diff --git a/changelog/unreleased/issue-4781 b/changelog/unreleased/issue-4781
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b4af20885
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/unreleased/issue-4781
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+Enhancement: Add restore flags to read include and exclude patterns from files
+
+Restic now supports reading include and exclude patterns from files using the 
+`--include-file`, `--exclude-file`, `--iinclude-file` and `--iexclude-file` 
+flags.
+
+https://github.com/restic/restic/issues/4781
+https://github.com/restic/restic/pull/4811
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_restore.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_restore.go
index 5161be50d..12b698950 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_restore.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_restore.go
@@ -2,12 +2,10 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/debug"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/filter"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restic"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restorer"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/ui"
@@ -45,11 +43,9 @@ Exit status is 0 if the command was successful, and non-zero if there was any er
 
 // RestoreOptions collects all options for the restore command.
 type RestoreOptions struct {
-	Exclude            []string
-	InsensitiveExclude []string
-	Include            []string
-	InsensitiveInclude []string
-	Target             string
+	excludePatternOptions
+	includePatternOptions
+	Target string
 	restic.SnapshotFilter
 	Sparse bool
 	Verify bool
@@ -61,12 +57,11 @@ func init() {
 	cmdRoot.AddCommand(cmdRestore)
 
 	flags := cmdRestore.Flags()
-	flags.StringArrayVarP(&restoreOptions.Exclude, "exclude", "e", nil, "exclude a `pattern` (can be specified multiple times)")
-	flags.StringArrayVar(&restoreOptions.InsensitiveExclude, "iexclude", nil, "same as --exclude but ignores the casing of `pattern`")
-	flags.StringArrayVarP(&restoreOptions.Include, "include", "i", nil, "include a `pattern`, exclude everything else (can be specified multiple times)")
-	flags.StringArrayVar(&restoreOptions.InsensitiveInclude, "iinclude", nil, "same as --include but ignores the casing of `pattern`")
 	flags.StringVarP(&restoreOptions.Target, "target", "t", "", "directory to extract data to")
 
+	initExcludePatternOptions(flags, &restoreOptions.excludePatternOptions)
+	initIncludePatternOptions(flags, &restoreOptions.includePatternOptions)
+
 	initSingleSnapshotFilter(flags, &restoreOptions.SnapshotFilter)
 	flags.BoolVar(&restoreOptions.Sparse, "sparse", false, "restore files as sparse")
 	flags.BoolVar(&restoreOptions.Verify, "verify", false, "verify restored files content")
@@ -75,38 +70,18 @@ func init() {
 func runRestore(ctx context.Context, opts RestoreOptions, gopts GlobalOptions,
 	term *termstatus.Terminal, args []string) error {
 
-	hasExcludes := len(opts.Exclude) > 0 || len(opts.InsensitiveExclude) > 0
-	hasIncludes := len(opts.Include) > 0 || len(opts.InsensitiveInclude) > 0
-
-	// Validate provided patterns
-	if len(opts.Exclude) > 0 {
-		if err := filter.ValidatePatterns(opts.Exclude); err != nil {
-			return errors.Fatalf("--exclude: %s", err)
-		}
-	}
-	if len(opts.InsensitiveExclude) > 0 {
-		if err := filter.ValidatePatterns(opts.InsensitiveExclude); err != nil {
-			return errors.Fatalf("--iexclude: %s", err)
-		}
-	}
-	if len(opts.Include) > 0 {
-		if err := filter.ValidatePatterns(opts.Include); err != nil {
-			return errors.Fatalf("--include: %s", err)
-		}
-	}
-	if len(opts.InsensitiveInclude) > 0 {
-		if err := filter.ValidatePatterns(opts.InsensitiveInclude); err != nil {
-			return errors.Fatalf("--iinclude: %s", err)
-		}
+	excludePatternFns, err := opts.excludePatternOptions.CollectPatterns()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 
-	for i, str := range opts.InsensitiveExclude {
-		opts.InsensitiveExclude[i] = strings.ToLower(str)
+	includePatternFns, err := opts.includePatternOptions.CollectPatterns()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 
-	for i, str := range opts.InsensitiveInclude {
-		opts.InsensitiveInclude[i] = strings.ToLower(str)
-	}
+	hasExcludes := len(excludePatternFns) > 0
+	hasIncludes := len(includePatternFns) > 0
 
 	switch {
 	case len(args) == 0:
@@ -174,44 +149,41 @@ func runRestore(ctx context.Context, opts RestoreOptions, gopts GlobalOptions,
 		msg.E("Warning: %s\n", message)
 	}
 
-	excludePatterns := filter.ParsePatterns(opts.Exclude)
-	insensitiveExcludePatterns := filter.ParsePatterns(opts.InsensitiveExclude)
 	selectExcludeFilter := func(item string, _ string, node *restic.Node) (selectedForRestore bool, childMayBeSelected bool) {
-		matched, err := filter.List(excludePatterns, item)
-		if err != nil {
-			msg.E("error for exclude pattern: %v", err)
-		}
+		matched := false
+		for _, rejectFn := range excludePatternFns {
+			matched = matched || rejectFn(item)
 
-		matchedInsensitive, err := filter.List(insensitiveExcludePatterns, strings.ToLower(item))
-		if err != nil {
-			msg.E("error for iexclude pattern: %v", err)
+			// implementing a short-circuit here to improve the performance
+			// to prevent additional pattern matching once the first pattern
+			// matches.
+			if matched {
+				break
+			}
 		}
-
 		// An exclude filter is basically a 'wildcard but foo',
 		// so even if a childMayMatch, other children of a dir may not,
 		// therefore childMayMatch does not matter, but we should not go down
 		// unless the dir is selected for restore
-		selectedForRestore = !matched && !matchedInsensitive
+		selectedForRestore = !matched
 		childMayBeSelected = selectedForRestore && node.Type == "dir"
 
 		return selectedForRestore, childMayBeSelected
 	}
 
-	includePatterns := filter.ParsePatterns(opts.Include)
-	insensitiveIncludePatterns := filter.ParsePatterns(opts.InsensitiveInclude)
 	selectIncludeFilter := func(item string, _ string, node *restic.Node) (selectedForRestore bool, childMayBeSelected bool) {
-		matched, childMayMatch, err := filter.ListWithChild(includePatterns, item)
-		if err != nil {
-			msg.E("error for include pattern: %v", err)
-		}
+		selectedForRestore = false
+		childMayBeSelected = false
+		for _, includeFn := range includePatternFns {
+			matched, childMayMatch := includeFn(item)
+			selectedForRestore = selectedForRestore || matched
+			childMayBeSelected = childMayBeSelected || childMayMatch
 
-		matchedInsensitive, childMayMatchInsensitive, err := filter.ListWithChild(insensitiveIncludePatterns, strings.ToLower(item))
-		if err != nil {
-			msg.E("error for iexclude pattern: %v", err)
+			if selectedForRestore && childMayBeSelected {
+				break
+			}
 		}
-
-		selectedForRestore = matched || matchedInsensitive
-		childMayBeSelected = (childMayMatch || childMayMatchInsensitive) && node.Type == "dir"
+		childMayBeSelected = childMayBeSelected && node.Type == "dir"
 
 		return selectedForRestore, childMayBeSelected
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_restore_integration_test.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_restore_integration_test.go
index 8da6f522a..b0543850b 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_restore_integration_test.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_restore_integration_test.go
@@ -7,12 +7,12 @@ import (
 	"math/rand"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"syscall"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/feature"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/filter"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restic"
 	rtest "github.com/restic/restic/internal/test"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/ui/termstatus"
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ func testRunRestore(t testing.TB, opts GlobalOptions, dir string, snapshotID res
 
 func testRunRestoreExcludes(t testing.TB, gopts GlobalOptions, dir string, snapshotID restic.ID, excludes []string) {
 	opts := RestoreOptions{
-		Target:  dir,
-		Exclude: excludes,
+		Target: dir,
 	}
+	opts.Excludes = excludes
 
 	rtest.OK(t, testRunRestoreAssumeFailure(snapshotID.String(), opts, gopts))
 }
@@ -51,22 +51,132 @@ func testRunRestoreLatest(t testing.TB, gopts GlobalOptions, dir string, paths [
 
 func testRunRestoreIncludes(t testing.TB, gopts GlobalOptions, dir string, snapshotID restic.ID, includes []string) {
 	opts := RestoreOptions{
-		Target:  dir,
-		Include: includes,
+		Target: dir,
 	}
+	opts.Includes = includes
 
 	rtest.OK(t, testRunRestoreAssumeFailure(snapshotID.String(), opts, gopts))
 }
 
+func testRunRestoreIncludesFromFile(t testing.TB, gopts GlobalOptions, dir string, snapshotID restic.ID, includesFile string) {
+	opts := RestoreOptions{
+		Target: dir,
+	}
+	opts.IncludeFiles = []string{includesFile}
+
+	rtest.OK(t, testRunRestoreAssumeFailure(snapshotID.String(), opts, gopts))
+}
+
+func testRunRestoreExcludesFromFile(t testing.TB, gopts GlobalOptions, dir string, snapshotID restic.ID, excludesFile string) {
+	opts := RestoreOptions{
+		Target: dir,
+	}
+	opts.ExcludeFiles = []string{excludesFile}
+
+	rtest.OK(t, testRunRestoreAssumeFailure(snapshotID.String(), opts, gopts))
+}
+
+func TestRestoreMustFailWhenUsingBothIncludesAndExcludes(t *testing.T) {
+	env, cleanup := withTestEnvironment(t)
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	testRunInit(t, env.gopts)
+
+	// Add both include and exclude patterns
+	includePatterns := []string{"dir1/*include_me.txt", "dir2/**", "dir4/**/*_me.txt"}
+	excludePatterns := []string{"dir1/*include_me.txt", "dir2/**", "dir4/**/*_me.txt"}
+
+	restoredir := filepath.Join(env.base, "restore")
+
+	restoreOpts := RestoreOptions{
+		Target: restoredir,
+	}
+	restoreOpts.Includes = includePatterns
+	restoreOpts.Excludes = excludePatterns
+
+	err := testRunRestoreAssumeFailure("latest", restoreOpts, env.gopts)
+	rtest.Assert(t, err != nil && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "exclude and include patterns are mutually exclusive"),
+		"expected: %s error, got %v", "exclude and include patterns are mutually exclusive", err)
+}
+
+func TestRestoreIncludes(t *testing.T) {
+	testfiles := []struct {
+		path    string
+		size    uint
+		include bool // Whether this file should be included in the restore
+	}{
+		{"dir1/include_me.txt", 100, true},
+		{"dir1/something_else.txt", 200, false},
+		{"dir2/also_include_me.txt", 150, true},
+		{"dir2/important_file.txt", 150, true},
+		{"dir3/not_included.txt", 180, false},
+		{"dir4/subdir/should_include_me.txt", 120, true},
+	}
+
+	env, cleanup := withTestEnvironment(t)
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	testRunInit(t, env.gopts)
+
+	// Create test files and directories
+	for _, testFile := range testfiles {
+		fullPath := filepath.Join(env.testdata, testFile.path)
+		rtest.OK(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(fullPath), 0755))
+		rtest.OK(t, appendRandomData(fullPath, testFile.size))
+	}
+
+	opts := BackupOptions{}
+
+	// Perform backup
+	testRunBackup(t, filepath.Dir(env.testdata), []string{filepath.Base(env.testdata)}, opts, env.gopts)
+	testRunCheck(t, env.gopts)
+
+	snapshotID := testListSnapshots(t, env.gopts, 1)[0]
+
+	// Restore using includes
+	includePatterns := []string{"dir1/*include_me.txt", "dir2/**", "dir4/**/*_me.txt"}
+	restoredir := filepath.Join(env.base, "restore")
+	testRunRestoreIncludes(t, env.gopts, restoredir, snapshotID, includePatterns)
+
+	testRestoreFileInclusions := func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Check that only the included files are restored
+		for _, testFile := range testfiles {
+			restoredFilePath := filepath.Join(restoredir, "testdata", testFile.path)
+			_, err := os.Stat(restoredFilePath)
+			if testFile.include {
+				rtest.OK(t, err)
+			} else {
+				rtest.Assert(t, os.IsNotExist(err), "File %s should not have been restored", testFile.path)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	testRestoreFileInclusions(t)
+
+	// Create an include file with some patterns
+	patternsFile := env.base + "/patternsFile"
+	fileErr := os.WriteFile(patternsFile, []byte(strings.Join(includePatterns, "\n")), 0644)
+	if fileErr != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Could not write include file: %v", fileErr)
+	}
+
+	restoredir = filepath.Join(env.base, "restore-include-from-file")
+
+	testRunRestoreIncludesFromFile(t, env.gopts, restoredir, snapshotID, patternsFile)
+
+	testRestoreFileInclusions(t)
+}
+
 func TestRestoreFilter(t *testing.T) {
 	testfiles := []struct {
-		name string
-		size uint
+		name    string
+		size    uint
+		exclude bool
 	}{
-		{"testfile1.c", 100},
-		{"testfile2.exe", 101},
-		{"subdir1/subdir2/testfile3.docx", 102},
-		{"subdir1/subdir2/testfile4.c", 102},
+		{"testfile1.c", 100, true},
+		{"testfile2.exe", 101, true},
+		{"subdir1/subdir2/testfile3.docx", 102, true},
+		{"subdir1/subdir2/testfile4.c", 102, false},
 	}
 
 	env, cleanup := withTestEnvironment(t)
@@ -93,19 +203,38 @@ func TestRestoreFilter(t *testing.T) {
 		rtest.OK(t, testFileSize(filepath.Join(env.base, "restore0", "testdata", testFile.name), int64(testFile.size)))
 	}
 
-	for i, pat := range []string{"*.c", "*.exe", "*", "*file3*"} {
-		base := filepath.Join(env.base, fmt.Sprintf("restore%d", i+1))
-		testRunRestoreExcludes(t, env.gopts, base, snapshotID, []string{pat})
+	excludePatterns := []string{"testfile1.c", "*.exe", "*file3*"}
+
+	// checks if the files are excluded correctly
+	testRestoredFileExclusions := func(t *testing.T, restoredir string) {
 		for _, testFile := range testfiles {
-			err := testFileSize(filepath.Join(base, "testdata", testFile.name), int64(testFile.size))
-			if ok, _ := filter.Match(pat, filepath.Base(testFile.name)); !ok {
-				rtest.OK(t, err)
+			restoredFilePath := filepath.Join(restoredir, "testdata", testFile.name)
+			_, err := os.Stat(restoredFilePath)
+			if testFile.exclude {
+				rtest.Assert(t, os.IsNotExist(err), "File %s should not have been restored", testFile.name)
 			} else {
-				rtest.Assert(t, os.IsNotExist(err),
-					"expected %v to not exist in restore step %v, but it exists, err %v", testFile.name, i+1, err)
+				rtest.OK(t, testFileSize(restoredFilePath, int64(testFile.size)))
 			}
 		}
 	}
+
+	// restore with excludes
+	restoredir := filepath.Join(env.base, "restore-with-excludes")
+	testRunRestoreExcludes(t, env.gopts, restoredir, snapshotID, excludePatterns)
+	testRestoredFileExclusions(t, restoredir)
+
+	// Create an exclude file with some patterns
+	patternsFile := env.base + "/patternsFile"
+	fileErr := os.WriteFile(patternsFile, []byte(strings.Join(excludePatterns, "\n")), 0644)
+	if fileErr != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Could not write include file: %v", fileErr)
+	}
+
+	// restore with excludes from file
+	restoredir = filepath.Join(env.base, "restore-with-exclude-from-file")
+	testRunRestoreExcludesFromFile(t, env.gopts, restoredir, snapshotID, patternsFile)
+
+	testRestoredFileExclusions(t, restoredir)
 }
 
 func TestRestore(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/cmd/restic/exclude.go b/cmd/restic/exclude.go
index d9bb63aeb..4657e4915 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/exclude.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/exclude.go
@@ -385,12 +385,12 @@ func rejectBySize(maxSizeStr string) (RejectFunc, error) {
 	}, nil
 }
 
-// readExcludePatternsFromFiles reads all exclude files and returns the list of
-// exclude patterns. For each line, leading and trailing white space is removed
+// readPatternsFromFiles reads all files and returns the list of
+// patterns. For each line, leading and trailing white space is removed
 // and comment lines are ignored. For each remaining pattern, environment
 // variables are resolved. For adding a literal dollar sign ($), write $$ to
 // the file.
-func readExcludePatternsFromFiles(excludeFiles []string) ([]string, error) {
+func readPatternsFromFiles(files []string) ([]string, error) {
 	getenvOrDollar := func(s string) string {
 		if s == "$" {
 			return "$"
@@ -398,8 +398,8 @@ func readExcludePatternsFromFiles(excludeFiles []string) ([]string, error) {
 		return os.Getenv(s)
 	}
 
-	var excludes []string
-	for _, filename := range excludeFiles {
+	var patterns []string
+	for _, filename := range files {
 		err := func() (err error) {
 			data, err := textfile.Read(filename)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -421,15 +421,15 @@ func readExcludePatternsFromFiles(excludeFiles []string) ([]string, error) {
 				}
 
 				line = os.Expand(line, getenvOrDollar)
-				excludes = append(excludes, line)
+				patterns = append(patterns, line)
 			}
 			return scanner.Err()
 		}()
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to read excludes from file %q: %w", filename, err)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to read patterns from file %q: %w", filename, err)
 		}
 	}
-	return excludes, nil
+	return patterns, nil
 }
 
 type excludePatternOptions struct {
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ func (opts excludePatternOptions) CollectPatterns() ([]RejectByNameFunc, error)
 	var fs []RejectByNameFunc
 	// add patterns from file
 	if len(opts.ExcludeFiles) > 0 {
-		excludePatterns, err := readExcludePatternsFromFiles(opts.ExcludeFiles)
+		excludePatterns, err := readPatternsFromFiles(opts.ExcludeFiles)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ func (opts excludePatternOptions) CollectPatterns() ([]RejectByNameFunc, error)
 	}
 
 	if len(opts.InsensitiveExcludeFiles) > 0 {
-		excludes, err := readExcludePatternsFromFiles(opts.InsensitiveExcludeFiles)
+		excludes, err := readPatternsFromFiles(opts.InsensitiveExcludeFiles)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/restic/include.go b/cmd/restic/include.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dcc4c7f37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/restic/include.go
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/filter"
+	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
+)
+
+// IncludeByNameFunc is a function that takes a filename that should be included
+// in the restore process and returns whether it should be included.
+type IncludeByNameFunc func(item string) (matched bool, childMayMatch bool)
+
+type includePatternOptions struct {
+	Includes                []string
+	InsensitiveIncludes     []string
+	IncludeFiles            []string
+	InsensitiveIncludeFiles []string
+}
+
+func initIncludePatternOptions(f *pflag.FlagSet, opts *includePatternOptions) {
+	f.StringArrayVarP(&opts.Includes, "include", "i", nil, "include a `pattern` (can be specified multiple times)")
+	f.StringArrayVar(&opts.InsensitiveIncludes, "iinclude", nil, "same as --include `pattern` but ignores the casing of filenames")
+	f.StringArrayVar(&opts.IncludeFiles, "include-file", nil, "read include patterns from a `file` (can be specified multiple times)")
+	f.StringArrayVar(&opts.InsensitiveIncludeFiles, "iinclude-file", nil, "same as --include-file but ignores casing of `file`names in patterns")
+}
+
+func (opts includePatternOptions) CollectPatterns() ([]IncludeByNameFunc, error) {
+	var fs []IncludeByNameFunc
+	if len(opts.IncludeFiles) > 0 {
+		includePatterns, err := readPatternsFromFiles(opts.IncludeFiles)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+
+		if err := filter.ValidatePatterns(includePatterns); err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.Fatalf("--include-file: %s", err)
+		}
+
+		opts.Includes = append(opts.Includes, includePatterns...)
+	}
+
+	if len(opts.InsensitiveIncludeFiles) > 0 {
+		includePatterns, err := readPatternsFromFiles(opts.InsensitiveIncludeFiles)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+
+		if err := filter.ValidatePatterns(includePatterns); err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.Fatalf("--iinclude-file: %s", err)
+		}
+
+		opts.InsensitiveIncludes = append(opts.InsensitiveIncludes, includePatterns...)
+	}
+
+	if len(opts.InsensitiveIncludes) > 0 {
+		if err := filter.ValidatePatterns(opts.InsensitiveIncludes); err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.Fatalf("--iinclude: %s", err)
+		}
+
+		fs = append(fs, includeByInsensitivePattern(opts.InsensitiveIncludes))
+	}
+
+	if len(opts.Includes) > 0 {
+		if err := filter.ValidatePatterns(opts.Includes); err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.Fatalf("--include: %s", err)
+		}
+
+		fs = append(fs, includeByPattern(opts.Includes))
+	}
+	return fs, nil
+}
+
+// includeByPattern returns a IncludeByNameFunc which includes files that match
+// one of the patterns.
+func includeByPattern(patterns []string) IncludeByNameFunc {
+	parsedPatterns := filter.ParsePatterns(patterns)
+	return func(item string) (matched bool, childMayMatch bool) {
+		matched, childMayMatch, err := filter.ListWithChild(parsedPatterns, item)
+		if err != nil {
+			Warnf("error for include pattern: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		return matched, childMayMatch
+	}
+}
+
+// includeByInsensitivePattern returns a IncludeByNameFunc which includes files that match
+// one of the patterns, ignoring the casing of the filenames.
+func includeByInsensitivePattern(patterns []string) IncludeByNameFunc {
+	for index, path := range patterns {
+		patterns[index] = strings.ToLower(path)
+	}
+
+	includeFunc := includeByPattern(patterns)
+	return func(item string) (matched bool, childMayMatch bool) {
+		return includeFunc(strings.ToLower(item))
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/restic/include_test.go b/cmd/restic/include_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..751bfbb76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/restic/include_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestIncludeByPattern(t *testing.T) {
+	var tests = []struct {
+		filename string
+		include  bool
+	}{
+		{filename: "/home/user/foo.go", include: true},
+		{filename: "/home/user/foo.c", include: false},
+		{filename: "/home/user/foobar", include: false},
+		{filename: "/home/user/foobar/x", include: false},
+		{filename: "/home/user/README", include: false},
+		{filename: "/home/user/README.md", include: true},
+	}
+
+	patterns := []string{"*.go", "README.md"}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.filename, func(t *testing.T) {
+			includeFunc := includeByPattern(patterns)
+			matched, _ := includeFunc(tc.filename)
+			if matched != tc.include {
+				t.Fatalf("wrong result for filename %v: want %v, got %v",
+					tc.filename, tc.include, matched)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestIncludeByInsensitivePattern(t *testing.T) {
+	var tests = []struct {
+		filename string
+		include  bool
+	}{
+		{filename: "/home/user/foo.GO", include: true},
+		{filename: "/home/user/foo.c", include: false},
+		{filename: "/home/user/foobar", include: false},
+		{filename: "/home/user/FOObar/x", include: false},
+		{filename: "/home/user/README", include: false},
+		{filename: "/home/user/readme.MD", include: true},
+	}
+
+	patterns := []string{"*.go", "README.md"}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.filename, func(t *testing.T) {
+			includeFunc := includeByInsensitivePattern(patterns)
+			matched, _ := includeFunc(tc.filename)
+			if matched != tc.include {
+				t.Fatalf("wrong result for filename %v: want %v, got %v",
+					tc.filename, tc.include, matched)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/restic/integration_filter_pattern_test.go b/cmd/restic/integration_filter_pattern_test.go
index 2eacdeea9..dccbcc0a0 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/integration_filter_pattern_test.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/integration_filter_pattern_test.go
@@ -70,30 +70,64 @@ func TestRestoreFailsWhenUsingInvalidPatterns(t *testing.T) {
 	var err error
 
 	// Test --exclude
-	err = testRunRestoreAssumeFailure("latest", RestoreOptions{Exclude: []string{"*[._]log[.-][0-9]", "!*[._]log[.-][0-9]"}}, env.gopts)
+	err = testRunRestoreAssumeFailure("latest", RestoreOptions{excludePatternOptions: excludePatternOptions{Excludes: []string{"*[._]log[.-][0-9]", "!*[._]log[.-][0-9]"}}}, env.gopts)
 
 	rtest.Equals(t, `Fatal: --exclude: invalid pattern(s) provided:
 *[._]log[.-][0-9]
 !*[._]log[.-][0-9]`, err.Error())
 
 	// Test --iexclude
-	err = testRunRestoreAssumeFailure("latest", RestoreOptions{InsensitiveExclude: []string{"*[._]log[.-][0-9]", "!*[._]log[.-][0-9]"}}, env.gopts)
+	err = testRunRestoreAssumeFailure("latest", RestoreOptions{excludePatternOptions: excludePatternOptions{InsensitiveExcludes: []string{"*[._]log[.-][0-9]", "!*[._]log[.-][0-9]"}}}, env.gopts)
 
 	rtest.Equals(t, `Fatal: --iexclude: invalid pattern(s) provided:
 *[._]log[.-][0-9]
 !*[._]log[.-][0-9]`, err.Error())
 
 	// Test --include
-	err = testRunRestoreAssumeFailure("latest", RestoreOptions{Include: []string{"*[._]log[.-][0-9]", "!*[._]log[.-][0-9]"}}, env.gopts)
+	err = testRunRestoreAssumeFailure("latest", RestoreOptions{includePatternOptions: includePatternOptions{Includes: []string{"*[._]log[.-][0-9]", "!*[._]log[.-][0-9]"}}}, env.gopts)
 
 	rtest.Equals(t, `Fatal: --include: invalid pattern(s) provided:
 *[._]log[.-][0-9]
 !*[._]log[.-][0-9]`, err.Error())
 
 	// Test --iinclude
-	err = testRunRestoreAssumeFailure("latest", RestoreOptions{InsensitiveInclude: []string{"*[._]log[.-][0-9]", "!*[._]log[.-][0-9]"}}, env.gopts)
+	err = testRunRestoreAssumeFailure("latest", RestoreOptions{includePatternOptions: includePatternOptions{InsensitiveIncludes: []string{"*[._]log[.-][0-9]", "!*[._]log[.-][0-9]"}}}, env.gopts)
 
 	rtest.Equals(t, `Fatal: --iinclude: invalid pattern(s) provided:
 *[._]log[.-][0-9]
 !*[._]log[.-][0-9]`, err.Error())
 }
+
+func TestRestoreFailsWhenUsingInvalidPatternsFromFile(t *testing.T) {
+	env, cleanup := withTestEnvironment(t)
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	testRunInit(t, env.gopts)
+
+	// Create an include file with some invalid patterns
+	patternsFile := env.base + "/patternsFile"
+	fileErr := os.WriteFile(patternsFile, []byte("*.go\n*[._]log[.-][0-9]\n!*[._]log[.-][0-9]"), 0644)
+	if fileErr != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Could not write include file: %v", fileErr)
+	}
+
+	err := testRunRestoreAssumeFailure("latest", RestoreOptions{includePatternOptions: includePatternOptions{IncludeFiles: []string{patternsFile}}}, env.gopts)
+	rtest.Equals(t, `Fatal: --include-file: invalid pattern(s) provided:
+*[._]log[.-][0-9]
+!*[._]log[.-][0-9]`, err.Error())
+
+	err = testRunRestoreAssumeFailure("latest", RestoreOptions{excludePatternOptions: excludePatternOptions{ExcludeFiles: []string{patternsFile}}}, env.gopts)
+	rtest.Equals(t, `Fatal: --exclude-file: invalid pattern(s) provided:
+*[._]log[.-][0-9]
+!*[._]log[.-][0-9]`, err.Error())
+
+	err = testRunRestoreAssumeFailure("latest", RestoreOptions{includePatternOptions: includePatternOptions{InsensitiveIncludeFiles: []string{patternsFile}}}, env.gopts)
+	rtest.Equals(t, `Fatal: --iinclude-file: invalid pattern(s) provided:
+*[._]log[.-][0-9]
+!*[._]log[.-][0-9]`, err.Error())
+
+	err = testRunRestoreAssumeFailure("latest", RestoreOptions{excludePatternOptions: excludePatternOptions{InsensitiveExcludeFiles: []string{patternsFile}}}, env.gopts)
+	rtest.Equals(t, `Fatal: --iexclude-file: invalid pattern(s) provided:
+*[._]log[.-][0-9]
+!*[._]log[.-][0-9]`, err.Error())
+}
diff --git a/doc/050_restore.rst b/doc/050_restore.rst
index ce17a1cf7..5fc94c145 100644
--- a/doc/050_restore.rst
+++ b/doc/050_restore.rst
@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@ There are case insensitive variants of ``--exclude`` and ``--include`` called
 ``--iexclude`` and ``--iinclude``. These options will behave the same way but
 ignore the casing of paths.
 
+There are also ``--include-file``, ``--exclude-file``, ``--iinclude-file`` and
+ ``--iexclude-file`` flags that read the include and exclude patterns from a file.
+
 Restoring symbolic links on windows is only possible when the user has
 ``SeCreateSymbolicLinkPrivilege`` privilege or is running as admin. This is a
 restriction of windows not restic.