diff --git a/proposals/new/proxy-cache-registry-head-calls.md b/proposals/new/proxy-cache-registry-head-calls.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b8667803
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proposals/new/proxy-cache-registry-head-calls.md
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+# Proposal: Cache proxy-cache registry HEAD calls
+
+Author: Maxime Hubert / @mxm-tr
+
+Discussion: [Harbor Community Meeting - April 16th](https://hackmd.io/CyQk5FdVQwWObMLVNqxW1w?both#April-16-2025)
+
+[Original issue](https://github.com/goharbor/harbor/issues/21859)
+
+## Abstract
+
+Reduce the volume of HEAD requests by caching proxy cache ManifestExist calls.
+
+## Background
+
+When pulling many artifacts at the same time on a proxy-cache project, we can still trigger the rate limiting on the upstream registries and get 429 Too Many Requests errors.
+
+This is in part caused by HEAD requests being sent for each artifact pull.
+
+## Proposal
+
+The solution could consist of a cache for calls to [HeadManifest](https://github.com/goharbor/harbor/blob/main/src/controller/proxy/controller.go#L258)
+
+These cache entries can be valid for a fixed period of time, for a few seconds (10s)
+
+## Non-Goals
+
+N/A
+
+## Rationale
+
+The cache lifetime could be configurable via a parameter, but the current implementation has already some [hardcoded values](https://github.com/goharbor/harbor/blob/f8f1994c9ee97e41067870c4ed46b15eb21da3b6/src/controller/proxy/controller.go#L43), setting a fixed low value should be enough to not trigger rate-limiting on servers.
+
+## Compatibility
+
+N/A
+
+## Implementation
+
+1. Use a new cache key in the [proxy controller cache](https://github.com/goharbor/harbor/blob/bfc29904f96e17248a4e6204d12058c1d7d05ab8/src/controller/proxy/controller.go#L78), such as:
+
+```
+cache:manifestexists:<repo>:<ref>
+```
+
+2. Define its lifetime to a value that would prevent rate limiting from being triggered (10s?) in the [proxy-controller](https://github.com/goharbor/harbor/blob/bfc29904f96e17248a4e6204d12058c1d7d05ab8/src/controller/proxy/controller.go#L41-L48)
+
+```golang
+manifestExistsCacheInterval = 10 * time.Second
+```
+
+3. Before running [remote.ManifestExist](https://github.com/goharbor/harbor/blob/main/src/controller/proxy/controller.go#L258), run a cache fetch on the proxy controller cache.
+
+If the cache is invalid or the key is not found, run remote.ManifestExist, and save a boolean in the proxy controller cache.
+
+## Open issues (if applicable)
+
+https://github.com/goharbor/harbor/issues/21859