diff --git a/.changelog/12254.txt b/.changelog/12254.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8b92b959fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/12254.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:enhancement
+spanner: added `default_backup_schedule_type` field to  `google_spanner_instance`
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/google-beta/services/spanner/resource_spanner_instance.go b/google-beta/services/spanner/resource_spanner_instance.go
index 5615d3e2de..dd295ad1f3 100644
--- a/google-beta/services/spanner/resource_spanner_instance.go
+++ b/google-beta/services/spanner/resource_spanner_instance.go
@@ -283,6 +283,15 @@ This number is on a scale from 0 (no utilization) to 100 (full utilization).`,
 				},
 				ExactlyOneOf: []string{"num_nodes", "processing_units", "autoscaling_config"},
 			},
+			"default_backup_schedule_type": {
+				Type:         schema.TypeString,
+				Computed:     true,
+				Optional:     true,
+				ValidateFunc: verify.ValidateEnum([]string{"NONE", "AUTOMATIC", ""}),
+				Description: `Controls the default backup behavior for new databases within the instance.
+Note that 'AUTOMATIC' is not permitted for free instances, as backups and backup schedules are not allowed for free instances.
+if unset or NONE, no default backup schedule will be created for new databases within the instance. Possible values: ["NONE", "AUTOMATIC"]`,
+			},
 			"edition": {
 				Type:         schema.TypeString,
 				Computed:     true,
@@ -403,6 +412,12 @@ func resourceSpannerInstanceCreate(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{}) err
 	} else if v, ok := d.GetOkExists("edition"); !tpgresource.IsEmptyValue(reflect.ValueOf(editionProp)) && (ok || !reflect.DeepEqual(v, editionProp)) {
 		obj["edition"] = editionProp
 	}
+	defaultBackupScheduleTypeProp, err := expandSpannerInstanceDefaultBackupScheduleType(d.Get("default_backup_schedule_type"), d, config)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	} else if v, ok := d.GetOkExists("default_backup_schedule_type"); !tpgresource.IsEmptyValue(reflect.ValueOf(defaultBackupScheduleTypeProp)) && (ok || !reflect.DeepEqual(v, defaultBackupScheduleTypeProp)) {
+		obj["defaultBackupScheduleType"] = defaultBackupScheduleTypeProp
+	}
 	labelsProp, err := expandSpannerInstanceEffectiveLabels(d.Get("effective_labels"), d, config)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -585,6 +600,9 @@ func resourceSpannerInstanceRead(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{}) error
 	if err := d.Set("edition", flattenSpannerInstanceEdition(res["edition"], d, config)); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Error reading Instance: %s", err)
 	}
+	if err := d.Set("default_backup_schedule_type", flattenSpannerInstanceDefaultBackupScheduleType(res["defaultBackupScheduleType"], d, config)); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("Error reading Instance: %s", err)
+	}
 	if err := d.Set("terraform_labels", flattenSpannerInstanceTerraformLabels(res["labels"], d, config)); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Error reading Instance: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -641,6 +659,12 @@ func resourceSpannerInstanceUpdate(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{}) err
 	} else if v, ok := d.GetOkExists("edition"); !tpgresource.IsEmptyValue(reflect.ValueOf(v)) && (ok || !reflect.DeepEqual(v, editionProp)) {
 		obj["edition"] = editionProp
 	}
+	defaultBackupScheduleTypeProp, err := expandSpannerInstanceDefaultBackupScheduleType(d.Get("default_backup_schedule_type"), d, config)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	} else if v, ok := d.GetOkExists("default_backup_schedule_type"); !tpgresource.IsEmptyValue(reflect.ValueOf(v)) && (ok || !reflect.DeepEqual(v, defaultBackupScheduleTypeProp)) {
+		obj["defaultBackupScheduleType"] = defaultBackupScheduleTypeProp
+	}
 	labelsProp, err := expandSpannerInstanceEffectiveLabels(d.Get("effective_labels"), d, config)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -1125,6 +1149,10 @@ func flattenSpannerInstanceEdition(v interface{}, d *schema.ResourceData, config
 	return v
 }
 
+func flattenSpannerInstanceDefaultBackupScheduleType(v interface{}, d *schema.ResourceData, config *transport_tpg.Config) interface{} {
+	return v
+}
+
 func flattenSpannerInstanceTerraformLabels(v interface{}, d *schema.ResourceData, config *transport_tpg.Config) interface{} {
 	if v == nil {
 		return v
@@ -1406,6 +1434,10 @@ func expandSpannerInstanceEdition(v interface{}, d tpgresource.TerraformResource
 	return v, nil
 }
 
+func expandSpannerInstanceDefaultBackupScheduleType(v interface{}, d tpgresource.TerraformResourceData, config *transport_tpg.Config) (interface{}, error) {
+	return v, nil
+}
+
 func expandSpannerInstanceEffectiveLabels(v interface{}, d tpgresource.TerraformResourceData, config *transport_tpg.Config) (map[string]string, error) {
 	if v == nil {
 		return map[string]string{}, nil
@@ -1448,6 +1480,9 @@ func resourceSpannerInstanceUpdateEncoder(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface
 	if d.HasChange("edition") {
 		updateMask = append(updateMask, "edition")
 	}
+	if d.HasChange("default_backup_schedule_type") {
+		updateMask = append(updateMask, "defaultBackupScheduleType")
+	}
 	if d.HasChange("num_nodes") {
 		updateMask = append(updateMask, "nodeCount")
 	}
diff --git a/google-beta/services/spanner/resource_spanner_instance_generated_test.go b/google-beta/services/spanner/resource_spanner_instance_generated_test.go
index ef4cf97c01..9160b361d8 100644
--- a/google-beta/services/spanner/resource_spanner_instance_generated_test.go
+++ b/google-beta/services/spanner/resource_spanner_instance_generated_test.go
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ resource "google_spanner_instance" "example" {
   display_name = "Test Spanner Instance"
   num_nodes    = 2
   edition      = "STANDARD"
+  default_backup_schedule_type = "AUTOMATIC"
   labels = {
     "foo" = "bar"
   }
diff --git a/google-beta/services/spanner/resource_spanner_instance_test.go b/google-beta/services/spanner/resource_spanner_instance_test.go
index 54cdac3548..730baa6794 100644
--- a/google-beta/services/spanner/resource_spanner_instance_test.go
+++ b/google-beta/services/spanner/resource_spanner_instance_test.go
@@ -369,6 +369,7 @@ resource "google_spanner_instance" "basic" {
   display_name = "%s-dname"
   num_nodes    = 1
   edition      = "ENTERPRISE"
+  default_backup_schedule_type = "NONE"
 }
 `, name, name)
 }
@@ -462,6 +463,7 @@ resource "google_spanner_instance" "basic" {
     }
   }
   edition      = "ENTERPRISE"
+  default_backup_schedule_type = "AUTOMATIC"
 }
 `, name, name, maxProcessingUnits, minProcessingUnits, cupUtilizationPercent, storageUtilizationPercent)
 }
diff --git a/website/docs/r/spanner_instance.html.markdown b/website/docs/r/spanner_instance.html.markdown
index 5fb750b724..617d98e5bb 100644
--- a/website/docs/r/spanner_instance.html.markdown
+++ b/website/docs/r/spanner_instance.html.markdown
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ resource "google_spanner_instance" "example" {
   display_name = "Test Spanner Instance"
   num_nodes    = 2
   edition      = "STANDARD"
+  default_backup_schedule_type = "AUTOMATIC"
   labels = {
     "foo" = "bar"
   }
@@ -177,6 +178,13 @@ The following arguments are supported:
   The edition selected for this instance. Different editions provide different capabilities at different price points.
   Possible values are: `EDITION_UNSPECIFIED`, `STANDARD`, `ENTERPRISE`, `ENTERPRISE_PLUS`.
 
+* `default_backup_schedule_type` -
+  (Optional)
+  Controls the default backup behavior for new databases within the instance.
+  Note that `AUTOMATIC` is not permitted for free instances, as backups and backup schedules are not allowed for free instances.
+  if unset or NONE, no default backup schedule will be created for new databases within the instance.
+  Possible values are: `NONE`, `AUTOMATIC`.
+
 * `project` - (Optional) The ID of the project in which the resource belongs.
     If it is not provided, the provider project is used.