diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/config/types.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/config/types.ts
index 07711c56aa8..7a8931ebcaf 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/config/types.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/config/types.ts
@@ -73,6 +73,18 @@ export type RequiredDataFromCollection<TData extends JsonObject> = MarkOptional<
 export type RequiredDataFromCollectionSlug<TSlug extends CollectionSlug> =
   RequiredDataFromCollection<DataFromCollectionSlug<TSlug>>
 
+/**
+ * Helper type for draft data - makes all fields optional except auto-generated ones
+ * When creating a draft, required fields don't need to be provided as validation is skipped
+ */
+export type DraftDataFromCollection<TData extends JsonObject> = Partial<
+  MarkOptional<TData, 'createdAt' | 'deletedAt' | 'id' | 'sizes' | 'updatedAt'>
+>
+
+export type DraftDataFromCollectionSlug<TSlug extends CollectionSlug> = DraftDataFromCollection<
+  DataFromCollectionSlug<TSlug>
+>
+
 export type HookOperationType =
   | 'autosave'
   | 'count'
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/create.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/create.ts
index b9bed7c9fe1..a39c2a5d585 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/create.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/create.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import type { File } from '../../../uploads/types.js'
 import type { CreateLocalReqOptions } from '../../../utilities/createLocalReq.js'
 import type {
   DataFromCollectionSlug,
+  DraftDataFromCollectionSlug,
   RequiredDataFromCollectionSlug,
   SelectFromCollectionSlug,
 } from '../../config/types.js'
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ import { getFileByPath } from '../../../uploads/getFileByPath.js'
 import { createLocalReq } from '../../../utilities/createLocalReq.js'
 import { createOperation } from '../create.js'
 
-export type Options<TSlug extends CollectionSlug, TSelect extends SelectType> = {
+type BaseOptions<TSlug extends CollectionSlug, TSelect extends SelectType> = {
   /**
    * the Collection slug to operate against.
    */
@@ -37,10 +38,6 @@ export type Options<TSlug extends CollectionSlug, TSelect extends SelectType> =
    * to determine if it should run or not.
    */
   context?: RequestContext
-  /**
-   * The data for the document to create.
-   */
-  data: RequiredDataFromCollectionSlug<TSlug>
   /**
    * [Control auto-population](https://payloadcms.com/docs/queries/depth) of nested relationship and upload fields.
    */
@@ -55,10 +52,6 @@ export type Options<TSlug extends CollectionSlug, TSelect extends SelectType> =
    * you can disable the email that is auto-sent
    */
   disableVerificationEmail?: boolean
-  /**
-   * Create a **draft** document. [More](https://payloadcms.com/docs/versions/drafts#draft-api)
-   */
-  draft?: boolean
   /**
    * If you want to create a document that is a duplicate of another document
    */
@@ -115,6 +108,29 @@ export type Options<TSlug extends CollectionSlug, TSelect extends SelectType> =
   user?: Document
 }
 
+export type Options<TSlug extends CollectionSlug, TSelect extends SelectType> =
+  | ({
+      /**
+       * The data for the document to create.
+       */
+      data: RequiredDataFromCollectionSlug<TSlug>
+      /**
+       * Create a **draft** document. [More](https://payloadcms.com/docs/versions/drafts#draft-api)
+       */
+      draft?: false
+    } & BaseOptions<TSlug, TSelect>)
+  | ({
+      /**
+       * The data for the document to create.
+       * When creating a draft, required fields are optional as validation is skipped by default.
+       */
+      data: DraftDataFromCollectionSlug<TSlug>
+      /**
+       * Create a **draft** document. [More](https://payloadcms.com/docs/versions/drafts#draft-api)
+       */
+      draft: true
+    } & BaseOptions<TSlug, TSelect>)
+
 export async function createLocal<
   TSlug extends CollectionSlug,
   TSelect extends SelectFromCollectionSlug<TSlug>,
diff --git a/test/versions/int.spec.ts b/test/versions/int.spec.ts
index 5e2d3edeca0..34c86b67524 100644
--- a/test/versions/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/versions/int.spec.ts
@@ -1083,6 +1083,69 @@ describe('Versions', () => {
       })
     })
 
+    describe('Draft Types', () => {
+      it('should allow creating drafts without required fields', async () => {
+        // This test validates that when draft: true is set, required fields become optional
+        // TypeScript should not complain about missing 'description' field even though it's required
+        const draft = await payload.create({
+          collection: 'draft-posts',
+          data: {
+            title: 'Draft without description',
+            // description is required but omitted - should work with draft: true
+          },
+          draft: true,
+        })
+
+        expect(draft.title).toBe('Draft without description')
+        // Different databases return null vs undefined for missing fields
+        expect(draft.description).toBeFalsy()
+        expect(draft._status).toBe('draft')
+      })
+
+      it('should require all required fields when draft is false', async () => {
+        // This validates that required fields are still enforced when draft is false
+        await expect(
+          // @ts-expect-error - description is required when not creating a draft
+          payload.create({
+            collection: 'draft-posts',
+            data: {
+              title: 'Published without description',
+            },
+            draft: false,
+          }),
+        ).rejects.toThrow(ValidationError)
+      })
+
+      it('should require all required fields when draft is not specified', async () => {
+        // This validates that required fields are still enforced when draft option is omitted
+        await expect(
+          // @ts-expect-error - description is required when draft option is not specified
+          payload.create({
+            collection: 'draft-posts',
+            data: {
+              title: 'Post without description',
+            },
+          }),
+        ).rejects.toThrow(ValidationError)
+      })
+
+      it('should allow all fields to be optional with draft: true', async () => {
+        // Test that even fields nested in groups can be omitted
+        const draft = await payload.create({
+          collection: 'draft-posts',
+          data: {
+            // Both title and description are required but omitted
+          },
+          draft: true,
+        })
+
+        expect(draft._status).toBe('draft')
+        // Different databases return null vs undefined for missing fields
+        expect(draft.title).toBeFalsy()
+        expect(draft.description).toBeFalsy()
+      })
+    })
+
     describe('Max Versions', () => {
       // create 2 documents with 3 versions each
       // expect 2 documents with 2 versions each