24b957f70a..c505f427679b 100644
--- a/python/core/auto_generated/qgsprojutils.sip.in
+++ b/python/core/auto_generated/qgsprojutils.sip.in
@@ -29,6 +29,16 @@ Utility functions for working with the proj library.
 Returns the proj library major version number.
 %End
 
+    static QStringList searchPaths();
+%Docstring
+Returns the current list of Proj file search paths.
+
+.. note::
+
+   Only available on builds based on Proj >= 6.0. Builds based on
+   earlier Proj versions will always return an empty list.
+%End
+
 };
 
 /************************************************************************
diff --git a/src/core/qgsapplication.cpp b/src/core/qgsapplication.cpp
index 023aac5c6bea..b8f17ad74a4c 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsapplication.cpp
+++ b/src/core/qgsapplication.cpp
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
 #include "qgslayoutrendercontext.h"
 #include "qgssqliteutils.h"
 #include "qgsstyle.h"
+#include "qgsprojutils.h"
 #include "qgsvaliditycheckregistry.h"
 
 #include "gps/qgsgpsconnectionregistry.h"
@@ -91,6 +92,11 @@
 #include <cpl_conv.h> // for setting gdal options
 #include <sqlite3.h>
 
+#if PROJ_VERSION_MAJOR>=6
+#include <proj.h>
+#endif
+
+
 #define CONN_POOL_MAX_CONCURRENT_CONNS      4
 
 QObject *ABISYM( QgsApplication::mFileOpenEventReceiver );
@@ -295,6 +301,20 @@ void QgsApplication::init( QString profileFolder )
   }
   ABISYM( mSystemEnvVars ) = systemEnvVarMap;
 
+#if PROJ_VERSION_MAJOR>=6
+  // append local user-writable folder as a proj search path
+  QStringList currentProjSearchPaths = QgsProjUtils::searchPaths();
+  currentProjSearchPaths.append( qgisSettingsDirPath() + QStringLiteral( "proj" ) );
+  const char **newPaths = new const char *[currentProjSearchPaths.length()];
+  for ( int i = 0; i < currentProjSearchPaths.count(); ++i )
+  {
+    newPaths[i] = currentProjSearchPaths.at( i ).toUtf8().constData();
+  }
+  proj_context_set_search_paths( nullptr, currentProjSearchPaths.count(), newPaths );
+  delete [] newPaths;
+#endif
+
+
   // allow Qt to search for Qt plugins (e.g. sqldrivers) in our plugin directory
   QCoreApplication::addLibraryPath( pluginPath() );
 
diff --git a/src/core/qgsprojutils.cpp b/src/core/qgsprojutils.cpp
index eaef05094a0c..9b68c9e37795 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsprojutils.cpp
+++ b/src/core/qgsprojutils.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@
  *                                                                         *
  ***************************************************************************/
 #include "qgsprojutils.h"
+#include "qgis.h"
 #include <QString>
+#include <QSet>
 
 #if PROJ_VERSION_MAJOR>=6
 #include <proj.h>
@@ -215,3 +217,32 @@ QStringList QgsProjUtils::nonAvailableGrids( const QString &projDef )
 
 #endif
 
+QStringList QgsProjUtils::searchPaths()
+{
+#if PROJ_VERSION_MAJOR >= 6
+  const QString path( proj_info().searchpath );
+  QStringList paths;
+// #ifdef Q_OS_WIN
+#if 1 // -- see https://github.com/OSGeo/proj.4/pull/1497
+  paths = path.split( ';' );
+#else
+  paths = path.split( ':' );
+#endif
+
+  QSet<QString> existing;
+  // thin out duplicates from paths -- see https://github.com/OSGeo/proj.4/pull/1498
+  QStringList res;
+  res.reserve( paths.count() );
+  for ( const QString &p : qgis::as_const( paths ) )
+  {
+    if ( existing.contains( p ) )
+      continue;
+
+    existing.insert( p );
+    res << p;
+  }
+  return res;
+#else
+  return QStringList();
+#endif
+}
diff --git a/src/core/qgsprojutils.h b/src/core/qgsprojutils.h
index 1a7566cf34f7..42499f24476c 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsprojutils.h
+++ b/src/core/qgsprojutils.h
@@ -53,6 +53,14 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsProjUtils
       return PROJ_VERSION_MAJOR;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the current list of Proj file search paths.
+     *
+     * \note Only available on builds based on Proj >= 6.0. Builds based on
+     * earlier Proj versions will always return an empty list.
+     */
+    static QStringList searchPaths();
+
 #ifndef SIP_RUN
 #if PROJ_VERSION_MAJOR >= 6
 
diff --git a/tests/src/core/testqgsprojutils.cpp b/tests/src/core/testqgsprojutils.cpp
index 467579574185..6e39e9fc5099 100644
--- a/tests/src/core/testqgsprojutils.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/core/testqgsprojutils.cpp
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ class TestQgsProjUtils: public QObject
     void threadSafeContext();
     void usesAngularUnits();
     void axisOrderIsSwapped();
+    void searchPath();
 
 };
 
@@ -97,5 +98,14 @@ void TestQgsProjUtils::axisOrderIsSwapped()
 #endif
 }
 
+void TestQgsProjUtils::searchPath()
+{
+#if PROJ_VERSION_MAJOR>=6
+  // ensure local user-writable path is present in Proj search paths
+  const QStringList paths = QgsProjUtils::searchPaths();
+  QVERIFY( paths.contains( QgsApplication::qgisSettingsDirPath() + QStringLiteral( "proj" ) ) );
+#endif
+}
+
 QGSTEST_MAIN( TestQgsProjUtils )
 #include "testqgsprojutils.moc"