diff --git a/changelog/62953.fixed b/changelog/62953.fixed
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..df38b5c4ab0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/62953.fixed
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix file.symlink backupname operation can copy remote contents to local disk
diff --git a/salt/modules/file.py b/salt/modules/file.py
index 5b4d2b6ec7b..518b5af5ae3 100644
--- a/salt/modules/file.py
+++ b/salt/modules/file.py
@@ -7416,16 +7416,29 @@ def join(*args):
     return os.path.join(*args)
 
 
-def move(src, dst):
+def move(src, dst, disallow_copy_and_unlink=False):
     """
     Move a file or directory
 
+    disallow_copy_and_unlink
+        If ``True``, the operation is offloaded to the ``file.rename`` execution
+        module function. This will use ``os.rename`` underneath, which will fail
+        in the event that ``src`` and ``dst`` are on different filesystems. If
+        ``False`` (the default), ``shutil.move`` will be used in order to fall
+        back on a "copy then unlink" approach, which is required for moving
+        across filesystems.
+
+        .. versionadded:: 3006.0
+
     CLI Example:
 
     .. code-block:: bash
 
         salt '*' file.move /path/to/src /path/to/dst
     """
+    if disallow_copy_and_unlink:
+        return rename(src, dst)
+
     src = os.path.expanduser(src)
     dst = os.path.expanduser(dst)
 
diff --git a/salt/states/file.py b/salt/states/file.py
index e3f53b984d1..b3a8cec3412 100644
--- a/salt/states/file.py
+++ b/salt/states/file.py
@@ -1536,6 +1536,7 @@ def symlink(
     win_deny_perms=None,
     win_inheritance=None,
     atomic=False,
+    disallow_copy_and_unlink=False,
     **kwargs
 ):
     """
@@ -1618,6 +1619,17 @@ def symlink(
     atomic
         Use atomic file operation to create the symlink.
 
+        .. versionadded:: 3006.0
+
+    disallow_copy_and_unlink
+        Only used if ``backupname`` is used and the name of the symlink exists
+        and is not a symlink. If set to ``True``, the operation is offloaded to
+        the ``file.rename`` execution module function. This will use
+        ``os.rename`` underneath, which will fail in the event that ``src`` and
+        ``dst`` are on different filesystems. If ``False`` (the default),
+        ``shutil.move`` will be used in order to fall back on a "copy then
+        unlink" approach, which is required for moving across filesystems.
+
         .. versionadded:: 3006.0
     """
     name = os.path.expanduser(name)
@@ -1820,7 +1832,9 @@ def symlink(
                 else:
                     __salt__["file.remove"](backupname)
             try:
-                __salt__["file.move"](name, backupname)
+                __salt__["file.move"](
+                    name, backupname, disallow_copy_and_unlink=disallow_copy_and_unlink
+                )
             except Exception as exc:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
                 ret["changes"] = {}
                 log.debug(
diff --git a/tests/pytests/unit/modules/file/test_file_module.py b/tests/pytests/unit/modules/file/test_file_module.py
index b9f6d3cbfe6..435b1e98ccd 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/unit/modules/file/test_file_module.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/unit/modules/file/test_file_module.py
@@ -589,3 +589,22 @@ def test_stats():
         ret = filemod.stats("dummy", None, True)
         assert ret["mode"] == "0644"
         assert ret["type"] == "file"
+
+
+def test_file_move_disallow_copy_and_unlink():
+    mock_shutil_move = MagicMock()
+    mock_os_rename = MagicMock()
+    with patch("os.path.expanduser", MagicMock(side_effect=lambda path: path)), patch(
+        "os.path.isabs", MagicMock(return_value=True)
+    ), patch("shutil.move", mock_shutil_move), patch("os.rename", mock_os_rename):
+        ret = filemod.move("source", "dest", disallow_copy_and_unlink=False)
+        mock_shutil_move.assert_called_once()
+        mock_os_rename.assert_not_called()
+        assert ret["result"] is True
+
+        mock_shutil_move.reset_mock()
+
+        ret = filemod.move("source", "dest", disallow_copy_and_unlink=True)
+        mock_os_rename.assert_called_once()
+        mock_shutil_move.assert_not_called()
+        assert ret is True