diff --git a/boards/nxp/imx8mp_evk/imx8mp_evk_mimx8ml8_a53.dts b/boards/nxp/imx8mp_evk/imx8mp_evk_mimx8ml8_a53.dts
index d21ee0793ec..01dd37b68c2 100644
--- a/boards/nxp/imx8mp_evk/imx8mp_evk_mimx8ml8_a53.dts
+++ b/boards/nxp/imx8mp_evk/imx8mp_evk_mimx8ml8_a53.dts
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2021-2024 NXP
+ * Copyright 2021-2025 NXP
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
 
 /dts-v1/;
 
+#include <zephyr/dt-bindings/gpio/gpio.h>
 #include <zephyr/dt-bindings/i2c/i2c.h>
 #include <nxp/nxp_mimx8mp_a53.dtsi>
 #include "imx8mp_evk-pinctrl.dtsi"
@@ -76,4 +77,17 @@
 	pinctrl-0 = <&pinmux_i2c3>;
 	pinctrl-names = "default";
 	clock-frequency = <I2C_BITRATE_STANDARD>;
+
+	gpio_exp1: pca6416@20 {
+		compatible = "nxp,pca6416";
+		reg = <0x20>;
+		gpio-controller;
+		#gpio-cells = <2>;
+		interrupt-gpios = <&gpio1 12 (GPIO_ACTIVE_LOW|GPIO_PULL_UP)>;
+		status = "okay";
+	};
+};
+
+&gpio1 {
+	status = "okay";
 };
diff --git a/tests/drivers/gpio/gpio_basic_api/boards/imx8mp_evk_mimx8ml8_a53.overlay b/tests/drivers/gpio/gpio_basic_api/boards/imx8mp_evk_mimx8ml8_a53.overlay
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c43cf4c1b1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/gpio/gpio_basic_api/boards/imx8mp_evk_mimx8ml8_a53.overlay
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2024-2025 NXP
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+/{
+	resources {
+		compatible = "test-gpio-basic-api";
+		/*
+		 * Use connector J21 GPIO.1 which connect to pca6416 EXP_P1_0 as input
+		 * GPIO, and connector J21 GPIO.4 which connect to pca6416 EXP_P1_3 as
+		 * output GPIO, connect these two pins with a Dupont Line.
+		 */
+		out-gpios = <&gpio_exp1 8 0>;
+		in-gpios = <&gpio_exp1 11 0>;
+	};
+};