diff --git a/.changeset/warm-windows-kiss.md b/.changeset/warm-windows-kiss.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..09b14563cf9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/warm-windows-kiss.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+---
+'@tanstack/query-core': minor
+---
+
+Add `enforceQueryGcTime` to `QueryClientConfig` to force `gcTime` for all queries created by a client.
+
+When provided, this value overrides `gcTime` from:
+- `defaultOptions.queries`
+- `setQueryDefaults`
+- per-query options passed to query methods
diff --git a/docs/reference/QueryClient.md b/docs/reference/QueryClient.md
index 13bde1ffad0..5bdbb83e8ec 100644
--- a/docs/reference/QueryClient.md
+++ b/docs/reference/QueryClient.md
@@ -64,6 +64,21 @@ Its available methods are:
   - Optional
   - Define defaults for all queries and mutations using this queryClient.
   - You can also define defaults to be used for [hydration](../framework/react/reference/hydration.md)
+- `enforceQueryGcTime?: number`
+  - Optional
+  - Forces `gcTime` for every query created by this client, including calls that provide `gcTime` per-query or via `setQueryDefaults`.
+  - Useful when you need a strict retention policy, for example to keep all query data in cache with `Infinity`.
+
+```tsx
+const queryClient = new QueryClient({
+  enforceQueryGcTime: Infinity,
+  defaultOptions: {
+    queries: {
+      gcTime: 60 * 1000, // ignored because enforceQueryGcTime takes precedence
+    },
+  },
+})
+```
 
 ## `queryClient.fetchQuery`
 
diff --git a/packages/query-core/src/__tests__/queryClient.test.tsx b/packages/query-core/src/__tests__/queryClient.test.tsx
index 4871d823c1f..a10dcd922a7 100644
--- a/packages/query-core/src/__tests__/queryClient.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/query-core/src/__tests__/queryClient.test.tsx
@@ -145,6 +145,47 @@ describe('queryClient', () => {
   })
 
   describe('defaultQueryOptions', () => {
+    test('should enforce gcTime from QueryClient config', () => {
+      const key = queryKey()
+      const testClient = new QueryClient({
+        enforceQueryGcTime: Infinity,
+      })
+
+      expect(
+        testClient.defaultQueryOptions({ queryKey: key, gcTime: 10 }).gcTime,
+      ).toBe(Infinity)
+    })
+
+    test('should enforce gcTime over matching query defaults', () => {
+      const key = queryKey()
+      const testClient = new QueryClient({
+        enforceQueryGcTime: Infinity,
+      })
+
+      testClient.setQueryDefaults(key, { gcTime: 10 })
+
+      expect(testClient.defaultQueryOptions({ queryKey: key }).gcTime).toBe(
+        Infinity,
+      )
+    })
+
+    test('should enforce gcTime when query is added to cache', async () => {
+      const key = queryKey()
+      const testClient = new QueryClient({
+        enforceQueryGcTime: Infinity,
+      })
+
+      await testClient.prefetchQuery({
+        queryKey: key,
+        queryFn: () => Promise.resolve('data'),
+        gcTime: 10,
+      })
+
+      expect(
+        testClient.getQueryCache().find({ queryKey: key })?.options.gcTime,
+      ).toBe(Infinity)
+    })
+
     test('should default networkMode when persister is present', () => {
       expect(
         new QueryClient({
diff --git a/packages/query-core/src/queryClient.ts b/packages/query-core/src/queryClient.ts
index 80cc36668aa..027d0f8327f 100644
--- a/packages/query-core/src/queryClient.ts
+++ b/packages/query-core/src/queryClient.ts
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ export class QueryClient {
   #queryCache: QueryCache
   #mutationCache: MutationCache
   #defaultOptions: DefaultOptions
+  #enforceQueryGcTime: number | undefined
   #queryDefaults: Map<string, QueryDefaults>
   #mutationDefaults: Map<string, MutationDefaults>
   #mountCount: number
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ export class QueryClient {
     this.#queryCache = config.queryCache || new QueryCache()
     this.#mutationCache = config.mutationCache || new MutationCache()
     this.#defaultOptions = config.defaultOptions || {}
+    this.#enforceQueryGcTime = config.enforceQueryGcTime
     this.#queryDefaults = new Map()
     this.#mutationDefaults = new Map()
     this.#mountCount = 0
@@ -593,6 +595,10 @@ export class QueryClient {
       _defaulted: true,
     }
 
+    if (this.#enforceQueryGcTime !== undefined) {
+      defaultedOptions.gcTime = this.#enforceQueryGcTime
+    }
+
     if (!defaultedOptions.queryHash) {
       defaultedOptions.queryHash = hashQueryKeyByOptions(
         defaultedOptions.queryKey,
diff --git a/packages/query-core/src/types.ts b/packages/query-core/src/types.ts
index 4f3f4caed20..22755e0315a 100644
--- a/packages/query-core/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/query-core/src/types.ts
@@ -1356,6 +1356,11 @@ export interface QueryClientConfig {
   queryCache?: QueryCache
   mutationCache?: MutationCache
   defaultOptions?: DefaultOptions
+  /**
+   * Force all queries created by this client to use the same gcTime.
+   * This overrides gcTime set globally, per key or per query call.
+   */
+  enforceQueryGcTime?: number
 }
 
 export interface DefaultOptions<TError = DefaultError> {