diff --git a/h/migrations/versions/3bae642f2b36_add_pubid_to_user.py b/h/migrations/versions/3bae642f2b36_add_pubid_to_user.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..850e33d49ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/h/migrations/versions/3bae642f2b36_add_pubid_to_user.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+"""Add pubid to user"""
+
+from alembic import op
+
+revision = "3bae642f2b36"
+down_revision = "9c0efdf762a6"
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    op.add_column("user", sa.Column("pubid", sa.Text(), nullable=True))
+    op.create_unique_constraint(op.f("uq__user__pubid"), "user", ["pubid"])
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    op.drop_constraint(op.f("uq__user__pubid"), "user", type_="unique")
+    op.drop_column("user", "pubid")
diff --git a/h/models/user.py b/h/models/user.py
index c8981242c58..81052a597fb 100644
--- a/h/models/user.py
+++ b/h/models/user.py
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 import datetime
 import re
+from functools import partial
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from sqlalchemy.ext.declarative import declared_attr
 from sqlalchemy.ext.hybrid import Comparator, hybrid_property
 
+from h import pubid
 from h.db import Base
 from h.exceptions import InvalidUserId
 from h.models import helpers
@@ -158,6 +160,11 @@ def __table_args__(cls):  # pylint:disable=no-self-argument
 
     id = sa.Column(sa.Integer, autoincrement=True, primary_key=True)
 
+    #: A publicly visible unique identifier for the user
+    pubid = sa.Column(
+        sa.Text(), default=partial(pubid.generate, 12), unique=True, nullable=True
+    )
+
     #: Username as chosen by the user on registration
     _username = sa.Column("username", sa.UnicodeText(), nullable=False)