diff --git a/gateway/src/apicast/policy/token_introspection/apicast-policy.json b/gateway/src/apicast/policy/token_introspection/apicast-policy.json
index e238e4493..4e177e134 100644
--- a/gateway/src/apicast/policy/token_introspection/apicast-policy.json
+++ b/gateway/src/apicast/policy/token_introspection/apicast-policy.json
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     "properties": {
       "auth_type": {
         "type": "string",
-        "enum": ["use_3scale_oidc_issuer_endpoint", "client_id+client_secret", "client_secret_jwt"],
+        "enum": ["use_3scale_oidc_issuer_endpoint", "client_id+client_secret", "client_secret_jwt", "private_key_jwt"],
         "default": "client_id+client_secret"
       },
       "max_ttl_tokens": {
@@ -84,6 +84,11 @@
                 "description": "Audience. The aud claim of the singed JWT. The audience SHOULD be the URL of the Authorization Server’s Token Endpoint.",
                 "type": "string"
               },
+              "client_jwt_assertion_algorithm": {
+                "type": "string",
+                "enum": ["HS256"],
+                "default": "HS256"
+              },
               "introspection_url": {
                 "description": "Introspection Endpoint URL",
                 "type": "string"
@@ -92,6 +97,78 @@
             "required": [
               "client_id", "client_secret", "introspection_url", "client_jwt_assertion_audience"
             ]
+        }, {
+          "properties": {
+            "auth_type": {
+              "describe": "Authenticate with client_secret_jwt method defined in https://openid.net/specs/openid-connect-core-1_0.html#ClientAuthentication",
+              "enum": ["private_key_jwt"]
+            },
+            "client_id": {
+              "description": "Client ID for the Token Introspection Endpoint",
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "introspection_url": {
+              "description": "Introspection Endpoint URL",
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "client_jwt_assertion_expires_in": {
+              "description": "Duration of the singed JWT in seconds",
+              "type": "integer",
+              "default": 60
+            },
+            "client_jwt_assertion_audience": {
+              "description": "Audience. The aud claim of the singed JWT. The audience SHOULD be the URL of the Authorization Server’s Token Endpoint.",
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "client_jwt_assertion_algorithm": {
+              "type": "string",
+              "enum": ["RS256"],
+              "default": "RS256"
+            },
+            "certificate_type": {
+              "title": "Certificate type",
+              "type": "string",
+              "enum": [
+                "path",
+                "embedded"
+              ],
+              "default": "path"
+            }
+          },
+          "dependencies": {
+            "certificate_type": {
+              "oneOf": [
+                {
+                  "properties": {
+                    "certificate_type": {
+                      "const": "embedded"
+                    },
+                    "certificate": {
+                      "title": "Certificate",
+                      "description": "Client RSA private key used to sign JWT.",
+                      "format": "data-url",
+                      "type": "string"
+                    }
+                  }
+                },
+                {
+                  "properties": {
+                    "certificate_type": {
+                      "const": "path"
+                    },
+                    "certificate": {
+                      "title": "Certificate",
+                      "description": "Client RSA private key used to sign JWT.",
+                      "type": "string"
+                    }
+                  }
+                }
+              ]
+            }
+          },
+          "required": [
+            "client_id", "introspection_url", "client_jwt_assertion_audience", "certificate_type"
+          ]
         }]
       }
     }
diff --git a/gateway/src/apicast/policy/token_introspection/token_introspection.lua b/gateway/src/apicast/policy/token_introspection/token_introspection.lua
index c71edd2c2..36b188a1e 100644
--- a/gateway/src/apicast/policy/token_introspection/token_introspection.lua
+++ b/gateway/src/apicast/policy/token_introspection/token_introspection.lua
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ local user_agent = require 'apicast.user_agent'
 local resty_env = require('resty.env')
 local resty_url = require('resty.url')
 local resty_jwt = require('resty.jwt')
+local data_url = require('resty.data_url')
+local util = require 'apicast.util'
+local pcall = pcall
 
 local tokens_cache = require('tokens_cache')
 
@@ -17,6 +20,35 @@ local new = _M.new
 
 local noop = function() end
 local noop_cache = { get = noop, set = noop }
+local path_type = "path"
+local embedded_type = "embedded"
+
+local function get_cert(value, value_type)
+  if value_type == path_type then
+    ngx.log(ngx.DEBUG, "reading path:", value)
+    return util.read_file(value)
+  end
+
+  if value_type == embedded_type then
+    local parsed_data, err = data_url.parse(value)
+    if err then
+      ngx.log(ngx.ERR, "Cannot parse certificate content: ", err)
+      return nil
+    end
+    return parsed_data.data
+  end
+end
+
+-- lua-resty-jwt expects certificate as a string, thereforce we will return the certificate key
+-- as is
+local function read_certificate_key(value, value_type)
+  local data, err = get_cert(value, value_type)
+  if data == nil then
+    ngx.log(ngx.ERR, "Certificate value is invalid, err: ", err)
+    return
+  end
+  return data
+end
 
 local function create_credential(client_id, client_secret)
   return 'Basic ' .. ngx.encode_base64(table.concat({ client_id, client_secret }, ':'))
@@ -33,9 +65,16 @@ function _M.new(config)
     self.client_secret = self.config.client_secret or ''
     self.introspection_url = config.introspection_url
 
-    if self.auth_type == "client_secret_jwt" then
+    if self.auth_type == "client_secret_jwt" or self.auth_type == "private_key_jwt" then
       self.client_jwt_assertion_expires_in = self.config.client_jwt_assertion_expires_in or 60
       self.client_aud = config.client_jwt_assertion_audience or ''
+      self.client_algorithm = config.client_jwt_assertion_algorithm
+    end
+
+    if self.auth_type == "private_key_jwt" then
+      self.client_rsa_private_key = read_certificate_key(
+        config.certificate,
+        config.certificate_type or path_type)
     end
   end
   self.http_client = http_ng.new{
@@ -76,8 +115,13 @@ local function introspect_token(self, token)
 
   if self.auth_type == "client_id+client_secret" or self.auth_type == "use_3scale_oidc_issuer_endpoint" then
       headers['Authorization'] = create_credential(self.client_id or '', self.client_secret or '')
-  elseif self.auth_type == "client_secret_jwt" then
-    local key = self.client_secret
+  elseif self.auth_type == "client_secret_jwt" or self.auth_type == "private_key_jwt" then
+    local key = self.auth_type == "client_secret_jwt" and self.client_secret or self.client_rsa_private_key
+    if not key then
+      ngx.log(ngx.WARN, "token introspection can't use " .. self.auth_type .. " without a key.")
+      return {active = false}
+    end
+
     body.client_id = self.client_id
     body.client_assertion_type = "urn:ietf:params:oauth:client-assertion-type:jwt-bearer"
     local now = ngx.time()
@@ -85,7 +129,7 @@ local function introspect_token(self, token)
     local assertion = {
       header = {
         typ = "JWT",
-        alg = "HS256",
+        alg = self.client_algorithm,
       },
       payload = {
         iss = self.client_id,
@@ -97,7 +141,15 @@ local function introspect_token(self, token)
       }
     }
 
-    body.client_assertion = resty_jwt:sign(key, assertion)
+    -- use pcall here to catch error throw by lua-rest-jwt sign method.
+    local ok, client_assertion  = pcall(resty_jwt.sign, _M, key, assertion)
+
+    if not ok then
+      ngx.log(ngx.WARN, "token introspection failed to sign JWT token ,err: ", client_assertion.reason)
+      return {active = false}
+    end
+
+    body.client_assertion = client_assertion
   end
 
   --- Parameters for the token introspection endpoint.
diff --git a/spec/policy/token_introspection/token_introspection_spec.lua b/spec/policy/token_introspection/token_introspection_spec.lua
index 519334eb6..09577e22b 100644
--- a/spec/policy/token_introspection/token_introspection_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/policy/token_introspection/token_introspection_spec.lua
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ local format = string.format
 local test_backend_client = require('resty.http_ng.backend.test')
 local cjson = require('cjson')
 local resty_jwt = require "resty.jwt"
+local util = require 'apicast.util'
+
 describe("token introspection policy", function()
   describe("execute introspection", function()
     local context
@@ -419,6 +421,134 @@ describe("token introspection policy", function()
       end)
     end)
 
+    describe('private_key_jwt introspection auth type', function()
+      local auth_type = "private_key_jwt"
+      local introspection_url = "http://example/token/introspection"
+      local audience = "http://example/auth/realm/basic"
+      local certificate_path = 't/fixtures/rsa.pem'
+      local path_type = "path"
+      local embedded_type = "embedded"
+
+      describe("certificate validation", function()
+        it("Reads correctly the file path", function()
+          local policy_config = {
+            auth_type = auth_type,
+            introspection_url = introspection_url,
+            client_id = test_client_id,
+            client_jwt_assertion_audience = audience,
+            certificate = certificate_path,
+            certificate_type = path_type,
+          }
+          local token_policy = TokenIntrospection.new(policy_config)
+          assert.truthy(token_policy.client_rsa_private_key)
+        end)
+
+        it("Read correctly the embedded path", function()
+          local policy_config = {
+            auth_type = auth_type,
+            introspection_url = introspection_url,
+            client_id = test_client_id,
+            client_jwt_assertion_audience = audience,
+            certificate_type = embedded_type,
+            certificate = "data:application/x-x509-ca-cert;name=rsa.pem;base64,LS0tLS1CRUdJTiBSU0EgUFJJVkFURSBLRVktLS0tLQpNSUlCUEFJQkFBSkJBTENsejk2Y0RROTY1RU5ZTWZaekcrQWN1MjVscHgyS05wQUFMQlErY2F0Q0E1OXVzNyt1CkxZNXJqUVI2U09nWnBDejVQSmlLTkFkUlBESk1YU21YcU0wQ0F3RUFBUUpCQUpud1phNEJJQUNWZjhhUVhUb0EKSmhLdjkwYkZuMVRHMWJXMzhMSFRtUXM4RU05WENtZ2hMV0NqZTdkL05iVXJVY2VvdElPbmp0di94SFR5d0d0MgpOd0VDSVFEaHZNWkRRK1pSUmJid09OY3ZPOUc3aDZoRmd5MG9raXY2SmNpWmNjdnR4UUloQU1oVVRBV2dWMWhRCk8yeVdUUllSUVpvc0VJc0ZCM2taZnNMTWVUS2prOGRwQWlFQXNsc1o5Mm05bjNkS3JKRHNqRmhpUlI1Uk9PTUYKR2lvcjd4Qk5aOWUrdmRVQ0lEc2pmNG5OcXR0Y1hCNlRSRkIyYWFwc3hibDBrNTh4WXBWNUxYSkFqZmk1QWlFQQp2UmFTYXVCZlJDUDNKZ1hITmdjRFNXMDE3L0J0YndHaXo4YUlUdjZCMEZ3PQotLS0tLUVORCBSU0EgUFJJVkFURSBLRVktLS0tLQo="
+          }
+          local token_policy = TokenIntrospection.new(policy_config)
+          assert.truthy(token_policy.client_rsa_private_key)
+        end)
+      end)
+
+      describe('success with valid token', function()
+        local policy_config = {
+          auth_type = auth_type,
+          introspection_url = introspection_url,
+          client_id = test_client_id,
+          client_jwt_assertion_audience = audience,
+          certificate = certificate_path,
+          certificate_type = path_type,
+        }
+        before_each(function()
+          test_backend
+            .expect{
+              url = introspection_url,
+              method = 'POST',
+            }
+            .respond_with{
+              status = 200,
+              body = cjson.encode({
+                  active = true
+              })
+            }
+          local token_policy = TokenIntrospection.new(policy_config)
+          token_policy.http_client.backend = test_backend
+          token_policy:access(context)
+        end)
+
+        it('the request does not contains basic auth header', function()
+          assert.is_nil(test_backend.get_requests()[1].headers['Authorization'])
+        end)
+
+        it('the request does not contains client_secret in body', function()
+          local body = ngx.decode_args(test_backend.get_requests()[1].body)
+          assert.is_nil(body.client_secret)
+        end)
+
+        it('the request contains correct fields in body', function()
+          local body = ngx.decode_args(test_backend.get_requests()[1].body)
+          assert.same(body.client_id, test_client_id)
+          assert.same(body.client_assertion_type, "urn:ietf:params:oauth:client-assertion-type:jwt-bearer")
+          assert.is_not_nil(body.client_assertion)
+        end)
+
+        it("has correct JWT headers", function()
+          local body = ngx.decode_args(test_backend.get_requests()[1].body)
+          local jwt_obj = resty_jwt:load_jwt(body.client_assertion)
+          assert.same(jwt_obj.header.typ, "JWT")
+          assert.same(jwt_obj.header.alg, "RS256")
+        end)
+
+        it("has correct JWT body", function()
+          local body = ngx.decode_args(test_backend.get_requests()[1].body)
+          local jwt_obj = resty_jwt:load_jwt(body.client_assertion)
+          assert.same(jwt_obj.payload.sub, test_client_id)
+          assert.same(jwt_obj.payload.iss, test_client_id)
+          assert.truthy(jwt_obj.signature)
+          assert.truthy(jwt_obj.payload.jti)
+          assert.truthy(jwt_obj.payload.exp)
+          assert.is_true(jwt_obj.payload.exp > os.time())
+        end)
+      end)
+
+      it('failed with invalid token', function()
+        local policy_config = {
+          auth_type = auth_type,
+          introspection_url = introspection_url,
+          client_id = test_client_id,
+          client_secret = test_client_secret,
+          client_jwt_assertion_audience = audience,
+          certificate_type= "path",
+          certificate = certificate_path
+        }
+        test_backend
+          .expect{
+            url = introspection_url,
+            method = 'POST',
+          }
+          .respond_with{
+            status = 200,
+            body = cjson.encode({
+                active = false
+            })
+          }
+        stub(ngx, 'say')
+        stub(ngx, 'exit')
+
+        local token_policy = TokenIntrospection.new(policy_config)
+        token_policy.http_client.backend = test_backend
+        token_policy:access(context)
+        assert_authentication_failed()
+      end)
+    end)
+
     describe('when caching is enabled', function()
       local introspection_url = "http://example/token/introspection"
       local policy_config = {
diff --git a/t/apicast-policy-token-introspection.t b/t/apicast-policy-token-introspection.t
index bef0889c2..a646f3a19 100644
--- a/t/apicast-policy-token-introspection.t
+++ b/t/apicast-policy-token-introspection.t
@@ -847,3 +847,187 @@ Authentication failed
 --- no_error_log
 [error]
 oauth failed with
+
+
+
+=== TEST 13: Token introspection request success with private_key_jwt method
+--- backend
+  location /token/introspection {
+    content_by_lua_block {
+      ngx.req.read_body()
+      local args, err = ngx.req.get_post_args()
+      local assert = require('luassert')
+      assert.same(args.client_id, "app")
+      assert.same(args.client_assertion_type, "urn:ietf:params:oauth:client-assertion-type:jwt-bearer")
+      assert.is_not_nil(args.client_assertion)
+
+      local resty_jwt = require "resty.jwt"
+      local jwt_obj = resty_jwt:load_jwt(args.client_assertion)
+      assert.same(jwt_obj.header.typ, "JWT")
+      assert.same(jwt_obj.header.alg, "RS256")
+      assert.same(jwt_obj.payload.sub, "app")
+      assert.same(jwt_obj.payload.iss, "app")
+      assert.same(jwt_obj.payload.aud, "http://test_backend/auth/realms/basic")
+      assert.truthy(jwt_obj.signature)
+      assert.truthy(jwt_obj.payload.jti)
+      assert.truthy(jwt_obj.payload.exp)
+      assert.is_true(jwt_obj.payload.exp > os.time())
+      ngx.say('{"active": true}')
+    }
+  }
+
+  location /transactions/oauth_authrep.xml {
+    content_by_lua_block {
+      ngx.exit(200)
+    }
+  }
+
+--- configuration
+{
+  "oidc": [
+    {
+      "issuer": "https://example.com/auth/realms/apicast",
+      "config": {
+        "id_token_signing_alg_values_supported": [ "RS256" ],
+        "introspection_endpoint": "http://test_backend:$TEST_NGINX_SERVER_PORT/token/introspection"
+      },
+      "keys": { "somekid": { "pem": "-----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----\nMFwwDQYJKoZIhvcNAQEBBQADSwAwSAJBALClz96cDQ965ENYMfZzG+Acu25lpx2K\nNpAALBQ+catCA59us7+uLY5rjQR6SOgZpCz5PJiKNAdRPDJMXSmXqM0CAwEAAQ==\n-----END PUBLIC KEY-----", "alg": "RS256" } }
+    }
+  ],
+  "services": [
+    {
+      "id": 42,
+      "backend_version": "oauth",
+      "backend_authentication_type": "service_token",
+      "backend_authentication_value": "token-value",
+      "proxy": {
+        "authentication_method": "oidc",
+        "oidc_issuer_endpoint": "http://app:appsec@test_backend:$TEST_NGINX_SERVER_PORT/issuer/endpoint",
+        "api_backend": "http://test:$TEST_NGINX_SERVER_PORT/",
+        "proxy_rules": [
+          { "pattern": "/", "http_method": "GET", "metric_system_name": "hits", "delta": 1 }
+        ],
+        "policy_chain": [
+          {
+            "name": "apicast.policy.token_introspection",
+            "configuration": {
+              "auth_type": "private_key_jwt",
+              "client_id": "app",
+              "introspection_url": "http://test_backend:$TEST_NGINX_SERVER_PORT/token/introspection",
+              "client_jwt_assertion_audience": "http://test_backend/auth/realms/basic",
+              "certificate_type": "embedded",
+              "certificate": "data:application/x-x509-ca-cert;name=rsa.pem;base64,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"
+            }
+          },
+          { "name": "apicast.policy.apicast" }
+        ]
+      }
+    }
+  ]
+}
+--- upstream
+  location /echo {
+    content_by_lua_block {
+      ngx.say('yay, api backend');
+    }
+  }
+--- user_files
+--- request
+GET /echo
+--- more_headers eval
+use Crypt::JWT qw(encode_jwt);
+my $jwt = encode_jwt(payload => {
+  aud => 'the_token_audience',
+  sub => 'someone',
+  iss => 'https://example.com/auth/realms/apicast',
+  exp => time + 3600 }, key => \$::rsa, alg => 'RS256', extra_headers => { kid => 'somekid' });
+"Authorization: Bearer $jwt"
+--- error_code: 200
+--- response_body
+yay, api backend
+--- no_error_log
+[error]
+oauth failed with
+
+
+
+=== TEST 14: Token introspection request failed with private_key_jwt method
+--- backend
+  location /token/introspection {
+    content_by_lua_block {
+      ngx.say('{"active": false}')
+    }
+  }
+
+  location /transactions/oauth_authrep.xml {
+    content_by_lua_block {
+      ngx.exit(200)
+    }
+  }
+
+--- configuration
+{
+  "oidc": [
+    {
+      "issuer": "https://example.com/auth/realms/apicast",
+      "config": {
+        "id_token_signing_alg_values_supported": [ "RS256" ],
+        "introspection_endpoint": "http://test_backend:$TEST_NGINX_SERVER_PORT/token/introspection"
+      },
+      "keys": { "somekid": { "pem": "-----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----\nMFwwDQYJKoZIhvcNAQEBBQADSwAwSAJBALClz96cDQ965ENYMfZzG+Acu25lpx2K\nNpAALBQ+catCA59us7+uLY5rjQR6SOgZpCz5PJiKNAdRPDJMXSmXqM0CAwEAAQ==\n-----END PUBLIC KEY-----", "alg": "RS256" } }
+    }
+  ],
+  "services": [
+    {
+      "id": 42,
+      "backend_version": "oauth",
+      "backend_authentication_type": "service_token",
+      "backend_authentication_value": "token-value",
+      "proxy": {
+        "authentication_method": "oidc",
+        "oidc_issuer_endpoint": "http://app:appsec@test_backend:$TEST_NGINX_SERVER_PORT/issuer/endpoint",
+        "api_backend": "http://test:$TEST_NGINX_SERVER_PORT/",
+        "proxy_rules": [
+          { "pattern": "/", "http_method": "GET", "metric_system_name": "hits", "delta": 1 }
+        ],
+        "policy_chain": [
+          {
+            "name": "apicast.policy.token_introspection",
+            "configuration": {
+              "auth_type": "private_key_jwt",
+              "client_id": "app",
+              "introspection_url": "http://test_backend:$TEST_NGINX_SERVER_PORT/token/introspection",
+              "client_jwt_assertion_audience": "http://test_backend/auth/realms/basic",
+              "certificate_type": "embedded",
+              "certificate": "data:application/x-x509-ca-cert;name=rsa.pem;base64,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"
+            }
+          },
+          { "name": "apicast.policy.apicast" }
+        ]
+      }
+    }
+  ]
+}
+--- upstream
+  location /echo {
+    content_by_lua_block {
+      ngx.say('yay, api backend');
+    }
+  }
+--- user_files
+--- request
+GET /echo
+--- more_headers eval
+use Crypt::JWT qw(encode_jwt);
+my $jwt = encode_jwt(payload => {
+  aud => 'the_token_audience',
+  sub => 'someone',
+  iss => 'https://example.com/auth/realms/apicast',
+  exp => time + 3600 }, key => \$::rsa, alg => 'RS256', extra_headers => { kid => 'somekid' });
+"Authorization: Bearer $jwt"
+--- error_code: 403
+--- response_body
+Authentication failed
+--- no_error_log
+[error]
+oauth failed with