diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/README.md b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/README.md
index d1b62a5c8a37f..01ae95842babb 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/README.md
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/README.md
@@ -856,6 +856,19 @@ new Cluster(this, 'MyCluster', {
 });
 ```
 
+#### Manifests Validation
+
+The `kubectl` CLI supports applying a manifest by skipping the validation.
+This can be accomplished by setting the `skipValidation` flag to `true` in the `KubernetesManifest` props.
+
+```ts
+new eks.KubernetesManifest(this, 'HelloAppWithoutValidation', {
+  cluster: this.cluster,
+  manifest: [ deployment, service ],
+  skipValidation: true,
+});
+```
+
 ### Helm Charts
 
 The `HelmChart` construct or `cluster.addHelmChart` method can be used
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/k8s-manifest.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/k8s-manifest.ts
index 5b5e31e0a6fff..205c28a9ee647 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/k8s-manifest.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/k8s-manifest.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,13 @@ export interface KubernetesManifestOptions {
    * otherwise specified.
    */
   readonly prune?: boolean;
+
+  /**
+   * A flag to signify if the manifest validation should be skipped
+   *
+   * @default false
+   */
+  readonly skipValidation?: boolean;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -122,6 +129,7 @@ export class KubernetesManifest extends CoreConstruct {
         RoleArn: provider.roleArn, // TODO: bake into provider's environment
         PruneLabel: pruneLabel,
         Overwrite: props.overwrite,
+        SkipValidation: props.skipValidation,
       },
     });
   }
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/kubectl-handler/apply/__init__.py b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/kubectl-handler/apply/__init__.py
index 7cdfdeb160197..80e9a7891481e 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/kubectl-handler/apply/__init__.py
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/kubectl-handler/apply/__init__.py
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ def apply_handler(event, context):
     manifest_text = props['Manifest']
     role_arn      = props['RoleArn']
     prune_label   = props.get('PruneLabel', None)
-    overwrite     = props.get('Overwrite', False)
+    overwrite     = props.get('Overwrite', 'false').lower() == 'true'
+    skip_validation = props.get('SkipValidation', 'false').lower() == 'true'
 
     # "log in" to the cluster
     cmd = [ 'aws', 'eks', 'update-kubeconfig',
@@ -43,20 +44,25 @@ def apply_handler(event, context):
 
     logger.info("manifest written to: %s" % manifest_file)
 
+    kubectl_opts = []
+    if skip_validation:
+        kubectl_opts.extend(['--validate=false'])
+
     if request_type == 'Create':
         # if "overwrite" is enabled, then we use "apply" for CREATE operations
         # which technically means we can determine the desired state of an
         # existing resource.
         if overwrite:
-            kubectl('apply', manifest_file)
+            kubectl('apply', manifest_file, *kubectl_opts)
         else:
             # --save-config will allow us to use "apply" later
-            kubectl('create', manifest_file, '--save-config')
+            kubectl_opts.extend(['--save-config'])
+            kubectl('create', manifest_file, *kubectl_opts)
     elif request_type == 'Update':
-        opts = []
         if prune_label is not None:
-            opts = ['--prune', '-l', prune_label]
-        kubectl('apply', manifest_file, *opts)
+            kubectl_opts.extend(['--prune', '-l', prune_label])
+
+        kubectl('apply', manifest_file, *kubectl_opts)
     elif request_type == "Delete":
         try:
             kubectl('delete', manifest_file)
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.expected.json b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.expected.json
index cb1c0010b5d41..e3c699e7fa491 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.expected.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.expected.json
@@ -3867,7 +3867,7 @@
               },
               "/",
               {
-                "Ref": "AssetParameters9a25dd6d9e57e25d745576dc7750da1634d4b890ca4f11546b8c1cf5411957c2S3BucketBE7D619F"
+                "Ref": "AssetParametersc73abc34737d53a79bc2f339e8ae561af314b1fc67c51905129dcec3771ba09dS3Bucket133A4850"
               },
               "/",
               {
@@ -3877,7 +3877,7 @@
                     "Fn::Split": [
                       "||",
                       {
-                        "Ref": "AssetParameters9a25dd6d9e57e25d745576dc7750da1634d4b890ca4f11546b8c1cf5411957c2S3VersionKeyB0752C6A"
+                        "Ref": "AssetParametersc73abc34737d53a79bc2f339e8ae561af314b1fc67c51905129dcec3771ba09dS3VersionKeyC4C77F70"
                       }
                     ]
                   }
@@ -3890,7 +3890,7 @@
                     "Fn::Split": [
                       "||",
                       {
-                        "Ref": "AssetParameters9a25dd6d9e57e25d745576dc7750da1634d4b890ca4f11546b8c1cf5411957c2S3VersionKeyB0752C6A"
+                        "Ref": "AssetParametersc73abc34737d53a79bc2f339e8ae561af314b1fc67c51905129dcec3771ba09dS3VersionKeyC4C77F70"
                       }
                     ]
                   }
@@ -3912,11 +3912,11 @@
               "Arn"
             ]
           },
-          "referencetoawscdkeksclustertestAssetParameterse4ce1c625ef8590bc63f26160777b1c74421c8f5290dc5d15227810eedff2e6cS3Bucket13E8DC72Ref": {
-            "Ref": "AssetParameterse4ce1c625ef8590bc63f26160777b1c74421c8f5290dc5d15227810eedff2e6cS3BucketD473D2B6"
+          "referencetoawscdkeksclustertestAssetParametersbafd50ae9f214e496ff8c72c6425f93dca3ccd590e20963706d5d610d9c75757S3Bucket174F3576Ref": {
+            "Ref": "AssetParametersbafd50ae9f214e496ff8c72c6425f93dca3ccd590e20963706d5d610d9c75757S3Bucket008DBB35"
           },
-          "referencetoawscdkeksclustertestAssetParameterse4ce1c625ef8590bc63f26160777b1c74421c8f5290dc5d15227810eedff2e6cS3VersionKeyEDAB3239Ref": {
-            "Ref": "AssetParameterse4ce1c625ef8590bc63f26160777b1c74421c8f5290dc5d15227810eedff2e6cS3VersionKey8213FD47"
+          "referencetoawscdkeksclustertestAssetParametersbafd50ae9f214e496ff8c72c6425f93dca3ccd590e20963706d5d610d9c75757S3VersionKeyE8595856Ref": {
+            "Ref": "AssetParametersbafd50ae9f214e496ff8c72c6425f93dca3ccd590e20963706d5d610d9c75757S3VersionKey97C3E1A0"
           },
           "referencetoawscdkeksclustertestVpcPrivateSubnet1Subnet32A4EC2ARef": {
             "Ref": "VpcPrivateSubnet1Subnet536B997A"
@@ -3969,6 +3969,34 @@
         }
       }
     },
+    "HelloAppWithoutValidation7C638ACB": {
+      "Type": "Custom::AWSCDK-EKS-KubernetesResource",
+      "Properties": {
+        "ServiceToken": {
+          "Fn::GetAtt": [
+            "awscdkawseksKubectlProviderNestedStackawscdkawseksKubectlProviderNestedStackResourceA7AEBA6B",
+            "Outputs.awscdkeksclustertestawscdkawseksKubectlProviderframeworkonEventC681B49AArn"
+          ]
+        },
+        "Manifest": "[{\"apiVersion\":\"v1\",\"kind\":\"ConfigMap\",\"data\":{\"hello\":\"world\"},\"metadata\":{\"name\":\"config-map\",\"labels\":{\"aws.cdk.eks/prune-c89cbcc5d9bdd35cfc69c0334c0a9af21d1e0e372e\":\"\"}},\"unknown\":{\"key\":\"value\"}}]",
+        "ClusterName": {
+          "Ref": "Cluster9EE0221C"
+        },
+        "RoleArn": {
+          "Fn::GetAtt": [
+            "ClusterCreationRole360249B6",
+            "Arn"
+          ]
+        },
+        "PruneLabel": "aws.cdk.eks/prune-c89cbcc5d9bdd35cfc69c0334c0a9af21d1e0e372e",
+        "SkipValidation": true
+      },
+      "DependsOn": [
+        "ClusterKubectlReadyBarrier200052AF"
+      ],
+      "UpdateReplacePolicy": "Delete",
+      "DeletionPolicy": "Delete"
+    },
     "CustomAWSCDKOpenIdConnectProviderCustomResourceProviderRole517FED65": {
       "Type": "AWS::IAM::Role",
       "Properties": {
@@ -4575,17 +4603,17 @@
       "Type": "String",
       "Description": "Artifact hash for asset \"daeb79e3cee39c9b902dc0d5c780223e227ed573ea60976252947adab5fb2be1\""
     },
-    "AssetParameterse4ce1c625ef8590bc63f26160777b1c74421c8f5290dc5d15227810eedff2e6cS3BucketD473D2B6": {
+    "AssetParametersbafd50ae9f214e496ff8c72c6425f93dca3ccd590e20963706d5d610d9c75757S3Bucket008DBB35": {
       "Type": "String",
-      "Description": "S3 bucket for asset \"e4ce1c625ef8590bc63f26160777b1c74421c8f5290dc5d15227810eedff2e6c\""
+      "Description": "S3 bucket for asset \"bafd50ae9f214e496ff8c72c6425f93dca3ccd590e20963706d5d610d9c75757\""
     },
-    "AssetParameterse4ce1c625ef8590bc63f26160777b1c74421c8f5290dc5d15227810eedff2e6cS3VersionKey8213FD47": {
+    "AssetParametersbafd50ae9f214e496ff8c72c6425f93dca3ccd590e20963706d5d610d9c75757S3VersionKey97C3E1A0": {
       "Type": "String",
-      "Description": "S3 key for asset version \"e4ce1c625ef8590bc63f26160777b1c74421c8f5290dc5d15227810eedff2e6c\""
+      "Description": "S3 key for asset version \"bafd50ae9f214e496ff8c72c6425f93dca3ccd590e20963706d5d610d9c75757\""
     },
-    "AssetParameterse4ce1c625ef8590bc63f26160777b1c74421c8f5290dc5d15227810eedff2e6cArtifactHashDEE5AB5C": {
+    "AssetParametersbafd50ae9f214e496ff8c72c6425f93dca3ccd590e20963706d5d610d9c75757ArtifactHashF584A7D8": {
       "Type": "String",
-      "Description": "Artifact hash for asset \"e4ce1c625ef8590bc63f26160777b1c74421c8f5290dc5d15227810eedff2e6c\""
+      "Description": "Artifact hash for asset \"bafd50ae9f214e496ff8c72c6425f93dca3ccd590e20963706d5d610d9c75757\""
     },
     "AssetParametersb075459e6bf309093fbd4b9a9e576a5f172b91c14d84eedb0f069566f6abb0deS3Bucket14156880": {
       "Type": "String",
@@ -4635,17 +4663,17 @@
       "Type": "String",
       "Description": "Artifact hash for asset \"a69aadbed84d554dd9f2eb7987ffe5d8f76b53a86f1909059df07050e57bef0c\""
     },
-    "AssetParameters9a25dd6d9e57e25d745576dc7750da1634d4b890ca4f11546b8c1cf5411957c2S3BucketBE7D619F": {
+    "AssetParametersc73abc34737d53a79bc2f339e8ae561af314b1fc67c51905129dcec3771ba09dS3Bucket133A4850": {
       "Type": "String",
-      "Description": "S3 bucket for asset \"9a25dd6d9e57e25d745576dc7750da1634d4b890ca4f11546b8c1cf5411957c2\""
+      "Description": "S3 bucket for asset \"c73abc34737d53a79bc2f339e8ae561af314b1fc67c51905129dcec3771ba09d\""
     },
-    "AssetParameters9a25dd6d9e57e25d745576dc7750da1634d4b890ca4f11546b8c1cf5411957c2S3VersionKeyB0752C6A": {
+    "AssetParametersc73abc34737d53a79bc2f339e8ae561af314b1fc67c51905129dcec3771ba09dS3VersionKeyC4C77F70": {
       "Type": "String",
-      "Description": "S3 key for asset version \"9a25dd6d9e57e25d745576dc7750da1634d4b890ca4f11546b8c1cf5411957c2\""
+      "Description": "S3 key for asset version \"c73abc34737d53a79bc2f339e8ae561af314b1fc67c51905129dcec3771ba09d\""
     },
-    "AssetParameters9a25dd6d9e57e25d745576dc7750da1634d4b890ca4f11546b8c1cf5411957c2ArtifactHash332C2FA3": {
+    "AssetParametersc73abc34737d53a79bc2f339e8ae561af314b1fc67c51905129dcec3771ba09dArtifactHash7484ACD9": {
       "Type": "String",
-      "Description": "Artifact hash for asset \"9a25dd6d9e57e25d745576dc7750da1634d4b890ca4f11546b8c1cf5411957c2\""
+      "Description": "Artifact hash for asset \"c73abc34737d53a79bc2f339e8ae561af314b1fc67c51905129dcec3771ba09d\""
     },
     "SsmParameterValueawsserviceeksoptimizedami118amazonlinux2recommendedimageidC96584B6F00A464EAD1953AFF4B05118Parameter": {
       "Type": "AWS::SSM::Parameter::Value<String>",
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.ts
index d8522eb543619..ea02eb890073c 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/integ.eks-cluster.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ class EksClusterStack extends TestStack {
 
     this.assertSimpleManifest();
 
+    this.assertManifestWithoutValidation();
+
     this.assertSimpleHelmChart();
 
     this.assertSimpleCdk8sChart();
@@ -137,6 +139,20 @@ class EksClusterStack extends TestStack {
     // apply a kubernetes manifest
     this.cluster.addManifest('HelloApp', ...hello.resources);
   }
+  private assertManifestWithoutValidation() {
+    // apply a kubernetes manifest
+    new eks.KubernetesManifest(this, 'HelloAppWithoutValidation', {
+      cluster: this.cluster,
+      manifest: [{
+        apiVersion: 'v1',
+        kind: 'ConfigMap',
+        data: { hello: 'world' },
+        metadata: { name: 'config-map' },
+        unknown: { key: 'value' },
+      }],
+      skipValidation: true,
+    });
+  }
   private assertNodeGroupX86() {
     // add a extra nodegroup
     this.cluster.addNodegroupCapacity('extra-ng', {