diff --git a/doc/api/projects.md b/doc/api/projects.md
index 409e67ea566..2a1054a5337 100644
--- a/doc/api/projects.md
+++ b/doc/api/projects.md
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ Parameters:
 - `order_by` (optional) - Return requests ordered by `id`, `name`, `path`, `created_at`, `updated_at` or `last_activity_at` fields. Default is `created_at`
 - `sort` (optional) - Return requests sorted in `asc` or `desc` order. Default is `desc`
 - `search` (optional) - Return list of authorized projects according to a search criteria
+- `simple` (optional) - When set, return only the ID, URL, name, and path of each project
 
 ```json
 [
@@ -153,7 +154,7 @@ Parameters:
 ]
 ```
 
-Get a list of projects for which the authenticated user can see.
+Get a list of projects which the authenticated user can see.
 
 ```
 GET /projects/visible
@@ -166,6 +167,7 @@ Parameters:
 - `order_by` (optional) - Return requests ordered by `id`, `name`, `path`, `created_at`, `updated_at` or `last_activity_at` fields. Default is `created_at`
 - `sort` (optional) - Return requests sorted in `asc` or `desc` order. Default is `desc`
 - `search` (optional) - Return list of authorized projects according to a search criteria
+- `simple` (optional) - When set, return only the ID, URL, name, and path of each project
 
 ```json
 [
diff --git a/spec/requests/api/projects_spec.rb b/spec/requests/api/projects_spec.rb
index 5bf8b64b84b..fafceb6ecfa 100644
--- a/spec/requests/api/projects_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/requests/api/projects_spec.rb
@@ -178,11 +178,30 @@ describe API::API, api: true  do
   describe 'GET /projects/visible' do
     let(:public_project) { create(:project, :public) }
 
+    before do
+      public_project
+      project
+      project2
+      project3
+      project4
+    end
+
     it 'returns the projects viewable by the user' do
-      get api('/projects/visible', user3)
+      get api('/projects/visible', user)
+
       expect(response).to have_http_status(200)
       expect(json_response).to be_an Array
-      expect(json_response.map { |project| project['id'] }).to contain_exactly(project.id, project2.id, project4.id)
+      expect(json_response.map { |project| project['id'] }).
+        to contain_exactly(public_project.id, project.id, project2.id, project3.id)
+    end
+
+    it 'shows only public projects when the user only has access to those' do
+      get api('/projects/visible', user2)
+
+      expect(response).to have_http_status(200)
+      expect(json_response).to be_an Array
+      expect(json_response.map { |project| project['id'] }).
+        to contain_exactly(public_project.id)
     end
   end