diff --git a/goldens/public-api/core/errors.md b/goldens/public-api/core/errors.md
index 72a4f0ee91a..25acf3a8037 100644
--- a/goldens/public-api/core/errors.md
+++ b/goldens/public-api/core/errors.md
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ export const enum RuntimeErrorCode {
     // (undocumented)
     PLATFORM_NOT_FOUND = 401,
     // (undocumented)
+    PROVIDER_IN_WRONG_CONTEXT = 207,
+    // (undocumented)
     PROVIDER_NOT_FOUND = -201,
     // (undocumented)
     RECURSIVE_APPLICATION_REF_TICK = 101,
diff --git a/goldens/public-api/core/index.md b/goldens/public-api/core/index.md
index 28a12ac688d..a26561a7b88 100644
--- a/goldens/public-api/core/index.md
+++ b/goldens/public-api/core/index.md
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ export interface ContentChildrenDecorator {
 }
 
 // @public
-export function createEnvironmentInjector(providers: Provider[], parent?: EnvironmentInjector | null, debugName?: string | null): EnvironmentInjector;
+export function createEnvironmentInjector(providers: Array<Provider | ImportedNgModuleProviders>, parent?: EnvironmentInjector | null, debugName?: string | null): EnvironmentInjector;
 
 // @public
 export function createNgModuleRef<T>(ngModule: Type<T>, parentInjector?: Injector): NgModuleRef<T>;
@@ -578,7 +578,13 @@ export interface HostListenerDecorator {
 }
 
 // @public
-export function importProvidersFrom(...sources: ImportProvidersSource[]): Provider[];
+export interface ImportedNgModuleProviders {
+    // (undocumented)
+    ɵproviders: Provider[];
+}
+
+// @public
+export function importProvidersFrom(...sources: ImportProvidersSource[]): ImportedNgModuleProviders;
 
 // @public
 export type ImportProvidersSource = Type<unknown> | ModuleWithProviders<unknown> | Array<ImportProvidersSource>;
diff --git a/goldens/public-api/platform-browser/index.md b/goldens/public-api/platform-browser/index.md
index f377e715add..19976664592 100644
--- a/goldens/public-api/platform-browser/index.md
+++ b/goldens/public-api/platform-browser/index.md
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { DebugElement } from '@angular/core';
 import { DebugNode } from '@angular/core';
 import * as i0 from '@angular/core';
 import * as i1 from '@angular/common';
+import { ImportedNgModuleProviders } from '@angular/core';
 import { InjectionToken } from '@angular/core';
 import { ModuleWithProviders } from '@angular/core';
 import { NgZone } from '@angular/core';
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ import { Version } from '@angular/core';
 
 // @public
 export interface ApplicationConfig {
-    providers: Provider[];
+    providers: Array<Provider | ImportedNgModuleProviders>;
 }
 
 // @public
diff --git a/goldens/public-api/platform-server/index.md b/goldens/public-api/platform-server/index.md
index 04eb04af626..83965839557 100644
--- a/goldens/public-api/platform-server/index.md
+++ b/goldens/public-api/platform-server/index.md
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import * as i0 from '@angular/core';
 import * as i1 from '@angular/common/http';
 import * as i2 from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';
 import * as i3 from '@angular/platform-browser';
+import { ImportedNgModuleProviders } from '@angular/core';
 import { InjectionToken } from '@angular/core';
 import { NgModuleFactory } from '@angular/core';
 import { PlatformRef } from '@angular/core';
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ export function renderApplication<T>(rootComponent: Type<T>, options: {
     appId: string;
     document?: string;
     url?: string;
-    providers?: Provider[];
+    providers?: Array<Provider | ImportedNgModuleProviders>;
     platformProviders?: Provider[];
 }): Promise<string>;
 
diff --git a/goldens/public-api/router/index.md b/goldens/public-api/router/index.md
index 7bc5910d9a4..dcd37d85803 100644
--- a/goldens/public-api/router/index.md
+++ b/goldens/public-api/router/index.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import { ElementRef } from '@angular/core';
 import { EnvironmentInjector } from '@angular/core';
 import { EventEmitter } from '@angular/core';
 import * as i0 from '@angular/core';
+import { ImportedNgModuleProviders } from '@angular/core';
 import { InjectionToken } from '@angular/core';
 import { Injector } from '@angular/core';
 import { Location as Location_2 } from '@angular/common';
@@ -456,7 +457,7 @@ export interface Route {
     outlet?: string;
     path?: string;
     pathMatch?: 'prefix' | 'full';
-    providers?: Provider[];
+    providers?: Array<Provider | ImportedNgModuleProviders>;
     redirectTo?: string;
     resolve?: ResolveData;
     runGuardsAndResolvers?: RunGuardsAndResolvers;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/application_ref.ts b/packages/core/src/application_ref.ts
index 8a50e34f106..a5cba8a357a 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/application_ref.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/application_ref.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import {Console} from './console';
 import {Injectable} from './di/injectable';
 import {InjectionToken} from './di/injection_token';
 import {Injector} from './di/injector';
-import {Provider, StaticProvider} from './di/interface/provider';
+import {ImportedNgModuleProviders, Provider, StaticProvider} from './di/interface/provider';
 import {EnvironmentInjector} from './di/r3_injector';
 import {INJECTOR_SCOPE} from './di/scope';
 import {ErrorHandler} from './error_handler';
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ export function runPlatformInitializers(injector: Injector): void {
  */
 export function bootstrapApplication(config: {
   rootComponent: Type<unknown>,
-  appProviders?: Provider[],
+  appProviders?: Array<Provider|ImportedNgModuleProviders>,
   platformProviders?: Provider[],
 }): Promise<ApplicationRef> {
   const {rootComponent, appProviders, platformProviders} = config;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/di/create_injector.ts b/packages/core/src/di/create_injector.ts
index 295acf7f227..68f96d214a4 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/di/create_injector.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/di/create_injector.ts
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ export function createInjectorWithoutInjectorInstances(
     additionalProviders: StaticProvider[]|null = null, name?: string,
     scopes = new Set<InjectorScope>()): R3Injector {
   const providers = [
-    ...flatten(additionalProviders || EMPTY_ARRAY),
-    ...importProvidersFrom(defType),
+    additionalProviders || EMPTY_ARRAY,
+    importProvidersFrom(defType),
   ];
   name = name || (typeof defType === 'object' ? undefined : stringify(defType));
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/di/index.ts b/packages/core/src/di/index.ts
index b9bcfa02cf8..34a5d50df8d 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/di/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/di/index.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ export {ProviderToken} from './provider_token';
 export {ɵɵinject, inject, ɵɵinvalidFactoryDep} from './injector_compatibility';
 export {INJECTOR} from './injector_token';
 export {ReflectiveInjector} from './reflective_injector';
-export {ClassProvider, ModuleWithProviders, ClassSansProvider, ConstructorProvider, ConstructorSansProvider, ExistingProvider, ExistingSansProvider, FactoryProvider, FactorySansProvider, Provider, StaticClassProvider, StaticClassSansProvider, StaticProvider, TypeProvider, ValueProvider, ValueSansProvider} from './interface/provider';
+export {ClassProvider, ModuleWithProviders, ClassSansProvider, ImportedNgModuleProviders, ConstructorProvider, ConstructorSansProvider, ExistingProvider, ExistingSansProvider, FactoryProvider, FactorySansProvider, Provider, StaticClassProvider, StaticClassSansProvider, StaticProvider, TypeProvider, ValueProvider, ValueSansProvider} from './interface/provider';
 export {ResolvedReflectiveFactory, ResolvedReflectiveProvider} from './reflective_provider';
 export {ReflectiveKey} from './reflective_key';
 export {InjectionToken} from './injection_token';
diff --git a/packages/core/src/di/interface/provider.ts b/packages/core/src/di/interface/provider.ts
index ccb362cda43..c58311e2953 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/di/interface/provider.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/di/interface/provider.ts
@@ -351,3 +351,20 @@ export interface ModuleWithProviders<T> {
   ngModule: Type<T>;
   providers?: Provider[];
 }
+
+/**
+ * Providers that were imported from NgModules via the `importProvidersFrom` function.
+ *
+ * These providers are meant for use in an application injector (or other environment injectors) and
+ * should not be used in component injectors.
+ *
+ * This type cannot be directly implemented. It's returned from the `importProvidersFrom` function
+ * and serves to prevent the extracted NgModule providers from being used in the wrong contexts.
+ *
+ * @see `importProvidersFrom`
+ *
+ * @publicApi
+ */
+export interface ImportedNgModuleProviders {
+  ɵproviders: Provider[];
+}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/di/provider_collection.ts b/packages/core/src/di/provider_collection.ts
index c99c3564dd4..21039d8a03b 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/di/provider_collection.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/di/provider_collection.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import {resolveForwardRef} from './forward_ref';
 import {ENVIRONMENT_INITIALIZER} from './initializer_token';
 import {ɵɵinject as inject} from './injector_compatibility';
 import {getInjectorDef, InjectorType, InjectorTypeWithProviders} from './interface/defs';
-import {ClassProvider, ConstructorProvider, ExistingProvider, FactoryProvider, ModuleWithProviders, Provider, StaticClassProvider, TypeProvider, ValueProvider} from './interface/provider';
+import {ClassProvider, ConstructorProvider, ExistingProvider, FactoryProvider, ImportedNgModuleProviders, ModuleWithProviders, Provider, StaticClassProvider, TypeProvider, ValueProvider} from './interface/provider';
 import {INJECTOR_DEF_TYPES} from './internal_tokens';
 
 /**
@@ -34,10 +34,15 @@ export type ImportProvidersSource =
  * Collects providers from all NgModules and standalone components, including transitively imported
  * ones.
  *
- * @returns The list of collected providers from the specified list of types.
+ * Providers extracted via `importProvidersFrom` are only usable in an application injector or
+ * another environment injector (such as a route injector). They should not be used in component
+ * providers.
+ *
+ * @returns The collected providers from the specified list of types.
  * @publicApi
  */
-export function importProvidersFrom(...sources: ImportProvidersSource[]): Provider[] {
+export function importProvidersFrom(...sources: ImportProvidersSource[]):
+    ImportedNgModuleProviders {
   const providersOut: SingleProvider[] = [];
   const dedup = new Set<Type<unknown>>();  // already seen types
   let injectorTypesWithProviders: InjectorTypeWithProviders<unknown>[]|undefined;
@@ -53,7 +58,7 @@ export function importProvidersFrom(...sources: ImportProvidersSource[]): Provid
   if (injectorTypesWithProviders !== undefined) {
     processInjectorTypesWithProviders(injectorTypesWithProviders, providersOut);
   }
-  return providersOut;
+  return {ɵproviders: providersOut};
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/core/src/di/r3_injector.ts b/packages/core/src/di/r3_injector.ts
index e5c0b818a0e..f8f7ec22861 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/di/r3_injector.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/di/r3_injector.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import {Type} from '../interface/type';
 import {getComponentDef} from '../render3/definition';
 import {FactoryFn, getFactoryDef} from '../render3/definition_factory';
 import {throwCyclicDependencyError, throwInvalidProviderError, throwMixedMultiProviderError} from '../render3/errors_di';
-import {deepForEach, flatten, newArray} from '../util/array_utils';
+import {newArray} from '../util/array_utils';
 import {EMPTY_ARRAY} from '../util/empty';
 import {stringify} from '../util/stringify';
 
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import {catchInjectorError, injectArgs, NG_TEMP_TOKEN_PATH, setCurrentInjector,
 import {INJECTOR} from './injector_token';
 import {getInheritedInjectableDef, getInjectableDef, InjectorType, ɵɵInjectableDeclaration} from './interface/defs';
 import {InjectFlags} from './interface/injector';
-import {ClassProvider, ConstructorProvider, Provider, StaticClassProvider} from './interface/provider';
+import {ClassProvider, ConstructorProvider, ImportedNgModuleProviders, Provider, StaticClassProvider} from './interface/provider';
 import {INJECTOR_DEF_TYPES} from './internal_tokens';
 import {NullInjector} from './null_injector';
 import {importProvidersFrom, isExistingProvider, isFactoryProvider, isTypeProvider, isValueProvider, SingleProvider} from './provider_collection';
@@ -121,13 +121,11 @@ export class R3Injector extends EnvironmentInjector {
   private injectorDefTypes: Set<Type<unknown>>;
 
   constructor(
-      providers: Provider[], readonly parent: Injector, readonly source: string|null,
-      readonly scopes: Set<InjectorScope>) {
+      providers: Array<Provider|ImportedNgModuleProviders>, readonly parent: Injector,
+      readonly source: string|null, readonly scopes: Set<InjectorScope>) {
     super();
     // Start off by creating Records for every provider.
-    deepForEach(providers, provider => {
-      this.processProvider(provider as SingleProvider);
-    });
+    forEachSingleProvider(providers, provider => this.processProvider(provider));
 
     // Make sure the INJECTOR token provides this injector.
     this.records.set(INJECTOR, makeRecord(undefined, this));
@@ -403,6 +401,10 @@ function providerToRecord(provider: SingleProvider): Record<any> {
 export function providerToFactory(
     provider: SingleProvider, ngModuleType?: InjectorType<any>, providers?: any[]): () => any {
   let factory: (() => any)|undefined = undefined;
+  if (ngDevMode && isImportedNgModuleProviders(provider)) {
+    throwInvalidProviderError(undefined, providers, provider);
+  }
+
   if (isTypeProvider(provider)) {
     const unwrappedProvider = resolveForwardRef(provider);
     return getFactoryDef(unwrappedProvider) || injectableDefOrInjectorDefFactory(unwrappedProvider);
@@ -453,3 +455,22 @@ function couldBeInjectableType(value: any): value is ProviderToken<any> {
   return (typeof value === 'function') ||
       (typeof value === 'object' && value instanceof InjectionToken);
 }
+
+function isImportedNgModuleProviders(provider: Provider|ImportedNgModuleProviders):
+    provider is ImportedNgModuleProviders {
+  return !!(provider as ImportedNgModuleProviders).ɵproviders;
+}
+
+function forEachSingleProvider(
+    providers: Array<Provider|ImportedNgModuleProviders>,
+    fn: (provider: SingleProvider) => void): void {
+  for (const provider of providers) {
+    if (Array.isArray(provider)) {
+      forEachSingleProvider(provider, fn);
+    } else if (isImportedNgModuleProviders(provider)) {
+      forEachSingleProvider(provider.ɵproviders, fn);
+    } else {
+      fn(provider);
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/errors.ts b/packages/core/src/errors.ts
index 064fdf0ebe5..1f131be9baa 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/errors.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/errors.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ export const enum RuntimeErrorCode {
   MISSING_INJECTION_CONTEXT = 203,
   INVALID_INJECTION_TOKEN = 204,
   INJECTOR_ALREADY_DESTROYED = 205,
+  PROVIDER_IN_WRONG_CONTEXT = 207,
 
   // Template Errors
   MULTIPLE_COMPONENTS_MATCH = -300,
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/errors_di.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/errors_di.ts
index 590d4b275b7..71416fc42f6 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/errors_di.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/errors_di.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
+import {ImportedNgModuleProviders} from '../di/interface/provider';
 import {RuntimeError, RuntimeErrorCode} from '../errors';
 import {Type} from '../interface/type';
 import {stringify} from '../util/stringify';
@@ -26,16 +27,19 @@ export function throwMixedMultiProviderError() {
 }
 
 export function throwInvalidProviderError(
-    ngModuleType?: Type<unknown>, providers?: any[], provider?: any) {
-  let ngModuleDetail = '';
+    ngModuleType?: Type<unknown>, providers?: any[], provider?: any): never {
   if (ngModuleType && providers) {
     const providerDetail = providers.map(v => v == provider ? '?' + provider + '?' : '...');
-    ngModuleDetail =
-        ` - only instances of Provider and Type are allowed, got: [${providerDetail.join(', ')}]`;
+    throw new Error(`Invalid provider for the NgModule '${
+        stringify(ngModuleType)}' - only instances of Provider and Type are allowed, got: [${
+        providerDetail.join(', ')}]`);
+  } else if ((provider as ImportedNgModuleProviders).ɵproviders) {
+    throw new RuntimeError(
+        RuntimeErrorCode.PROVIDER_IN_WRONG_CONTEXT,
+        `Invalid providers from 'importProvidersFrom' present in a non-environment injector. 'importProvidersFrom' can't be used for component providers.`);
+  } else {
+    throw new Error('Invalid provider');
   }
-
-  throw new Error(
-      `Invalid provider for the NgModule '${stringify(ngModuleType)}'` + ngModuleDetail);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/features/standalone_feature.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/features/standalone_feature.ts
index 2f4527d27ae..6fed11b3ddc 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/features/standalone_feature.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/features/standalone_feature.ts
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ class StandaloneService implements OnDestroy {
 
     if (!this.cachedInjectors.has(componentDef)) {
       const providers = importProvidersFrom(componentDef.type);
-      const standaloneInjector = providers.length > 0 ?
+      const standaloneInjector = providers.ɵproviders.length > 0 ?
           createEnvironmentInjector(
-              providers, this._injector, `Standalone[${componentDef.type.name}]`) :
+              [providers], this._injector, `Standalone[${componentDef.type.name}]`) :
           null;
       this.cachedInjectors.set(componentDef, standaloneInjector);
     }
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/ng_module_ref.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/ng_module_ref.ts
index 9deab7f9f5e..1a9986fc6c2 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/ng_module_ref.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/ng_module_ref.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import {createInjectorWithoutInjectorInstances} from '../di/create_injector';
 import {Injector} from '../di/injector';
 import {INJECTOR} from '../di/injector_token';
 import {InjectFlags} from '../di/interface/injector';
-import {Provider} from '../di/interface/provider';
+import {ImportedNgModuleProviders, Provider} from '../di/interface/provider';
 import {EnvironmentInjector, getNullInjector, R3Injector} from '../di/r3_injector';
 import {Type} from '../interface/type';
 import {ComponentFactoryResolver as viewEngine_ComponentFactoryResolver} from '../linker/component_factory_resolver';
@@ -115,7 +115,9 @@ class EnvironmentNgModuleRefAdapter extends viewEngine_NgModuleRef<null> {
       new ComponentFactoryResolver(this);
   override readonly instance = null;
 
-  constructor(providers: Provider[], parent: EnvironmentInjector|null, source: string|null) {
+  constructor(
+      providers: Array<Provider|ImportedNgModuleProviders>, parent: EnvironmentInjector|null,
+      source: string|null) {
     super();
     const injector = new R3Injector(
         [
@@ -143,7 +145,7 @@ class EnvironmentNgModuleRefAdapter extends viewEngine_NgModuleRef<null> {
  * @publicApi
  */
 export function createEnvironmentInjector(
-    providers: Provider[], parent: EnvironmentInjector|null = null,
+    providers: Array<Provider|ImportedNgModuleProviders>, parent: EnvironmentInjector|null = null,
     debugName: string|null = null): EnvironmentInjector {
   const adapter = new EnvironmentNgModuleRefAdapter(providers, parent, debugName);
   return adapter.injector;
diff --git a/packages/core/test/acceptance/di_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/acceptance/di_spec.ts
index d8470093680..b2bd937f278 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/acceptance/di_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/acceptance/di_spec.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  */
 
 import {CommonModule} from '@angular/common';
-import {Attribute, ChangeDetectorRef, Component, ComponentFactoryResolver, ComponentRef, createEnvironmentInjector, Directive, ElementRef, ENVIRONMENT_INITIALIZER, EventEmitter, forwardRef, Host, HostBinding, importProvidersFrom, Inject, Injectable, InjectFlags, InjectionToken, INJECTOR, Injector, Input, LOCALE_ID, ModuleWithProviders, NgModule, NgZone, Optional, Output, Pipe, PipeTransform, Provider, Self, SkipSelf, TemplateRef, Type, ViewChild, ViewContainerRef, ViewRef, ɵcreateInjector as createInjector, ɵDEFAULT_LOCALE_ID as DEFAULT_LOCALE_ID, ɵINJECTOR_SCOPE} from '@angular/core';
+import {Attribute, ChangeDetectorRef, Component, ComponentFactoryResolver, ComponentRef, createEnvironmentInjector, Directive, ElementRef, ENVIRONMENT_INITIALIZER, EventEmitter, forwardRef, Host, HostBinding, ImportedNgModuleProviders, importProvidersFrom, ImportProvidersSource, Inject, Injectable, InjectFlags, InjectionToken, INJECTOR, Injector, Input, LOCALE_ID, ModuleWithProviders, NgModule, NgZone, Optional, Output, Pipe, PipeTransform, Provider, Self, SkipSelf, TemplateRef, Type, ViewChild, ViewContainerRef, ViewRef, ɵcreateInjector as createInjector, ɵDEFAULT_LOCALE_ID as DEFAULT_LOCALE_ID, ɵINJECTOR_SCOPE} from '@angular/core';
 import {ViewRef as ViewRefInternal} from '@angular/core/src/render3/view_ref';
 import {TestBed} from '@angular/core/testing';
 import {By} from '@angular/platform-browser';
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ const hasProviderWithToken = (providers: Provider[], token: InjectionToken<unkno
 const collectEnvironmentInitializerProviders = (providers: Provider[]) =>
     getProvidersByToken(providers, ENVIRONMENT_INITIALIZER);
 
+function unwrappedImportProvidersFrom(...sources: ImportProvidersSource[]): Provider[] {
+  return importProvidersFrom(...sources).ɵproviders;
+}
+
 describe('importProvidersFrom', () => {
   // Set of tokens used in various tests.
   const A = new InjectionToken('A');
@@ -48,7 +52,7 @@ describe('importProvidersFrom', () => {
     })
     class MyModule {
     }
-    const providers = importProvidersFrom(MyModule);
+    const providers = unwrappedImportProvidersFrom(MyModule);
 
     // 4 tokens (A, B, C, D) + 2 providers for each NgModule:
     // - the definition type itself
@@ -70,7 +74,7 @@ describe('importProvidersFrom', () => {
     class Module {
     }
 
-    const providers = importProvidersFrom({
+    const providers = unwrappedImportProvidersFrom({
       ngModule: Module,
       providers: [{provide: A, useValue: 'A'}],
     });
@@ -97,7 +101,7 @@ describe('importProvidersFrom', () => {
          }
        }
 
-       const providers = importProvidersFrom(ModuleB.forRoot(), ModuleB.forChild());
+       const providers = unwrappedImportProvidersFrom(ModuleB.forRoot(), ModuleB.forChild());
 
        // Expect 2 `ENVIRONMENT_INITIALIZER` providers: one for `ModuleA`, another one for `ModuleB`
        expect(collectEnvironmentInitializerProviders(providers).length).toBe(2);
@@ -127,7 +131,7 @@ describe('importProvidersFrom', () => {
       }
     }
 
-    const providers = importProvidersFrom(ModuleA.forRoot());
+    const providers = unwrappedImportProvidersFrom(ModuleA.forRoot());
 
     // Expect 1 `ENVIRONMENT_INITIALIZER` provider (for `ModuleA`)
     expect(collectEnvironmentInitializerProviders(providers).length).toBe(1);
@@ -161,7 +165,7 @@ describe('importProvidersFrom', () => {
        class ModuleB {
        }
 
-       const providers = importProvidersFrom(ModuleB);
+       const providers = unwrappedImportProvidersFrom(ModuleB);
 
        // Expect 2 `ENVIRONMENT_INITIALIZER` providers: one for `ModuleA`, another one for `ModuleB`
        expect(collectEnvironmentInitializerProviders(providers).length).toBe(2);
@@ -198,7 +202,7 @@ describe('importProvidersFrom', () => {
          }
        }
 
-       const providers = importProvidersFrom(ModuleA.forRoot());
+       const providers = unwrappedImportProvidersFrom(ModuleA.forRoot());
 
        // Expect all tokens to be collected.
        expect(hasProviderWithToken(providers, A)).toBe(true);
@@ -214,6 +218,26 @@ describe('importProvidersFrom', () => {
        // Verify that a multi-provider has both values.
        expect(injector.get(D)).toEqual(['Original D', 'Extra D']);
      });
+
+  it('should not be allowed in component providers', () => {
+    @NgModule({})
+    class Module {
+    }
+
+    expect(() => {
+      @Component({
+        selector: 'test-cmp',
+        template: '',
+        // The double array here is necessary to escape the compile-time error, via Provider's
+        // `any[]` option.
+        providers: [[importProvidersFrom(Module)]],
+      })
+      class Cmp {
+      }
+
+      TestBed.createComponent(Cmp);
+    }).toThrowError(/NG0207/);
+  });
 });
 
 describe('di', () => {
diff --git a/packages/core/test/acceptance/env_injector_standalone_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/acceptance/env_injector_standalone_spec.ts
index 937ba941ef6..dfa4248023d 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/acceptance/env_injector_standalone_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/acceptance/env_injector_standalone_spec.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ describe('environement injector and standalone components', () => {
     class StandaloneComponent {
     }
 
-    const envInjector = createEnvironmentInjector(importProvidersFrom(StandaloneComponent));
+    const envInjector = createEnvironmentInjector([importProvidersFrom(StandaloneComponent)]);
     expect(envInjector.get(ModuleService)).toBeInstanceOf(ModuleService);
   });
 
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ describe('environement injector and standalone components', () => {
     class AppModule {
     }
 
-    const envInjector = createEnvironmentInjector(importProvidersFrom(AppModule));
+    const envInjector = createEnvironmentInjector([importProvidersFrom(AppModule)]);
     expect(envInjector.get(ModuleService)).toBeInstanceOf(ModuleService);
   });
 
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ describe('environement injector and standalone components', () => {
     class AppModule {
     }
 
-    const envInjector = createEnvironmentInjector(importProvidersFrom(AppModule));
+    const envInjector = createEnvironmentInjector([importProvidersFrom(AppModule)]);
     const services = envInjector.get(ModuleService) as ModuleService[];
 
     expect(services.length).toBe(1);
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/animations/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/animations/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index ca1e0f0b050..631b50b3050 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/animations/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/animations/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -767,15 +767,15 @@
   {
     "name": "findAttrIndexInNode"
   },
-  {
-    "name": "flatten"
-  },
   {
     "name": "flattenStyles"
   },
   {
     "name": "flattenUnsubscriptionErrors"
   },
+  {
+    "name": "forEachSingleProvider"
+  },
   {
     "name": "forwardRef"
   },
@@ -1007,6 +1007,9 @@
   {
     "name": "isFunction"
   },
+  {
+    "name": "isImportedNgModuleProviders"
+  },
   {
     "name": "isInCheckNoChangesMode"
   },
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_reactive/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_reactive/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index d52696c6f98..e191b4ff257 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_reactive/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_reactive/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -791,15 +791,15 @@
   {
     "name": "findStylingValue"
   },
-  {
-    "name": "flatten"
-  },
   {
     "name": "flattenStyles"
   },
   {
     "name": "flattenUnsubscriptionErrors"
   },
+  {
+    "name": "forEachSingleProvider"
+  },
   {
     "name": "forkJoinInternal"
   },
@@ -1109,6 +1109,9 @@
   {
     "name": "isFunction"
   },
+  {
+    "name": "isImportedNgModuleProviders"
+  },
   {
     "name": "isInCheckNoChangesMode"
   },
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_template_driven/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_template_driven/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 5a2d70d927e..938fad62f62 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_template_driven/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_template_driven/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -764,15 +764,15 @@
   {
     "name": "findStylingValue"
   },
-  {
-    "name": "flatten"
-  },
   {
     "name": "flattenStyles"
   },
   {
     "name": "flattenUnsubscriptionErrors"
   },
+  {
+    "name": "forEachSingleProvider"
+  },
   {
     "name": "forkJoinInternal"
   },
@@ -1073,6 +1073,9 @@
   {
     "name": "isFunction"
   },
+  {
+    "name": "isImportedNgModuleProviders"
+  },
   {
     "name": "isInCheckNoChangesMode"
   },
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/injection/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/injection/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index aa0ad446e31..3dc42c82503 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/injection/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/injection/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
     "name": "deepForEach"
   },
   {
-    "name": "flatten"
+    "name": "forEachSingleProvider"
   },
   {
     "name": "forwardRef"
@@ -122,6 +122,9 @@
   {
     "name": "injectableDefOrInjectorDefFactory"
   },
+  {
+    "name": "isImportedNgModuleProviders"
+  },
   {
     "name": "isTypeProvider"
   },
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/router/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/router/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 431966b1aff..620486094b7 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/router/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/router/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -1118,6 +1118,9 @@
   {
     "name": "forEach"
   },
+  {
+    "name": "forEachSingleProvider"
+  },
   {
     "name": "forwardRef"
   },
@@ -1448,6 +1451,9 @@
   {
     "name": "isImmediateMatch"
   },
+  {
+    "name": "isImportedNgModuleProviders"
+  },
   {
     "name": "isInCheckNoChangesMode"
   },
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/standalone_bootstrap/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/standalone_bootstrap/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 0d1fe2792fa..6df6ee3cebf 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/standalone_bootstrap/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/standalone_bootstrap/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -485,15 +485,15 @@
   {
     "name": "extractDirectiveDef"
   },
-  {
-    "name": "flatten"
-  },
   {
     "name": "flattenStyles"
   },
   {
     "name": "flattenUnsubscriptionErrors"
   },
+  {
+    "name": "forEachSingleProvider"
+  },
   {
     "name": "forwardRef"
   },
@@ -650,6 +650,9 @@
   {
     "name": "isFunction"
   },
+  {
+    "name": "isImportedNgModuleProviders"
+  },
   {
     "name": "isInCheckNoChangesMode"
   },
diff --git a/packages/platform-browser/src/browser.ts b/packages/platform-browser/src/browser.ts
index 59639a7b851..795121062d5 100644
--- a/packages/platform-browser/src/browser.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-browser/src/browser.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  */
 
 import {CommonModule, DOCUMENT, XhrFactory, ɵPLATFORM_BROWSER_ID as PLATFORM_BROWSER_ID} from '@angular/common';
-import {APP_ID, ApplicationModule, ApplicationRef, createPlatformFactory, ErrorHandler, Inject, ModuleWithProviders, NgModule, NgZone, Optional, PLATFORM_ID, PLATFORM_INITIALIZER, platformCore, PlatformRef, Provider, RendererFactory2, SkipSelf, StaticProvider, Testability, Type, ɵbootstrapApplication as _bootstrapApplication, ɵINJECTOR_SCOPE as INJECTOR_SCOPE, ɵsetDocument} from '@angular/core';
+import {APP_ID, ApplicationModule, ApplicationRef, createPlatformFactory, ErrorHandler, ImportedNgModuleProviders, Inject, ModuleWithProviders, NgModule, NgZone, Optional, PLATFORM_ID, PLATFORM_INITIALIZER, platformCore, PlatformRef, Provider, RendererFactory2, SkipSelf, StaticProvider, Testability, Type, ɵbootstrapApplication as _bootstrapApplication, ɵINJECTOR_SCOPE as INJECTOR_SCOPE, ɵsetDocument} from '@angular/core';
 
 import {BrowserDomAdapter} from './browser/browser_adapter';
 import {SERVER_TRANSITION_PROVIDERS, TRANSITION_ID} from './browser/server-transition';
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export interface ApplicationConfig {
   /**
    * List of providers that should be available to the root component and all its children.
    */
-  providers: Provider[];
+  providers: Array<Provider|ImportedNgModuleProviders>;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/platform-server/src/utils.ts b/packages/platform-server/src/utils.ts
index 49101d3f4d4..e7d01020a2c 100644
--- a/packages/platform-server/src/utils.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-server/src/utils.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
-import {ApplicationRef, importProvidersFrom, Injector, NgModuleFactory, NgModuleRef, PlatformRef, Provider, StaticProvider, Type, ɵbootstrapApplication as bootstrapApplication, ɵisPromise} from '@angular/core';
+import {ApplicationRef, ImportedNgModuleProviders, importProvidersFrom, Injector, NgModuleFactory, NgModuleRef, PlatformRef, Provider, StaticProvider, Type, ɵbootstrapApplication as bootstrapApplication, ɵisPromise} from '@angular/core';
 import {BrowserModule, ɵTRANSITION_ID} from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import {first} from 'rxjs/operators';
 
@@ -141,14 +141,14 @@ export function renderApplication<T>(rootComponent: Type<T>, options: {
   appId: string,
   document?: string,
   url?: string,
-  providers?: Provider[],
+  providers?: Array<Provider|ImportedNgModuleProviders>,
   platformProviders?: Provider[],
 }): Promise<string> {
   const {document, url, platformProviders, appId} = options;
   const platform = _getPlatform(platformDynamicServer, {document, url, platformProviders});
   const appProviders = [
-    ...importProvidersFrom(BrowserModule.withServerTransition({appId})),
-    ...importProvidersFrom(ServerModule),
+    importProvidersFrom(BrowserModule.withServerTransition({appId})),
+    importProvidersFrom(ServerModule),
     ...(options.providers ?? []),
   ];
   return _render(platform, bootstrapApplication({rootComponent, appProviders}));
diff --git a/packages/router/src/models.ts b/packages/router/src/models.ts
index 12530b9af08..3415da7f6eb 100644
--- a/packages/router/src/models.ts
+++ b/packages/router/src/models.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
-import {EnvironmentInjector, NgModuleFactory, Provider, Type} from '@angular/core';
+import {EnvironmentInjector, ImportedNgModuleProviders, NgModuleFactory, Provider, Type} from '@angular/core';
 import {Observable} from 'rxjs';
 
 import {ActivatedRouteSnapshot, RouterStateSnapshot} from './router_state';
@@ -508,7 +508,7 @@ export interface Route {
    * route also has a `loadChildren` function which returns an `NgModuleRef`, this injector will be
    * used as the parent of the lazy loaded module.
    */
-  providers?: Provider[];
+  providers?: Array<Provider|ImportedNgModuleProviders>;
 
   /**
    * Injector created from the static route providers