diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bac43dc..a8a54c1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -76,17 +76,22 @@ catch (PhoneNumberParseException $e) {
 }
 ```
 
-In most cases, it is recommended to perform an extra step of validation with `isValidNumber()`:
+In most cases, it is recommended to perform an extra step of validation with `isValidNumber()` or `isPossibleNumber()`:
 
 ```php
+if (! $number->isPossibleNumber()) {
+    // a more lenient and faster check than `isValidNumber()`
+}
+
 if (! $number->isValidNumber()) {
-    // ...
+    // strict check relying on up-to-date metadata library
 }
+
 ```
 
 As a rule of thumb, do the following:
 
-- When the number comes from user input, do a full validation: `parse()` and catch `PhoneNumberParseException`, then call `isValidNumber()` if no exception occurred;
+- When the number comes from user input, do a full validation: `parse()` and catch `PhoneNumberParseException`, then call `isValidNumber()` (or `isPossibleNumber()` for a more lenient check) if no exception occurred;
 - When the number is later retrieved from your database, and has been validated before, you can just perform a blind `parse()`.
 
 ### Formatting a number
diff --git a/src/PhoneNumber.php b/src/PhoneNumber.php
index 6751598..18e2813 100644
--- a/src/PhoneNumber.php
+++ b/src/PhoneNumber.php
@@ -114,6 +114,18 @@ public function getRegionCode() : ?string
         return $regionCode;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns whether this phone number is a possible number.
+     *
+     * Note this provides a more lenient and faster check than `isValidNumber()`.
+     *
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    public function isPossibleNumber() : bool
+    {
+        return PhoneNumberUtil::getInstance()->isPossibleNumber($this->phoneNumber);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Returns whether this phone number matches a valid pattern.
      *
diff --git a/tests/PhoneNumberTest.php b/tests/PhoneNumberTest.php
index cdf8f18..7a24b5a 100644
--- a/tests/PhoneNumberTest.php
+++ b/tests/PhoneNumberTest.php
@@ -257,7 +257,28 @@ public function providerGetNumberType()
     }
 
     /**
-     * @dataProvider providerIsValidNumber
+     * @dataProvider providerValidNumbers
+     * @dataProvider providerPossibleButNotValidNumbers
+     *
+     * @param string $phoneNumber
+     */
+    public function testIsPossibleNumber($phoneNumber)
+    {
+        $this->assertTrue(PhoneNumber::parse($phoneNumber)->isPossibleNumber());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @dataProvider providerNotPossibleNumbers
+     *
+     * @param string $phoneNumber
+     */
+    public function testIsNotPossibleNumber($phoneNumber)
+    {
+        $this->assertFalse(PhoneNumber::parse($phoneNumber)->isPossibleNumber());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @dataProvider providerValidNumbers
      *
      * @param string $phoneNumber
      */
@@ -266,10 +287,21 @@ public function testIsValidNumber($phoneNumber)
         $this->assertTrue(PhoneNumber::parse($phoneNumber)->isValidNumber());
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @dataProvider providerNotPossibleNumbers
+     * @dataProvider providerPossibleButNotValidNumbers
+     *
+     * @param string $phoneNumber
+     */
+    public function testIsNotValidNumber($phoneNumber)
+    {
+        $this->assertFalse(PhoneNumber::parse($phoneNumber)->isValidNumber());
+    }
+
     /**
      * @return array
      */
-    public function providerIsValidNumber()
+    public function providerValidNumbers()
     {
         return [
             [self::US_NUMBER],
@@ -281,20 +313,10 @@ public function providerIsValidNumber()
         ];
     }
 
-    /**
-     * @dataProvider providerIsNotValidNumber
-     *
-     * @param string $phoneNumber
-     */
-    public function testIsNotValidNumber($phoneNumber)
-    {
-        $this->assertFalse(PhoneNumber::parse($phoneNumber)->isValidNumber());
-    }
-
     /**
      * @return array
      */
-    public function providerIsNotValidNumber()
+    public function providerPossibleButNotValidNumbers()
     {
         return [
             [self::US_LOCAL_NUMBER],
@@ -302,8 +324,18 @@ public function providerIsNotValidNumber()
             ['+44791234567'],
             ['+491234'],
             ['+643316005'],
-            ['+39232366'],
-            [self::INTERNATIONAL_TOLL_FREE_TOO_LONG]
+            ['+39232366']
+        ];
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return array
+     */
+    public function providerNotPossibleNumbers()
+    {
+        return [
+            [self::INTERNATIONAL_TOLL_FREE_TOO_LONG],
+            ['+4912']
         ];
     }