diff --git a/cmd/limactl/list.go b/cmd/limactl/list.go
index a651ff34b04..ec4effabb18 100644
--- a/cmd/limactl/list.go
+++ b/cmd/limactl/list.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"bufio"
 	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
@@ -56,7 +57,17 @@ The output can be presented in one of several formats, using the --format <forma
   --format yaml  - Output in YAML format
   --format table - Output in table format
   --format '{{ <go template> }}' - If the format begins and ends with '{{ }}', then it is used as a go template.
-` + store.FormatHelp,
+
+Filtering instances:
+  --filter EXPR  - Filter instances using yq expression (this is equivalent to --yq 'select(EXPR)')
+                   Can be specified multiple times and it works with all output formats.
+                   Examples:
+                     --filter '.status == "Running"'
+                     --filter '.vmType == "vz"'
+                     --filter '.status == "Running"' --filter '.vmType == "vz"'
+` + store.FormatHelp + `
+The following legacy flags continue to function:
+  --json - equal to '--format json'`,
 		Args:              WrapArgsError(cobra.ArbitraryArgs),
 		RunE:              listAction,
 		ValidArgsFunction: listBashComplete,
@@ -69,6 +80,7 @@ The output can be presented in one of several formats, using the --format <forma
 	listCommand.Flags().BoolP("quiet", "q", false, "Only show names")
 	listCommand.Flags().Bool("all-fields", false, "Show all fields")
 	listCommand.Flags().StringArray("yq", nil, "Apply yq expression to each instance")
+	listCommand.Flags().StringArrayP("filter", "l", nil, "Filter instances using yq expression (equivalent to --yq 'select(EXPR)')")
 
 	return listCommand
 }
@@ -118,6 +130,10 @@ func listAction(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	filter, err := cmd.Flags().GetStringArray("filter")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	if jsonFormat {
 		format = "json"
@@ -138,6 +154,11 @@ func listAction(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return errors.New("option --list-fields conflicts with option --yq")
 		}
 	}
+	if len(filter) != 0 {
+		if listFields {
+			return errors.New("option --list-fields conflicts with option --filter")
+		}
+	}
 
 	if quiet && format != "table" {
 		return errors.New("option --quiet can only be used with '--format table'")
@@ -179,7 +200,7 @@ func listAction(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		instanceNames = allInstances
 	}
 
-	if quiet && len(yq) == 0 {
+	if quiet && len(yq) == 0 && len(filter) == 0 {
 		for _, instName := range instanceNames {
 			fmt.Fprintln(cmd.OutOrStdout(), instName)
 		}
@@ -199,6 +220,27 @@ func listAction(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		instances = append(instances, instance)
 	}
 
+	if len(filter) > 0 {
+		var filterExprs []string
+		for _, f := range filter {
+			filterExprs = append(filterExprs, "select("+f+")")
+		}
+		instances, err = filterInstances(instances, filterExprs)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	if quiet && len(yq) == 0 {
+		for _, instance := range instances {
+			fmt.Fprintln(cmd.OutOrStdout(), instance.Name)
+		}
+		if unmatchedInstances {
+			return unmatchedInstancesError{}
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	for _, instance := range instances {
 		if len(instance.Errors) > 0 {
 			logrus.WithField("errors", instance.Errors).Warnf("instance %q has errors", instance.Name)
@@ -217,10 +259,12 @@ func listAction(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			options.TerminalWidth = w
 		}
 	}
-	// --yq implies --format json unless --format yaml has been explicitly specified
+
+	// --yq implies --format json unless --format has been explicitly specified
 	if len(yq) != 0 && !cmd.Flags().Changed("format") {
 		format = "json"
 	}
+
 	// Always pipe JSON and YAML through yq to colorize it if isTTY
 	if len(yq) == 0 && (format == "json" || format == "yaml") {
 		yq = append(yq, ".")
@@ -317,3 +361,34 @@ func listAction(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 func listBashComplete(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string, _ string) ([]string, cobra.ShellCompDirective) {
 	return bashCompleteInstanceNames(cmd)
 }
+
+// filterInstances applies yq expressions to instances and returns the filtered results.
+func filterInstances(instances []*limatype.Instance, yqExprs []string) ([]*limatype.Instance, error) {
+	if len(yqExprs) == 0 {
+		return instances, nil
+	}
+
+	// the yq expression is evaluated with yqutil.EvaluateExpressionWithEncoder, which disables environment variable access
+	// and file operations, mitigating injection attacks like ".name=strenv(SOME_SECRET_ENV)" which could
+	// trick Lima into exposing environment variables.
+	yqExpr := strings.Join(yqExprs, " | ")
+
+	var filteredInstances []*limatype.Instance
+	for _, instance := range instances {
+		jsonBytes, err := json.Marshal(instance)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal instance %q: %w", instance.Name, err)
+		}
+
+		result, err := yqutil.EvaluateExpression(yqExpr, jsonBytes)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to apply filter %q: %w", yqExpr, err)
+		}
+
+		if len(result) > 0 {
+			filteredInstances = append(filteredInstances, instance)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return filteredInstances, nil
+}
diff --git a/hack/bats/tests/list.bats b/hack/bats/tests/list.bats
index 99210095c56..ddc675aecd1 100644
--- a/hack/bats/tests/list.bats
+++ b/hack/bats/tests/list.bats
@@ -274,3 +274,31 @@ local_setup() {
     run_e -1 limactl ls --yq "load(\"${BASH_SOURCE[0]}\")"
     assert_fatal "file operations have been disabled"
 }
+
+@test '--filter option filters instances' {
+    run -0 limactl ls --filter '.name == "foo"'
+    assert_line --index 0 --regexp '^NAME'
+    assert_line --index 1 --regexp '^foo'
+    assert_output_lines_count 2
+}
+
+@test '--filter option works with all output formats' {
+    run -0 limactl ls --filter '.name == "foo"'
+    assert_line --index 1 --regexp '^foo'
+    
+    run -0 limactl ls --filter '.name == "foo"' --format json
+    assert_line --index 0 --regexp '^\{"name":"foo",'
+    
+    run -0 limactl ls --filter '.name == "foo"' --format '{{.Name}}'
+    assert_output "foo"
+}
+
+@test '--filter option is compatible with --yq' {
+    run -0 limactl ls --filter '.name == "foo"' --yq '.name'
+    assert_output "foo"
+}
+
+@test '--quiet option can be used with --filter' {
+    run -0 limactl ls --quiet --filter '.name == "foo"'
+    assert_output "foo"
+}