diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index 88df4fa176..e55dbac76c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+* Use dictionary as search_order on Reference field
 * Retry sending email on temporary failure
 * Order not sorted Selection by index definition
 * Add optional column on tree view
diff --git a/doc/ref/models/fields.rst b/doc/ref/models/fields.rst
index 5b84506877..34bba5e11c 100644
--- a/doc/ref/models/fields.rst
+++ b/doc/ref/models/fields.rst
@@ -648,7 +648,9 @@ But a ``tuple`` can be used to search or set value.
 
 .. attribute:: Reference.search_order
 
-    Same as :attr:`Many2One.search_order`
+   A dictionary that contains a :ref:`PYSON <ref-pyson>` expression defining
+   the default order used to display search results in the clients per model
+   name.
 
 .. attribute:: Reference.search_context
 
diff --git a/trytond/model/fields/reference.py b/trytond/model/fields/reference.py
index adea534d73..16c2700eba 100644
--- a/trytond/model/fields/reference.py
+++ b/trytond/model/fields/reference.py
@@ -85,7 +85,11 @@ class Reference(SelectionMixin, Field):
 
     @search_order.setter
     def search_order(self, value):
-        search_order_validate(value)
+        if value is None:
+            value = {}
+        assert isinstance(value, dict)
+        for order in value.values():
+            search_order_validate(order)
         self.__search_order = value
 
     @property