diff --git a/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst b/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
index c0294f268d..aea9d95cff 100644
--- a/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
+++ b/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
@@ -1301,7 +1301,8 @@ for an additional list of options shared with other mlx5 drivers.
     ``META`` related actions and items operate only within NIC Tx and
     NIC Rx steering domains, no ``MARK`` and ``META`` information crosses
     the domain boundaries. The ``MARK`` item is 24 bits wide, the ``META``
-    item is 32 bits wide and match supported on egress only.
+    item is 32 bits wide and match supported on egress only when
+    ``dv_flow_en`` = 1.
 
   - 1, this engages extensive metadata mode, the ``MARK`` and ``META``
     related actions and items operate within all supported steering domains,
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/hws/mlx5dr.h b/drivers/net/mlx5/hws/mlx5dr.h
index 8441ae97e9..59fd61e24b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/hws/mlx5dr.h
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/hws/mlx5dr.h
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ enum mlx5dr_table_type {
 	MLX5DR_TABLE_TYPE_NIC_TX,
 	MLX5DR_TABLE_TYPE_FDB,
 	MLX5DR_TABLE_TYPE_MAX,
+	MLX5DR_TABLE_TYPE_DONTCARE = MLX5DR_TABLE_TYPE_MAX,
 };
 
 enum mlx5dr_matcher_resource_mode {
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/hws/mlx5dr_definer.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/hws/mlx5dr_definer.c
index 0e15aafb8a..35a2ed2048 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/hws/mlx5dr_definer.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/hws/mlx5dr_definer.c
@@ -1745,6 +1745,7 @@ mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_tag(struct mlx5dr_definer_conv_data *cd,
 	if (item->type == RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_TAG)
 		reg = flow_hw_get_reg_id_from_ctx(cd->ctx,
 						  RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_TAG,
+						  MLX5DR_TABLE_TYPE_DONTCARE,
 						  v->index);
 	else
 		reg = (int)v->index;
@@ -1805,9 +1806,10 @@ mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_quota(struct mlx5dr_definer_conv_data *cd,
 			       __rte_unused struct rte_flow_item *item,
 			       int item_idx)
 {
-	int mtr_reg =
-	flow_hw_get_reg_id_from_ctx(cd->ctx, RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_METER_COLOR,
-				    0);
+	int mtr_reg = flow_hw_get_reg_id_from_ctx(cd->ctx,
+						  RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_METER_COLOR,
+						  MLX5DR_TABLE_TYPE_DONTCARE,
+						  0);
 	struct mlx5dr_definer_fc *fc;
 
 	if (mtr_reg < 0) {
@@ -1826,6 +1828,7 @@ mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_quota(struct mlx5dr_definer_conv_data *cd,
 
 static int
 mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_metadata(struct mlx5dr_definer_conv_data *cd,
+				  enum mlx5dr_table_type table_domain_type,
 				  struct rte_flow_item *item,
 				  int item_idx)
 {
@@ -1837,7 +1840,8 @@ mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_metadata(struct mlx5dr_definer_conv_data *cd,
 	if (!m)
 		return 0;
 
-	reg = flow_hw_get_reg_id_from_ctx(cd->ctx, RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_META, -1);
+	reg = flow_hw_get_reg_id_from_ctx(cd->ctx, RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_META,
+					  table_domain_type, -1);
 	if (reg <= 0) {
 		DR_LOG(ERR, "Invalid register for item metadata");
 		rte_errno = EINVAL;
@@ -2144,8 +2148,9 @@ mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_conntrack(struct mlx5dr_definer_conv_data *cd,
 	if (!m)
 		return 0;
 
-	reg = flow_hw_get_reg_id_from_ctx(cd->ctx, RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_CONNTRACK,
-					  -1);
+	reg = flow_hw_get_reg_id_from_ctx(cd->ctx,
+					  RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_CONNTRACK,
+					  MLX5DR_TABLE_TYPE_DONTCARE, -1);
 	if (reg <= 0) {
 		DR_LOG(ERR, "Invalid register for item conntrack");
 		rte_errno = EINVAL;
@@ -2287,7 +2292,8 @@ mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_meter_color(struct mlx5dr_definer_conv_data *cd,
 		return 0;
 
 	reg = flow_hw_get_reg_id_from_ctx(cd->ctx,
-					  RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_METER_COLOR, 0);
+					  RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_METER_COLOR,
+					  MLX5DR_TABLE_TYPE_DONTCARE, 0);
 	MLX5_ASSERT(reg > 0);
 
 	fc = mlx5dr_definer_get_register_fc(cd, reg);
@@ -2882,6 +2888,7 @@ mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_compare_field(const struct rte_flow_field_data *f,
 				       const struct rte_flow_field_data *other_f,
 				       struct mlx5dr_definer_conv_data *cd,
 				       int item_idx,
+				       enum mlx5dr_table_type table_domain_type,
 				       enum mlx5dr_definer_compare_dw_selectors dw_offset)
 {
 	struct mlx5dr_definer_fc *fc = NULL;
@@ -2896,7 +2903,8 @@ mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_compare_field(const struct rte_flow_field_data *f,
 	switch (f->field) {
 	case RTE_FLOW_FIELD_META:
 		reg = flow_hw_get_reg_id_from_ctx(cd->ctx,
-						  RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_META, -1);
+						  RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_META,
+						  table_domain_type, -1);
 		if (reg <= 0) {
 			DR_LOG(ERR, "Invalid register for compare metadata field");
 			rte_errno = EINVAL;
@@ -2915,6 +2923,7 @@ mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_compare_field(const struct rte_flow_field_data *f,
 	case RTE_FLOW_FIELD_TAG:
 		reg = flow_hw_get_reg_id_from_ctx(cd->ctx,
 						  RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_TAG,
+						  MLX5DR_TABLE_TYPE_DONTCARE,
 						  f->tag_index);
 		if (reg <= 0) {
 			DR_LOG(ERR, "Invalid register for compare tag field");
@@ -2970,6 +2979,7 @@ mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_compare_field(const struct rte_flow_field_data *f,
 
 static int
 mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_compare(struct mlx5dr_definer_conv_data *cd,
+				 enum mlx5dr_table_type table_domain_type,
 				 struct rte_flow_item *item,
 				 int item_idx)
 {
@@ -2986,11 +2996,13 @@ mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_compare(struct mlx5dr_definer_conv_data *cd,
 	}
 
 	ret = mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_compare_field(a, b, cd, item_idx,
+						     table_domain_type,
 						     MLX5DR_DEFINER_COMPARE_ARGUMENT_0);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
 	ret = mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_compare_field(b, NULL, cd, item_idx,
+						     table_domain_type,
 						     MLX5DR_DEFINER_COMPARE_BASE_0);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
@@ -3086,7 +3098,7 @@ mlx5dr_definer_conv_items_to_hl(struct mlx5dr_context *ctx,
 			item_flags |= MLX5_FLOW_ITEM_TAG;
 			break;
 		case RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_META:
-			ret = mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_metadata(&cd, items, i);
+			ret = mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_metadata(&cd, matcher->tbl->type, items, i);
 			item_flags |= MLX5_FLOW_ITEM_METADATA;
 			break;
 		case RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_GRE:
@@ -3177,7 +3189,7 @@ mlx5dr_definer_conv_items_to_hl(struct mlx5dr_context *ctx,
 				DR_LOG(ERR, "Compare matcher not supported for more than one item");
 				goto not_supp;
 			}
-			ret = mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_compare(&cd, items, i);
+			ret = mlx5dr_definer_conv_item_compare(&cd, matcher->tbl->type, items, i);
 			item_flags |= MLX5_FLOW_ITEM_COMPARE;
 			matcher->flags |= MLX5DR_MATCHER_FLAGS_COMPARE;
 			break;
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_flow.h b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_flow.h
index 7aa24f7c52..28f6e9088e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_flow.h
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_flow.h
@@ -1612,6 +1612,67 @@ mlx5_multi_pattern_segment_find(struct rte_flow_template_table *table,
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+/*
+ * Convert metadata or tag to the actual register.
+ * META: Fixed C_1 for FDB mode, REG_A for NIC TX and REG_B for NIC RX.
+ * TAG: C_x expect meter color reg and the reserved ones.
+ */
+static __rte_always_inline int
+flow_hw_get_reg_id_by_domain(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
+			     enum rte_flow_item_type type,
+			     enum mlx5dr_table_type domain_type, uint32_t id)
+{
+	struct mlx5_dev_ctx_shared *sh = MLX5_SH(dev);
+	struct mlx5_dev_registers *reg = &sh->registers;
+
+	switch (type) {
+	case RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_META:
+		if (sh->config.dv_esw_en &&
+		    sh->config.dv_xmeta_en == MLX5_XMETA_MODE_META32_HWS) {
+			return REG_C_1;
+		}
+		/*
+		 * On root table - PMD allows only egress META matching, thus
+		 * REG_A matching is sufficient.
+		 *
+		 * On non-root tables - REG_A corresponds to general_purpose_lookup_field,
+		 * which translates to REG_A in NIC TX and to REG_B in NIC RX.
+		 * However, current FW does not implement REG_B case right now, so
+		 * REG_B case is return explicitly by this function for NIC RX.
+		 */
+		if (domain_type == MLX5DR_TABLE_TYPE_NIC_RX)
+			return REG_B;
+		return REG_A;
+	case RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_CONNTRACK:
+	case RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_METER_COLOR:
+		return reg->aso_reg;
+	case RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_TAG:
+		if (id == RTE_PMD_MLX5_LINEAR_HASH_TAG_INDEX)
+			return REG_C_3;
+		MLX5_ASSERT(id < MLX5_FLOW_HW_TAGS_MAX);
+		return reg->hw_avl_tags[id];
+	default:
+		return REG_NON;
+	}
+}
+
+static __rte_always_inline int
+flow_hw_get_reg_id_from_ctx(void *dr_ctx, enum rte_flow_item_type type,
+			    enum mlx5dr_table_type domain_type, uint32_t id)
+{
+	uint16_t port;
+
+	MLX5_ETH_FOREACH_DEV(port, NULL) {
+		struct mlx5_priv *priv;
+
+		priv = rte_eth_devices[port].data->dev_private;
+		if (priv->dr_ctx == dr_ctx)
+			return flow_hw_get_reg_id_by_domain(&rte_eth_devices[port],
+							    type, domain_type, id);
+	}
+	return REG_NON;
+}
+
 #endif
 
 /*
@@ -1823,70 +1884,19 @@ flow_hw_get_wire_port(struct ibv_context *ibctx)
 }
 #endif
 
-/*
- * Convert metadata or tag to the actual register.
- * META: Can only be used to match in the FDB in this stage, fixed C_1.
- * TAG: C_x expect meter color reg and the reserved ones.
- */
 static __rte_always_inline int
 flow_hw_get_reg_id(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 		   enum rte_flow_item_type type, uint32_t id)
 {
-	struct mlx5_dev_ctx_shared *sh = MLX5_SH(dev);
-	struct mlx5_dev_registers *reg = &sh->registers;
-
-	switch (type) {
-	case RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_META:
-#ifdef HAVE_MLX5_HWS_SUPPORT
-		if (sh->config.dv_esw_en &&
-		    sh->config.dv_xmeta_en == MLX5_XMETA_MODE_META32_HWS) {
-			return REG_C_1;
-		}
-#endif
-		/*
-		 * On root table - PMD allows only egress META matching, thus
-		 * REG_A matching is sufficient.
-		 *
-		 * On non-root tables - REG_A corresponds to general_purpose_lookup_field,
-		 * which translates to REG_A in NIC TX and to REG_B in NIC RX.
-		 * However, current FW does not implement REG_B case right now, so
-		 * REG_B case should be rejected on pattern template validation.
-		 */
-		return REG_A;
-	case RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_CONNTRACK:
-	case RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_METER_COLOR:
-		return reg->aso_reg;
-	case RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_TAG:
-		if (id == RTE_PMD_MLX5_LINEAR_HASH_TAG_INDEX)
-			return REG_C_3;
-		MLX5_ASSERT(id < MLX5_FLOW_HW_TAGS_MAX);
-		return reg->hw_avl_tags[id];
-	default:
-		return REG_NON;
-	}
-}
-
-static __rte_always_inline int
-flow_hw_get_reg_id_from_ctx(void *dr_ctx,
-			    enum rte_flow_item_type type, uint32_t id)
-{
-#ifdef HAVE_IBV_FLOW_DV_SUPPORT
-	uint16_t port;
-
-	MLX5_ETH_FOREACH_DEV(port, NULL) {
-		struct mlx5_priv *priv;
-
-		priv = rte_eth_devices[port].data->dev_private;
-		if (priv->dr_ctx == dr_ctx)
-			return flow_hw_get_reg_id(&rte_eth_devices[port],
-						  type, id);
-	}
+#if defined(HAVE_IBV_FLOW_DV_SUPPORT) || !defined(HAVE_INFINIBAND_VERBS_H)
+	return flow_hw_get_reg_id_by_domain(dev, type,
+					    MLX5DR_TABLE_TYPE_DONTCARE, id);
 #else
-	RTE_SET_USED(dr_ctx);
+	RTE_SET_USED(dev);
 	RTE_SET_USED(type);
 	RTE_SET_USED(id);
-#endif
 	return REG_NON;
+#endif
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_flow_hw.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_flow_hw.c
index 9620b7f576..6d176de311 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_flow_hw.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_flow_hw.c
@@ -7273,15 +7273,7 @@ flow_hw_pattern_validate(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 						  " when egress attribute is set");
 			break;
 		case RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_META:
-			if (!priv->sh->config.dv_esw_en ||
-			    priv->sh->config.dv_xmeta_en != MLX5_XMETA_MODE_META32_HWS) {
-				if (attr->ingress)
-					return rte_flow_error_set(error, EINVAL,
-								  RTE_FLOW_ERROR_TYPE_ITEM, NULL,
-								  "META item is not supported"
-								  " on current FW with ingress"
-								  " attribute");
-			}
+			/* ingress + group 0 is not supported */
 			break;
 		case RTE_FLOW_ITEM_TYPE_METER_COLOR:
 		{
