diff --git a/changelog.d/17627.doc b/changelog.d/17627.doc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..487a0aea0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/17627.doc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Clarify when the `user_may_invite` and `user_may_send_3pid_invite` module callbacks are called.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/modules/spam_checker_callbacks.md b/docs/modules/spam_checker_callbacks.md
index ffdfe6082e..ec306d81ab 100644
--- a/docs/modules/spam_checker_callbacks.md
+++ b/docs/modules/spam_checker_callbacks.md
@@ -76,8 +76,9 @@ _Changed in Synapse v1.62.0: `synapse.module_api.NOT_SPAM` and `synapse.module_a
 async def user_may_invite(inviter: str, invitee: str, room_id: str) -> Union["synapse.module_api.NOT_SPAM", "synapse.module_api.errors.Codes", bool]
 ```
 
-Called when processing an invitation. Both inviter and invitee are
-represented by their Matrix user ID (e.g. `@alice:example.com`).
+Called when processing an invitation, both when one is created locally or when
+receiving an invite over federation. Both inviter and invitee are represented by
+their Matrix user ID (e.g. `@alice:example.com`).
 
 
 The callback must return one of:
@@ -112,7 +113,9 @@ async def user_may_send_3pid_invite(
 ```
 
 Called when processing an invitation using a third-party identifier (also called a 3PID,
-e.g. an email address or a phone number). 
+e.g. an email address or a phone number). It is only called when a 3PID invite is created
+locally - not when one is received in a room over federation. If the 3PID is already associated
+with a Matrix ID, the spam check will go through the `user_may_invite` callback instead.
 
 The inviter is represented by their Matrix user ID (e.g. `@alice:example.com`), and the
 invitee is represented by its medium (e.g. "email") and its address