diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/index.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/index.ts
index f89397840..aec670777 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/index.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/index.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ export default {
       description:
         'Use specific package manager to initialize the project. Available options: `yarn`, `npm`, `bun`. Default: `npm`',
     },
+    {
+      name: '--auth-token <string>',
+      description:
+        'Use a specific authentication token when connecting to the registry, typically only needed for third-party registries',
+    },
     {
       name: '--directory <string>',
       description: 'Uses a custom directory instead of `<projectName>`.',
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/init.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/init.ts
index 9f9227491..cd89665cc 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/init.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/init.ts
@@ -463,6 +463,7 @@ export default (async function initialize(
     const updatedVersion = await npmResolveConcreteVersion(
       options.platformName ?? 'react-native',
       version,
+      options.authToken,
     );
     logger.debug(`Mapped: ${version} -> ${updatedVersion}`);
     version = updatedVersion;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/types.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/types.ts
index 57ff1e54a..e02f8ad9a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/types.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/types.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ export type Options = {
   template?: string;
   npm?: boolean;
   pm?: PackageManager;
+  authToken?: string;
   directory?: string;
   displayName?: string;
   title?: string;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/version.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/version.ts
index 2fb8dfcaf..c16c3f6c1 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/version.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/version.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,10 @@ export async function createTemplateUri(
       // lower cadence). We have to assume the user is running against the latest nightly by pointing to the tag.
       return `${TEMPLATE_PACKAGE_COMMUNITY}@nightly`;
     }
-    const templateVersion = await getTemplateVersion(version);
+    const templateVersion = await getTemplateVersion(
+      version,
+      options.authToken,
+    );
     return `${TEMPLATE_PACKAGE_COMMUNITY}@${templateVersion}`;
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/tools/npm.ts b/packages/cli/src/tools/npm.ts
index 3ad234a80..f6d869002 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/tools/npm.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/tools/npm.ts
@@ -58,14 +58,18 @@ export const getNpmRegistryUrl = (() => {
 export async function npmResolveConcreteVersion(
   packageName: string,
   tagOrVersion: string,
+  authToken?: string,
 ): Promise<string> {
   const url = new URL(getNpmRegistryUrl());
-  url.pathname = `${packageName}/${tagOrVersion}`;
-  const resp = await fetch(url);
+  url.pathname = `${url.pathname}${packageName}/${tagOrVersion}`;
+  const headers = authToken
+    ? {Authorization: `Bearer ${authToken}`}
+    : undefined;
+  const resp = await fetch(url, {headers});
   if (
     [
       200, // OK
-      301, // Moved Permanemently
+      301, // Moved Permanently
       302, // Found
       304, // Not Modified
       307, // Temporary Redirect
@@ -126,10 +130,16 @@ const minorVersion = (version: string) => {
 
 export async function getTemplateVersion(
   reactNativeVersion: string,
+  authToken?: string,
 ): Promise<TemplateVersion | undefined> {
-  const json = await fetch(
-    new URL('@react-native-community/template', getNpmRegistryUrl()),
-  ).then((resp) => resp.json() as Promise<NpmTemplateResponse>);
+  const url = new URL(getNpmRegistryUrl());
+  url.pathname = `${url.pathname}@react-native-community/template`;
+  const headers = authToken
+    ? {Authorization: `Bearer ${authToken}`}
+    : undefined;
+  const json = await fetch(url, {headers}).then(
+    (resp) => resp.json() as Promise<NpmTemplateResponse>,
+  );
 
   // We are abusing which npm metadata is publicly available through the registry. Scripts
   // is always captured, and we use this in the Github Action that manages our releases to