diff --git a/modules/bim/app/representers/bim/bcf/api/v2_1/topics/single_representer.rb b/modules/bim/app/representers/bim/bcf/api/v2_1/topics/single_representer.rb
index d6384f46072..21b27af59af 100644
--- a/modules/bim/app/representers/bim/bcf/api/v2_1/topics/single_representer.rb
+++ b/modules/bim/app/representers/bim/bcf/api/v2_1/topics/single_representer.rb
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ module Bim::Bcf::API::V2_1
 
     property :reference_links,
              getter: ->(decorator:, **) {
-               [decorator.api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package.id)]
+               [decorator.api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package.display_id)]
              }
 
     property :title,
diff --git a/modules/bim/app/services/bim/bcf/issues/create_service.rb b/modules/bim/app/services/bim/bcf/issues/create_service.rb
index c1aede3af9b..a3a579e7904 100644
--- a/modules/bim/app/services/bim/bcf/issues/create_service.rb
+++ b/modules/bim/app/services/bim/bcf/issues/create_service.rb
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ module Bim::Bcf
       end
 
       def use_work_package(links:, params:)
-        work_package = WorkPackage.visible(user).find_by(id: work_package_id_from_links(links))
+        work_package = WorkPackage.visible(user).find_by_display_id(work_package_identifier_from_links(links))
         return work_package_not_found_result if work_package.nil?
 
         ::WorkPackages::UpdateService
@@ -71,10 +71,10 @@ module Bim::Bcf
           .call(**params)
       end
 
-      def work_package_id_from_links(links)
+      def work_package_identifier_from_links(links)
         links
           .take(1)
-          .map { |link| link.split("/").last.to_i }
+          .map { |link| link.split("/").last }
           .first
       end
 
diff --git a/modules/bim/lib/open_project/bim/engine.rb b/modules/bim/lib/open_project/bim/engine.rb
index d33ae69a3f5..ee4c5c969c7 100644
--- a/modules/bim/lib/open_project/bim/engine.rb
+++ b/modules/bim/lib/open_project/bim/engine.rb
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ module OpenProject::Bim
         {
           href: bcf_v2_1_paths.topics(represented.project.identifier),
           title: "Convert to BCF",
-          payload: { reference_links: [api_v3_paths.work_package(represented.id)] },
+          payload: { reference_links: [api_v3_paths.work_package(represented.display_id)] },
           method: :post
         }
       end
diff --git a/modules/bim/spec/api/v3/work_packages/work_package_representer_spec.rb b/modules/bim/spec/api/v3/work_packages/work_package_representer_spec.rb
index adf8651b250..9a6910efc1c 100644
--- a/modules/bim/spec/api/v3/work_packages/work_package_representer_spec.rb
+++ b/modules/bim/spec/api/v3/work_packages/work_package_representer_spec.rb
@@ -150,6 +150,19 @@ RSpec.describe API::V3::WorkPackages::WorkPackageRepresenter do
             .to be_json_eql({ reference_links: ["/api/v3/work_packages/#{work_package.id}"] }.to_json)
             .at_path("_links/convertBCF/payload")
         end
+
+        context "with semantic work package identifiers",
+                with_settings: { work_packages_identifier: "semantic" } do
+          let(:work_package) do
+            build_stubbed(:work_package, bcf_issue: bcf_topic, identifier: "PROJ-7", sequence_number: 7)
+          end
+
+          it "uses the semantic identifier in the payload" do
+            expect(subject)
+              .to be_json_eql({ reference_links: ["/api/v3/work_packages/PROJ-7"] }.to_json)
+              .at_path("_links/convertBCF/payload")
+          end
+        end
       end
 
       context "if a bcf issue is assigned" do
diff --git a/modules/bim/spec/bcf/bcf_xml/issue_writer_spec.rb b/modules/bim/spec/bcf/bcf_xml/issue_writer_spec.rb
index eed560183e8..c90f4b8dc8b 100644
--- a/modules/bim/spec/bcf/bcf_xml/issue_writer_spec.rb
+++ b/modules/bim/spec/bcf/bcf_xml/issue_writer_spec.rb
@@ -190,6 +190,19 @@ RSpec.describe OpenProject::Bim::BcfXml::IssueWriter do
     end
   end
 
+  context "with semantic work package identifiers",
+          with_settings: { work_packages_identifier: "semantic" } do
+    let(:project) { create(:project, identifier: "BIMPROJ") }
+
+    it "writes the semantic identifier into the ReferenceLink" do
+      work_package.reload
+
+      expect(work_package.display_id).to start_with "BIMPROJ-"
+      expect(subject.at("Topic/ReferenceLink").content)
+        .to end_with "/work_packages/#{work_package.display_id}"
+    end
+  end
+
   context "when bcf_issue snapshot is false" do
     let(:vp_snapshot) { false }
 
diff --git a/modules/bim/spec/representers/bcf/api/v2_1/topics/single_representer_rendering_spec.rb b/modules/bim/spec/representers/bcf/api/v2_1/topics/single_representer_rendering_spec.rb
index e8c5e4e86b1..a56f41b43ab 100644
--- a/modules/bim/spec/representers/bcf/api/v2_1/topics/single_representer_rendering_spec.rb
+++ b/modules/bim/spec/representers/bcf/api/v2_1/topics/single_representer_rendering_spec.rb
@@ -124,6 +124,29 @@ RSpec.describe Bim::Bcf::API::V2_1::Topics::SingleRepresenter, "rendering" do
         let(:value) { [api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package.id)] }
         let(:path) { "reference_links" }
       end
+
+      context "with semantic work package identifiers",
+              with_settings: { work_packages_identifier: "semantic" } do
+        let(:work_package) do
+          build_stubbed(:work_package,
+                        identifier: "PROJ-42",
+                        sequence_number: 42,
+                        assigned_to: assignee,
+                        due_date: Time.zone.today,
+                        status:,
+                        priority:,
+                        type:).tap do |wp|
+            allow(wp)
+              .to receive(:journals)
+              .and_return(journals)
+          end
+        end
+
+        it_behaves_like "attribute" do
+          let(:value) { [api_v3_paths.work_package("PROJ-42")] }
+          let(:path) { "reference_links" }
+        end
+      end
     end
 
     context "title" do
diff --git a/modules/bim/spec/requests/api/bcf/v2_1/topics_api_spec.rb b/modules/bim/spec/requests/api/bcf/v2_1/topics_api_spec.rb
index 8a1c1b16d69..20b9d240167 100644
--- a/modules/bim/spec/requests/api/bcf/v2_1/topics_api_spec.rb
+++ b/modules/bim/spec/requests/api/bcf/v2_1/topics_api_spec.rb
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ RSpec.describe "BCF 2.1 topics resource", content_type: :json do
             modified_author: current_user.mail,
             modified_date: work_package.updated_at.iso8601(3),
             reference_links: [
-              api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package.id)
+              api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package.display_id)
             ],
             stage: bcf_issue.stage,
             title: work_package.subject,
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ RSpec.describe "BCF 2.1 topics resource", content_type: :json do
               modified_author: current_user.mail,
               modified_date: work_package.updated_at.iso8601(3),
               reference_links: [
-                api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package.id)
+                api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package.display_id)
               ],
               stage: bcf_issue.stage,
               title: work_package.subject,
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ RSpec.describe "BCF 2.1 topics resource", content_type: :json do
           modified_author: current_user.mail,
           modified_date: work_package.updated_at.iso8601(3),
           reference_links: [
-            api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package.id)
+            api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package.display_id)
           ],
           stage: bcf_issue.stage,
           title: work_package.subject,
@@ -234,6 +234,19 @@ RSpec.describe "BCF 2.1 topics resource", content_type: :json do
       end
     end
 
+    context "with semantic work package identifiers",
+            with_settings: { work_packages_identifier: "semantic" } do
+      it "renders the semantic identifier in the reference_links" do
+        work_package.reload
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status :ok
+        expect(work_package.display_id).to match(/\A#{project.identifier}-\d+\z/)
+        expect(response.body)
+          .to be_json_eql([api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package.display_id)].to_json)
+          .at_path("reference_links")
+      end
+    end
+
     context "lacking permission to see project" do
       let(:current_user) { non_member_user }
 
@@ -272,7 +285,7 @@ RSpec.describe "BCF 2.1 topics resource", content_type: :json do
             modified_author: current_user.mail,
             modified_date: work_package.updated_at.iso8601(3),
             reference_links: [
-              api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package.id)
+              api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package.display_id)
             ],
             stage: bcf_issue.stage,
             title: work_package.subject,
@@ -558,7 +571,7 @@ RSpec.describe "BCF 2.1 topics resource", content_type: :json do
           labels:,
           index:,
           reference_links: [
-            api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package&.id)
+            api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package&.display_id)
           ],
           assigned_to: view_only_user.mail,
           due_date: Date.today.iso8601,
@@ -597,7 +610,7 @@ RSpec.describe "BCF 2.1 topics resource", content_type: :json do
         labels: [],
         index: nil,
         reference_links: [
-          api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package&.id)
+          api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package&.display_id)
         ],
         assigned_to: assigned_to || base&.assigned_to&.mail,
         due_date: due_date || base&.due_date,
@@ -661,6 +674,68 @@ RSpec.describe "BCF 2.1 topics resource", content_type: :json do
         end
       end
 
+      context "with semantic work package identifiers",
+              with_settings: { work_packages_identifier: "semantic" } do
+        let(:params) do
+          {
+            title: "BCF topic #{existing_work_package.display_id}",
+            reference_links: [
+              api_v3_paths.work_package(existing_work_package.display_id)
+            ]
+          }
+        end
+
+        it_behaves_like "bcf api successful response" do
+          let(:expected_status) { 201 }
+          let(:expected_body) do
+            expected_body_for_bcf_issue(
+              Bim::Bcf::Issue.last.reload,
+              title: params[:title],
+              creation_author_mail: existing_work_package.author.mail,
+              modified_author_mail: edit_member_user.mail,
+              base: existing_work_package
+            )
+          end
+        end
+
+        context "with a link using the numeric id" do
+          let(:params) do
+            {
+              title: "BCF topic ##{existing_work_package.id}",
+              reference_links: [
+                api_v3_paths.work_package(existing_work_package.id)
+              ]
+            }
+          end
+
+          it_behaves_like "bcf api successful response" do
+            let(:expected_status) { 201 }
+            let(:expected_body) do
+              expected_body_for_bcf_issue(
+                Bim::Bcf::Issue.last.reload,
+                title: params[:title],
+                creation_author_mail: existing_work_package.author.mail,
+                modified_author_mail: edit_member_user.mail,
+                base: existing_work_package
+              )
+            end
+          end
+        end
+
+        context "with a link to a non-existing semantic identifier" do
+          let(:params) do
+            {
+              title: "A new BCF topic",
+              reference_links: [
+                api_v3_paths.work_package("#{project.identifier}-99999")
+              ]
+            }
+          end
+
+          it_behaves_like "bcf api not found response"
+        end
+      end
+
       context "with a non-existing work package" do
         let(:params) do
           {
@@ -807,7 +882,7 @@ RSpec.describe "BCF 2.1 topics resource", content_type: :json do
           labels: [],
           index:,
           reference_links: [
-            api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package&.id)
+            api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package&.display_id)
           ],
           assigned_to: view_only_user.mail,
           due_date: Date.today.iso8601,
@@ -846,7 +921,7 @@ RSpec.describe "BCF 2.1 topics resource", content_type: :json do
             labels: [],
             index: nil,
             reference_links: [
-              api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package&.id)
+              api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package&.display_id)
             ],
             assigned_to: nil,
             due_date: nil,
diff --git a/modules/bim/spec/services/bcf/issues/create_service_spec.rb b/modules/bim/spec/services/bcf/issues/create_service_spec.rb
index 0bfffef3b5f..a47fc5b6b26 100644
--- a/modules/bim/spec/services/bcf/issues/create_service_spec.rb
+++ b/modules/bim/spec/services/bcf/issues/create_service_spec.rb
@@ -50,4 +50,63 @@ RSpec.describe Bim::Bcf::Issues::CreateService, type: :model do
       end
     end
   end
+
+  describe "resolving work packages from reference_links" do
+    include API::V3::Utilities::PathHelper
+
+    let(:project) { create(:project, enabled_module_names: %i[bim work_package_tracking]) }
+    let(:user) do
+      create(:user,
+             member_with_permissions: { project => %i[manage_bcf
+                                                      view_linked_issues
+                                                      view_work_packages
+                                                      edit_work_packages] })
+    end
+    let(:work_package) { create(:work_package, project:) }
+    let(:instance) { described_class.new(user:) }
+
+    subject(:service_call) { instance.call(reference_links:) }
+
+    context "with a link containing the numeric id" do
+      let(:reference_links) { [api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package.id)] }
+
+      it "links the topic to the referenced work package" do
+        expect(service_call).to be_success
+        expect(service_call.result.work_package).to eq work_package
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "with semantic work package identifiers",
+            with_settings: { work_packages_identifier: "semantic" } do
+      let(:project) { create(:project, identifier: "SEMID", enabled_module_names: %i[bim work_package_tracking]) }
+
+      context "with a link containing the semantic identifier" do
+        let(:reference_links) { [api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package.display_id)] }
+
+        it "links the topic to the referenced work package" do
+          expect(work_package.display_id).to start_with "SEMID-"
+          expect(service_call).to be_success
+          expect(service_call.result.work_package).to eq work_package
+        end
+      end
+
+      context "with a link containing the numeric id" do
+        let(:reference_links) { [api_v3_paths.work_package(work_package.id)] }
+
+        it "links the topic to the referenced work package" do
+          expect(service_call).to be_success
+          expect(service_call.result.work_package).to eq work_package
+        end
+      end
+
+      context "with a link to an unknown semantic identifier" do
+        let(:reference_links) { [api_v3_paths.work_package("SEMID-9999")] }
+
+        it "fails with a not found error" do
+          expect(service_call).to be_failure
+          expect(service_call.errors.symbols_for(:base)).to include :error_not_found
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
 end