diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/Avatar/Friends/FriendsModule.cs b/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/Avatar/Friends/FriendsModule.cs
index f64c161271..fc6325dc3d 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/Avatar/Friends/FriendsModule.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/Avatar/Friends/FriendsModule.cs
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.CoreModules.Avatar.Friends
             }            
         }
 
-        protected void InitModule(IConfigSource config)
+        protected virtual void InitModule(IConfigSource config)
         {
             IConfig friendsConfig = config.Configs["Friends"];
             if (friendsConfig != null)
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.CoreModules.Avatar.Friends
             }
         }
 
-        private void OnInstantMessage(IClientAPI client, GridInstantMessage im)
+        protected virtual void OnInstantMessage(IClientAPI client, GridInstantMessage im)
         {
             if ((InstantMessageDialog)im.dialog == InstantMessageDialog.FriendshipOffered)
             { 
diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/Avatar/Friends/HGFriendsModule.cs b/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/Avatar/Friends/HGFriendsModule.cs
index 9a6d277252..3728b85a16 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/Avatar/Friends/HGFriendsModule.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/Avatar/Friends/HGFriendsModule.cs
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.CoreModules.Avatar.Friends
     {
         private static readonly ILog m_log = LogManager.GetLogger(MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType);
 
+        private int m_levelHGFriends = 0;
+
         IUserManagement m_uMan;
         public IUserManagement UserManagementModule
         {
@@ -87,6 +89,21 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.CoreModules.Avatar.Friends
                 m_StatusNotifier = new HGStatusNotifier(this);
         }
 
+        protected override void InitModule(IConfigSource config)
+        {
+            base.InitModule(config);
+
+            // Additionally to the base method
+            IConfig friendsConfig = config.Configs["HGFriendsModule"];
+            if (friendsConfig != null)
+            {
+                m_levelHGFriends = friendsConfig.GetInt("LevelHGFriends", 0);
+
+                // TODO: read in all config variables pertaining to
+                // HG friendship permissions
+            }
+        }
+
         #endregion
 
         #region IFriendsSimConnector
@@ -105,6 +122,35 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.CoreModules.Avatar.Friends
 
         #endregion
 
+        protected override void OnInstantMessage(IClientAPI client, GridInstantMessage im)
+        {
+            if ((InstantMessageDialog)im.dialog == InstantMessageDialog.FriendshipOffered)
+            {
+                // we got a friendship offer
+                UUID principalID = new UUID(im.fromAgentID);
+                UUID friendID = new UUID(im.toAgentID);
+
+                // Check if friendID is foreigner and if principalID has the permission
+                // to request friendships with foreigners. If not, return immediately.
+                if (!UserManagementModule.IsLocalGridUser(friendID))
+                {
+                    ScenePresence avatar = null;
+                    ((Scene)client.Scene).TryGetScenePresence(principalID, out avatar);
+
+                    if (avatar == null)
+                        return;
+
+                    if (avatar.UserLevel < m_levelHGFriends)
+                    {
+                        client.SendAgentAlertMessage("Unable to send friendship invitation to foreigner. Insufficient permissions.", false);
+                        return;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            base.OnInstantMessage(client, im);
+        }
+
         protected override void OnApproveFriendRequest(IClientAPI client, UUID friendID, List<UUID> callingCardFolders)
         {
             // Update the local cache. Yes, we need to do it right here
diff --git a/bin/config-include/GridCommon.ini.example b/bin/config-include/GridCommon.ini.example
index fa6f5258c5..8d7f6fc427 100644
--- a/bin/config-include/GridCommon.ini.example
+++ b/bin/config-include/GridCommon.ini.example
@@ -137,6 +137,10 @@
     ;; uncomment the next line. You may want to do this on sims that have licensed content.
     ; OutboundPermission = False
 
+[HGFriendsModule]
+    ; User level required to be able to send friendship invitations to foreign users
+    ;LevelHGFriends = 0;
+
 [UserAgentService]
     ;
     ; === HG ONLY ===
diff --git a/bin/config-include/StandaloneCommon.ini.example b/bin/config-include/StandaloneCommon.ini.example
index 8fe64df93e..e4bc548967 100644
--- a/bin/config-include/StandaloneCommon.ini.example
+++ b/bin/config-include/StandaloneCommon.ini.example
@@ -61,6 +61,10 @@
     ;; uncomment the next line. You may want to do this on sims that have licensed content.
     ; OutboundPermission = False
 
+[HGFriendsModule]
+    ; User level required to be able to send friendship invitations to foreign users
+    ;LevelHGFriends = 0;
+
 [GridService]
     ;; For in-memory region storage (default)
     StorageProvider = "OpenSim.Data.Null.dll:NullRegionData"