diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/aot/generate/AccessVisibility.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/aot/generate/AccessVisibility.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1233a949c31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/aot/generate/AccessVisibility.java
@@ -0,0 +1,186 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2002-2022 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.springframework.aot.generate;
+
+import java.lang.reflect.Constructor;
+import java.lang.reflect.Executable;
+import java.lang.reflect.Field;
+import java.lang.reflect.Member;
+import java.lang.reflect.Method;
+import java.lang.reflect.Modifier;
+import java.util.HashSet;
+import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.function.IntFunction;
+
+import org.springframework.core.ResolvableType;
+import org.springframework.lang.Nullable;
+import org.springframework.util.Assert;
+import org.springframework.util.ClassUtils;
+
+/**
+ * Access visibility types as determined by the <a href=
+ * "https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/javaOO/accesscontrol.html">modifiers</a>
+ * on a {@link Member} or {@link ResolvableType}.
+ *
+ * @author Phillip Webb
+ * @author Stephane Nicoll
+ * @since 6.0
+ * @see #forMember(Member)
+ * @see #forResolvableType(ResolvableType)
+ */
+public enum AccessVisibility {
+
+	/**
+	 * Public visibility. The member or type is visible to all classes.
+	 */
+	PUBLIC,
+
+	/**
+	 * Protected visibility. The member or type is only visible to subclasses.
+	 */
+	PROTECTED,
+
+	/**
+	 * Package-private visibility. The member or type is only visible to classes
+	 * in the same package.
+	 */
+	PACKAGE_PRIVATE,
+
+	/**
+	 * Private visibility. The member or type is not visible to other classes.
+	 */
+	PRIVATE;
+
+
+	/**
+	 * Determine the {@link AccessVisibility} for the given member. This method
+	 * will consider the member modifier, parameter types, return types and any
+	 * enclosing classes. The lowest overall visibility will be returned.
+	 * @param member the source member
+	 * @return the {@link AccessVisibility} for the member
+	 */
+	public static AccessVisibility forMember(Member member) {
+		Assert.notNull(member, "'member' must not be null");
+		AccessVisibility visibility = forModifiers(member.getModifiers());
+		AccessVisibility declaringClassVisibility = forClass(member.getDeclaringClass());
+		visibility = lowest(visibility, declaringClassVisibility);
+		if (visibility != PRIVATE) {
+			if (member instanceof Field field) {
+				AccessVisibility fieldVisibility = forResolvableType(
+						ResolvableType.forField(field));
+				return lowest(visibility, fieldVisibility);
+			}
+			if (member instanceof Constructor<?> constructor) {
+				AccessVisibility parameterVisibility = forParameterTypes(constructor,
+						i -> ResolvableType.forConstructorParameter(constructor, i));
+				return lowest(visibility, parameterVisibility);
+			}
+			if (member instanceof Method method) {
+				AccessVisibility parameterVisibility = forParameterTypes(method,
+						i -> ResolvableType.forMethodParameter(method, i));
+				AccessVisibility returnTypeVisibility = forResolvableType(
+						ResolvableType.forMethodReturnType(method));
+				return lowest(visibility, parameterVisibility, returnTypeVisibility);
+			}
+		}
+		return PRIVATE;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Determine the {@link AccessVisibility} for the given
+	 * {@link ResolvableType}. This method will consider the type itself as well
+	 * as any generics.
+	 * @param resolvableType the source resolvable type
+	 * @return the {@link AccessVisibility} for the type
+	 */
+	public static AccessVisibility forResolvableType(ResolvableType resolvableType) {
+		return forResolvableType(resolvableType, new HashSet<>());
+	}
+
+	@Nullable
+	private static AccessVisibility forResolvableType(ResolvableType resolvableType,
+			Set<ResolvableType> seen) {
+		if (!seen.add(resolvableType)) {
+			return AccessVisibility.PUBLIC;
+		}
+		Class<?> userClass = ClassUtils.getUserClass(resolvableType.toClass());
+		ResolvableType userType = resolvableType.as(userClass);
+		AccessVisibility visibility = forClass(userType.toClass());
+		for (ResolvableType generic : userType.getGenerics()) {
+			visibility = lowest(visibility, forResolvableType(generic, seen));
+		}
+		return visibility;
+	}
+
+	private static AccessVisibility forParameterTypes(Executable executable,
+			IntFunction<ResolvableType> resolvableTypeFactory) {
+		AccessVisibility visibility = AccessVisibility.PUBLIC;
+		Class<?>[] parameterTypes = executable.getParameterTypes();
+		for (int i = 0; i < parameterTypes.length; i++) {
+			ResolvableType type = resolvableTypeFactory.apply(i);
+			visibility = lowest(visibility, forResolvableType(type));
+		}
+		return visibility;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Determine the {@link AccessVisibility} for the given {@link Class}.
+	 * @param clazz the source class
+	 * @return the {@link AccessVisibility} for the class
+	 */
+	public static AccessVisibility forClass(Class<?> clazz) {
+		clazz = ClassUtils.getUserClass(clazz);
+		AccessVisibility visibility = forModifiers(clazz.getModifiers());
+		if (clazz.isArray()) {
+			visibility = lowest(visibility, forClass(clazz.getComponentType()));
+		}
+		Class<?> enclosingClass = clazz.getEnclosingClass();
+		if (enclosingClass != null) {
+			visibility = lowest(visibility, forClass(clazz.getEnclosingClass()));
+		}
+		return visibility;
+	}
+
+	private static AccessVisibility forModifiers(int modifiers) {
+		if (Modifier.isPublic(modifiers)) {
+			return PUBLIC;
+		}
+		if (Modifier.isProtected(modifiers)) {
+			return PROTECTED;
+		}
+		if (Modifier.isPrivate(modifiers)) {
+			return PRIVATE;
+		}
+		return PACKAGE_PRIVATE;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Returns the lowest {@link AccessVisibility} put of the given candidates.
+	 * @param candidates the candidates to check
+	 * @return the lowest {@link AccessVisibility} from the candidates
+	 */
+	public static AccessVisibility lowest(AccessVisibility... candidates) {
+		AccessVisibility visibility = PUBLIC;
+		for (AccessVisibility candidate : candidates) {
+			if (candidate.ordinal() > visibility.ordinal()) {
+				visibility = candidate;
+			}
+		}
+		return visibility;
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/aot/generate/AccessVisibilityTests.java b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/aot/generate/AccessVisibilityTests.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0b45d6827e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/aot/generate/AccessVisibilityTests.java
@@ -0,0 +1,175 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2002-2022 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.springframework.aot.generate;
+
+import java.lang.reflect.Field;
+import java.lang.reflect.Member;
+import java.lang.reflect.Method;
+
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+
+import org.springframework.core.ResolvableType;
+import org.springframework.core.testfixture.aot.generator.visibility.ProtectedGenericParameter;
+import org.springframework.core.testfixture.aot.generator.visibility.ProtectedParameter;
+import org.springframework.core.testfixture.aot.generator.visibility.PublicFactoryBean;
+import org.springframework.util.ReflectionUtils;
+
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+
+/**
+ * Tests for {@link AccessVisibility}.
+ *
+ * @author Phillip Webb
+ * @author Stephane Nicoll
+ */
+class AccessVisibilityTests {
+
+	@Test
+	void forMemberWhenPublicConstructor() throws NoSuchMethodException {
+		Member member = PublicClass.class.getConstructor();
+		assertThat(AccessVisibility.forMember(member)).isEqualTo(AccessVisibility.PUBLIC);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void forMemberWhenPackagePrivateConstructor() {
+		Member member = ProtectedAccessor.class.getDeclaredConstructors()[0];
+		assertThat(AccessVisibility.forMember(member))
+				.isEqualTo(AccessVisibility.PACKAGE_PRIVATE);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void forMemberWhenPackagePrivateClassWithPublicConstructor() {
+		Member member = PackagePrivateClass.class.getDeclaredConstructors()[0];
+		assertThat(AccessVisibility.forMember(member))
+				.isEqualTo(AccessVisibility.PACKAGE_PRIVATE);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void forMemberWhenPackagePrivateClassWithPublicMethod() {
+		Member member = method(PackagePrivateClass.class, "stringBean");
+		assertThat(AccessVisibility.forMember(member))
+				.isEqualTo(AccessVisibility.PACKAGE_PRIVATE);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void forMemberWhenPublicClassWithPackagePrivateConstructorParameter() {
+		Member member = ProtectedParameter.class.getConstructors()[0];
+		assertThat(AccessVisibility.forMember(member))
+				.isEqualTo(AccessVisibility.PACKAGE_PRIVATE);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void forMemberWhenPublicClassWithPackagePrivateGenericOnConstructorParameter() {
+		Member member = ProtectedGenericParameter.class.getConstructors()[0];
+		assertThat(AccessVisibility.forMember(member))
+				.isEqualTo(AccessVisibility.PACKAGE_PRIVATE);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void forMemberWhenPublicClassWithPackagePrivateMethod() {
+		Member member = method(PublicClass.class, "getProtectedMethod");
+		assertThat(AccessVisibility.forMember(member))
+				.isEqualTo(AccessVisibility.PACKAGE_PRIVATE);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void forMemberWhenPublicClassWithPackagePrivateMethodReturnType() {
+		Member member = method(ProtectedAccessor.class, "methodWithProtectedReturnType");
+		assertThat(AccessVisibility.forMember(member))
+				.isEqualTo(AccessVisibility.PACKAGE_PRIVATE);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void forMemberWhenPublicClassWithPackagePrivateMethodParameter() {
+		Member member = method(ProtectedAccessor.class, "methodWithProtectedParameter",
+				PackagePrivateClass.class);
+		assertThat(AccessVisibility.forMember(member))
+				.isEqualTo(AccessVisibility.PACKAGE_PRIVATE);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void forMemberWhenPublicClassWithPackagePrivateField() {
+		Field member = field(PublicClass.class, "protectedField");
+		assertThat(AccessVisibility.forMember(member))
+				.isEqualTo(AccessVisibility.PACKAGE_PRIVATE);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void forMemberWhenPublicClassWithPublicFieldAndPackagePrivateFieldType() {
+		Member member = field(PublicClass.class, "protectedClassField");
+		assertThat(AccessVisibility.forMember(member))
+				.isEqualTo(AccessVisibility.PACKAGE_PRIVATE);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void forMemberWhenPublicClassWithPublicMethodAndPackagePrivateGenericOnReturnType() {
+		Member member = method(PublicFactoryBean.class, "protectedTypeFactoryBean");
+		assertThat(AccessVisibility.forMember(member))
+				.isEqualTo(AccessVisibility.PACKAGE_PRIVATE);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void forMemberWhenPublicClassWithPackagePrivateArrayComponent() {
+		Member member = field(PublicClass.class, "packagePrivateClasses");
+		assertThat(AccessVisibility.forMember(member))
+				.isEqualTo(AccessVisibility.PACKAGE_PRIVATE);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void forResolvableTypeWhenPackagePrivateGeneric() {
+		ResolvableType resolvableType = PublicFactoryBean
+				.resolveToProtectedGenericParameter();
+		assertThat(AccessVisibility.forResolvableType(resolvableType))
+				.isEqualTo(AccessVisibility.PACKAGE_PRIVATE);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void forResolvableTypeWhenRecursiveType() {
+		ResolvableType resolvableType = ResolvableType
+				.forClassWithGenerics(SelfReference.class, SelfReference.class);
+		assertThat(AccessVisibility.forResolvableType(resolvableType))
+				.isEqualTo(AccessVisibility.PACKAGE_PRIVATE);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void forMemberWhenPublicClassWithPrivateField() {
+		Member member = field(PublicClass.class, "privateField");
+		assertThat(AccessVisibility.forMember(member))
+				.isEqualTo(AccessVisibility.PRIVATE);
+	}
+
+	private static Method method(Class<?> type, String name, Class<?>... parameterTypes) {
+		Method method = ReflectionUtils.findMethod(type, name, parameterTypes);
+		assertThat(method).isNotNull();
+		return method;
+	}
+
+	private static Field field(Class<?> type, String name) {
+		Field field = ReflectionUtils.findField(type, name);
+		assertThat(field).isNotNull();
+		return field;
+	}
+
+	static class SelfReference<T extends SelfReference<T>> {
+
+		@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+		T getThis() {
+			return (T) this;
+		}
+
+	}
+}
diff --git a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/aot/generate/PackagePrivateClass.java b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/aot/generate/PackagePrivateClass.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..cde4dd15ca2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/aot/generate/PackagePrivateClass.java
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2002-2022 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.springframework.aot.generate;
+
+@SuppressWarnings("unused")
+class PackagePrivateClass {
+
+	public PackagePrivateClass() {
+	}
+
+	public String stringBean() {
+		return "public";
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/aot/generate/ProtectedAccessor.java b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/aot/generate/ProtectedAccessor.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ada7e595f53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/aot/generate/ProtectedAccessor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2002-2022 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.springframework.aot.generate;
+
+@SuppressWarnings("unused")
+public class ProtectedAccessor {
+
+	ProtectedAccessor() {
+	}
+
+	public String methodWithProtectedParameter(PackagePrivateClass type) {
+		return "test";
+	}
+
+	public PackagePrivateClass methodWithProtectedReturnType() {
+		return new PackagePrivateClass();
+	}
+}
diff --git a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/aot/generate/PublicClass.java b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/aot/generate/PublicClass.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..39d8d1e5188
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/aot/generate/PublicClass.java
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2002-2022 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.springframework.aot.generate;
+
+@SuppressWarnings("unused")
+public class PublicClass {
+
+	private String privateField;
+
+	String protectedField;
+
+	public PackagePrivateClass[] packagePrivateClasses;
+
+	public PackagePrivateClass protectedClassField;
+
+	String getProtectedMethod() {
+		return this.protectedField;
+	}
+
+}