diff --git a/litellm/proxy/auth/login_utils.py b/litellm/proxy/auth/login_utils.py
index 9783f44b41f..b798c7510cc 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/auth/login_utils.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/auth/login_utils.py
@@ -338,6 +338,7 @@ async def _sign_in(
         if os.getenv("DATABASE_URL") is not None:
             response = await generate_key_helper_fn(
                 llm_router=None,
+                expires=None,
                 request_type="key",
                 **{
                     "user_role": LitellmUserRoles.PROXY_ADMIN,
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/internal_user_endpoints.py b/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/internal_user_endpoints.py
index d6bf9220551..42093b99004 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/internal_user_endpoints.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/internal_user_endpoints.py
@@ -594,7 +594,7 @@ async def new_user(
             teams = check_if_default_team_set()
         organization_ids: Final = cast(list[str] | None, data_json.pop("organizations", None))
 
-        response: Final = await generate_key_helper_fn(request_type="user", **data_json, llm_router=None)
+        response: Final = await generate_key_helper_fn(request_type="user", **data_json, expires=None, llm_router=None)
         created_user_id: Final = cast(str | None, response.get("user_id", None))
         if created_user_id is not None:
             forget_missing_user(created_user_id)
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/key_management_endpoints.py b/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/key_management_endpoints.py
index f7b72b263d4..f4b89672bca 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/key_management_endpoints.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/key_management_endpoints.py
@@ -477,6 +477,12 @@ def _generate_budget_windows(
     )
 
 
+def _key_expiration(data: GenerateKeyRequest | UpdateKeyRequest, now: datetime) -> datetime | None:
+    if "expires" in data.model_fields_set:
+        return data.expires
+    return now + timedelta(seconds=duration_in_seconds(data.duration)) if data.duration is not None else None
+
+
 def _effective_key_for_generate(data: GenerateKeyRequest, now: datetime) -> LiteLLM_VerificationToken:
     requested: Final = _as_object_dict(data.model_dump(exclude_unset=True, exclude_none=True))
     metadata_fields: Final = MappingProxyType(
@@ -494,9 +500,6 @@ def _effective_key_for_generate(data: GenerateKeyRequest, now: datetime) -> Lite
         if default_allowed_routes is None
         else {**preset_columns, "allowed_routes": list(default_allowed_routes)}
     )
-    expires: Final = (
-        now + timedelta(seconds=duration_in_seconds(duration=data.duration)) if data.duration is not None else None
-    )
     budget_reset_at: Final = (
         get_budget_reset_time(budget_duration=data.budget_duration) if data.budget_duration is not None else None
     )
@@ -510,7 +513,7 @@ def _effective_key_for_generate(data: GenerateKeyRequest, now: datetime) -> Lite
             {
                 **columns,
                 "metadata": encrypt_callback_vars(folded_metadata),
-                "expires": expires,
+                "expires": _key_expiration(data, now),
                 "budget_reset_at": budget_reset_at,
                 "key_rotation_at": key_rotation_at,
                 "budget_limits": _generate_budget_windows(data.budget_limits),
@@ -1329,9 +1332,23 @@ async def validate_team_id_used_in_service_account_request(
     return True
 
 
+def _key_expiration_limit_error(
+    expires: datetime | None, max_duration: str | None, now: datetime, source: str
+) -> str | None:
+    if max_duration is None:
+        return None
+    if expires is None:
+        return f"expires cannot be null when {source} sets a maximum key duration"
+    if expires > now + timedelta(seconds=duration_in_seconds(max_duration)):
+        return f"expires exceeds the maximum key duration set by {source}: {max_duration}"
+    return None
+
+
 def _enforce_upperbound_key_params(
     data: GenerateKeyRequest | UpdateKeyRequest,
     fill_defaults: bool = True,
+    *,
+    now: datetime | None = None,
 ) -> None:
     """
     Enforce upperbound limits on key parameters.
@@ -1362,9 +1379,26 @@ def _enforce_upperbound_key_params(
     if litellm.upperbound_key_generate_params is None:
         return
 
+    expiration_error: Final = (
+        _key_expiration_limit_error(
+            data.expires,
+            litellm.upperbound_key_generate_params.duration,
+            now if now is not None else datetime.now(timezone.utc),
+            "upperbound_key_generate_params",
+        )
+        if "expires" in data.model_fields_set
+        else None
+    )
+    if expiration_error is not None:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail={"error": expiration_error})
+
     for elem in data:
         key, value = elem
-        upperbound_value = getattr(litellm.upperbound_key_generate_params, key, None)
+        upperbound_value = (
+            None
+            if key == "duration" and "expires" in data.model_fields_set
+            else getattr(litellm.upperbound_key_generate_params, key, None)
+        )
         if upperbound_value is not None:
             if value is None:
                 if fill_defaults:
@@ -1434,6 +1468,8 @@ async def _common_key_generation_helper(
     user_api_key_dict: UserAPIKeyAuth,
     litellm_changed_by: str | None,
     team_table: LiteLLM_TeamTableCachedObj | None,
+    *,
+    now: datetime | None = None,
 ) -> GenerateKeyResponse:
     from litellm.proxy import proxy_server
     from litellm.proxy.proxy_server import (
@@ -1519,6 +1555,7 @@ async def _common_key_generation_helper(
             if (
                 value is None
                 and (key != "budget_duration" or key not in data.model_fields_set)
+                and (key != "duration" or "expires" not in data.model_fields_set)
                 and key
                 in [
                     "max_budget",
@@ -1540,7 +1577,8 @@ async def _common_key_generation_helper(
                 setattr(data, key, litellm.default_key_generate_params.get(key, {}))
 
     # check if user set upperbound key/generate params on config.yaml
-    _enforce_upperbound_key_params(data, fill_defaults=True)
+    generation_time: Final = now if now is not None else datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+    _enforce_upperbound_key_params(data, fill_defaults=True, now=generation_time)
 
     _enforce_budget_delegation_ceiling(
         requested_max_budget=_requested_max_budget,
@@ -1572,13 +1610,27 @@ async def _common_key_generation_helper(
             "litellm.proxy.proxy_server.generate_key_fn(): Enterprise key management params not applied - %s", e
         )
 
+    generation_expires: Final = _key_expiration(data, generation_time)
+    if "expires" in data.model_fields_set and team_table is not None and data.user_id is not None:
+        team_metadata: Final = TypeAdapter[dict[str, object]](dict[str, object]).validate_python(
+            team_table.metadata or {}  # pyright: ignore[reportUnknownMemberType]  # legacy model declares metadata as bare dict
+        )
+        team_duration: Final = TypeAdapter[str | None](str | None).validate_python(
+            team_metadata.get("team_member_key_duration")
+        )
+        team_expiration_error: Final = _key_expiration_limit_error(
+            generation_expires, team_duration, generation_time, "team_member_key_duration"
+        )
+        if team_expiration_error is not None:
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail={"error": team_expiration_error})
+
     await _enforce_custom_key_policy(
         hook=_custom_key_policy_hook(proxy_server),
         build_policy_request=lambda: CustomKeyPolicyRequest(
             operation="generate",
             existing_key=None,
             effective_key=_effective_key_for_generate(
-                data=_member_key_request(data, acting_as_team_admin), now=datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+                data=_member_key_request(data, acting_as_team_admin), now=generation_time
             ),
             request=data,
         ),
@@ -1798,7 +1850,12 @@ async def _common_key_generation_helper(
 
     try:
         response = await generate_key_helper_fn(
-            request_type="key", **data_json, table_name="key", llm_router=llm_router
+            request_type="key",
+            **{field: value for field, value in data_json.items() if field not in {"duration", "expires"}},
+            duration=None,
+            expires=generation_expires,
+            table_name="key",
+            llm_router=llm_router,
         )
     except KeyProjectBindingError:
         if prisma_client is not None:
@@ -2304,6 +2361,7 @@ async def generate_key_fn(
 
     Parameters:
     - duration: Optional[str] - Specify the length of time the token is valid for. You can set duration as seconds ("30s"), minutes ("30m"), hours ("30h"), days ("30d").
+    - expires: Optional[datetime] - Absolute expiration with a timezone, overriding duration when supplied. Null requests no expiration, subject to lifetime limits. Past timestamps expire the key immediately.
     - key_alias: Optional[str] - User defined key alias
     - key: Optional[str] - User defined key value. Must start with 'sk-' and be at least 16 characters long. If not set, a 16-digit unique sk-key is created for you.
     - team_id: Optional[str] - The team id of the key
@@ -2870,13 +2928,13 @@ async def prepare_key_update_data(
 
     if "duration" in non_default_values:
         duration: Final = non_default_values.pop("duration")
-        if duration is None or duration == "-1":
-            # Set expires to None to indicate the key never expires
-            non_default_values["expires"] = None
-        elif duration and (isinstance(duration, str)) and len(duration) > 0:
-            duration_s: Final = duration_in_seconds(duration=duration)
-            expires: Final = datetime.now(timezone.utc) + timedelta(seconds=duration_s)
-            non_default_values["expires"] = expires
+        if "expires" not in non_default_values:
+            if duration is None or duration == "-1":
+                non_default_values["expires"] = None
+            elif duration and (isinstance(duration, str)) and len(duration) > 0:
+                duration_s: Final = duration_in_seconds(duration=duration)
+                expires: Final = datetime.now(timezone.utc) + timedelta(seconds=duration_s)
+                non_default_values["expires"] = expires
 
     if "budget_duration" in non_default_values:
         budget_duration: Final = non_default_values.pop("budget_duration")
@@ -3874,6 +3932,7 @@ async def update_key_fn(
     - rpm_limit_type: Optional[str] - RPM rate limit type - "best_effort_throughput", "guaranteed_throughput", or "dynamic"
     - allowed_cache_controls: Optional[list] - List of allowed cache control values
     - duration: Optional[str] - Key validity duration ("30d", "1h", etc.), null to never expire, or "-1" to never expire (deprecated, use null)
+    - expires: Optional[datetime] - Absolute expiration with a timezone, overriding duration when supplied. Omit to retain expiration, or use null to clear it when lifetime limits allow. Past timestamps expire the key immediately.
     - permissions: Optional[dict] - Key-specific permissions
     - send_invite_email: Optional[bool] - Send invite email to user_id
     - guardrails: Optional[List[str]] - List of active guardrails for the key
@@ -5103,6 +5162,7 @@ async def generate_key_helper_fn(
     access_group_ids: list[str] | None = None,
     budget_limits: list | None = None,  # multiple concurrent budget windows
     *,
+    expires: datetime | None = None,
     llm_router: Router | None = None,
 ):
     from litellm.proxy.proxy_server import premium_user, prisma_client
@@ -5123,12 +5183,11 @@ async def generate_key_helper_fn(
         else:
             token = f"sk-{secrets.token_urlsafe(LENGTH_OF_LITELLM_GENERATED_KEY)}"
 
-    if duration is None:  # allow tokens that never expire
-        expires = None
-    else:
-        # Add duration to current time for exact expiration (not standardized reset time)
-        duration_seconds: Final = duration_in_seconds(duration)
-        expires = datetime.now(timezone.utc) + timedelta(seconds=duration_seconds)
+    effective_expires: Final = (
+        expires
+        if expires is not None or duration is None
+        else datetime.now(timezone.utc) + timedelta(seconds=duration_in_seconds(duration))
+    )
 
     if key_budget_duration is None:  # one-time budget
         key_reset_at = None
@@ -5205,7 +5264,7 @@ async def generate_key_helper_fn(
         key_data: Final = {
             "token": token,
             "key_alias": key_alias,
-            "expires": expires,
+            "expires": effective_expires,
             "models": models,
             "aliases": aliases_json,
             "config": config_json,
@@ -6315,6 +6374,7 @@ async def regenerate_key_fn(
         - model_tpm_limit: Optional[dict] - Model-specific TPM limits {"gpt-4": 100000, "claude-v1": 200000}
         - allowed_cache_controls: Optional[list] - List of allowed cache control values
         - duration: Optional[str] - Key validity duration ("30d", "1h", etc.)
+        - expires: Optional[datetime] - Absolute expiration with a timezone, overriding duration when supplied. Omit to retain expiration, or use null to clear it when lifetime limits allow. Past timestamps expire the key immediately.
         - permissions: Optional[dict] - Key-specific permissions
         - guardrails: Optional[List[str]] - List of active guardrails for the key
         - blocked: Optional[bool] - Whether the key is blocked
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py b/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
index 3b36ea5afce..c71287e4d11 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
@@ -18942,6 +18942,7 @@ async def _generate_onboarding_ui_session_token(user_obj: _UserTableRow) -> str:
 
     response: Final = await generate_key_helper_fn(
         llm_router=llm_router,
+        expires=None,
         request_type="key",
         **{
             "user_role": user_obj.user_role,
diff --git a/litellm/types/proxy/management_endpoints/key_management_endpoints.py b/litellm/types/proxy/management_endpoints/key_management_endpoints.py
index f4348391710..b61f17b012a 100644
--- a/litellm/types/proxy/management_endpoints/key_management_endpoints.py
+++ b/litellm/types/proxy/management_endpoints/key_management_endpoints.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from collections.abc import Mapping
 from datetime import datetime
 from typing import Any, Final, Literal, TypeAlias
 
@@ -39,6 +40,14 @@ class BulkUpdateKeyRequestItem(LiteLLMBaseModel):
     tags: list[str] | None = None  # Tags for organizing keys
     object_permission: LiteLLM_ObjectPermissionBase | None = None
 
+    @model_validator(mode="before")
+    @classmethod
+    def reject_expiration(cls, values: object) -> object:
+        original: Final[object] = values
+        if "expires" in (values if isinstance(values, Mapping) else {}):
+            raise ValueError("Use /key/update to change expires; /key/bulk_update does not support expiration changes")
+        return original
+
 
 class BulkUpdateKeyRequest(LiteLLMBaseModel):
     """Request for bulk key updates"""
diff --git a/litellm/types/proxy/management_endpoints/key_requests.py b/litellm/types/proxy/management_endpoints/key_requests.py
index 172357d8ac4..398f2c7f982 100644
--- a/litellm/types/proxy/management_endpoints/key_requests.py
+++ b/litellm/types/proxy/management_endpoints/key_requests.py
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ import enum
 from collections.abc import Mapping
 from datetime import datetime
 from types import MappingProxyType
-from typing import Any, Literal  # noqa: TID251  # allowed_routes and metadata stay Any for existing callers
+from typing import Annotated, Any, Literal  # noqa: TID251  # allowed_routes and metadata stay Any for existing callers
 
-from pydantic import Field, PositiveInt, field_validator, model_validator
+from pydantic import AwareDatetime, Field, PositiveInt, field_validator, model_validator
 from typing_extensions import TypeIs  # noqa: TID251  # narrows the raw payload a before-validator receives
 
 from litellm.types.proxy.management_endpoints.request_base import GenerateRequestBase
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ class LiteLLMKeyType(str, enum.Enum):
 
 
 class GenerateKeyRequest(KeyRequestBase):
+    expires: Annotated[datetime, AwareDatetime] | None = Field(
+        default=None,
+        description="Absolute expiration with a timezone. When supplied, overrides duration. Null means no expiration, subject to lifetime limits. Past timestamps expire the key immediately.",
+    )
     tpm_limit: int | None = Field(default=None, ge=0)
     rpm_limit: int | None = Field(default=None, ge=0)
     soft_budget: float | None = None
@@ -84,6 +88,10 @@ def _is_mapping(value: object) -> TypeIs[Mapping[object, object]]:  # guard-ok:
 
 
 class UpdateKeyRequest(KeyRequestBase):
+    expires: Annotated[datetime, AwareDatetime] | None = Field(
+        default=None,
+        description="Absolute expiration with a timezone. When supplied, overrides duration. Omit to retain expiration, or use null to clear it when lifetime limits allow. Past timestamps expire the key immediately.",
+    )
     tpm_limit: int | None = Field(default=None, ge=0)
     rpm_limit: int | None = Field(default=None, ge=0)
     # Note: the defaults of all Params here MUST BE NONE
diff --git a/tests/unit/proxy/management_endpoints/test_key_management_endpoints.py b/tests/unit/proxy/management_endpoints/test_key_management_endpoints.py
index 9634f1efce8..96e89ab13b4 100644
--- a/tests/unit/proxy/management_endpoints/test_key_management_endpoints.py
+++ b/tests/unit/proxy/management_endpoints/test_key_management_endpoints.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import pytest
 import yaml
 from fastapi import HTTPException
 from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
-from pydantic import JsonValue
+from pydantic import JsonValue, ValidationError
 
 import litellm
 from litellm.constants import PROXY_DB_LOOKUP_STALL_WINDOW_SECONDS
@@ -101,7 +101,9 @@ from litellm.types.proxy.management_endpoints.key_management_endpoints import (
     BulkUpdateKeyRequest,
     BulkUpdateKeyResponse,
     CustomKeyPolicyRequest,
+    KeyUpdateFields,
 )
+from litellm.types.proxy.management_endpoints.ui_sso import LiteLLM_UpperboundKeyGenerateParams
 
 client = TestClient(app)
 
@@ -23372,3 +23374,185 @@ def test_key_info_database_not_connected_sanitized_500(
         assert "Database not connected" in caplog.text
     finally:
         proxy_server.app.dependency_overrides.pop(user_api_key_auth, None)
+
+
+_EXPIRATION_NOW: Final = datetime(2030, 1, 1, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+_EXPIRATION_OFFSET: Final = "2030-01-01T05:30:00.123456+02:00"
+_EXPIRATION_INSTANT: Final = datetime.fromisoformat(_EXPIRATION_OFFSET).astimezone(timezone.utc)
+_EXPIRATION_BOUNDARY: Final = _EXPIRATION_NOW + timedelta(days=1)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("request_type", (GenerateKeyRequest, UpdateKeyRequest, RegenerateKeyRequest))
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("expires", ("not-a-date", "2030-01-01T05:30:00", datetime(2030, 1, 1)))
+def test_key_expiration_rejects_malformed_or_naive_input(
+    request_type: type[GenerateKeyRequest] | type[UpdateKeyRequest], expires: str | datetime
+) -> None:
+    with pytest.raises(ValidationError, match="expires"):
+        request_type.model_validate({"key": "sk-expiration", "expires": expires})
+
+
+def test_key_expiration_response_still_accepts_legacy_naive_datetime() -> None:
+    naive: Final = datetime(2030, 1, 1)
+    response: Final = GenerateKeyResponse(key="sk-expiration", expires=naive)
+    assert response.expires == naive
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("payload", "default_duration", "member", "expected", "rejected"),
+    (
+        ({"expires": _EXPIRATION_OFFSET, "duration": "30d"}, "1d", None, _EXPIRATION_INSTANT, False),
+        ({"expires": None, "duration": "30d"}, "1d", None, None, False),
+        ({}, "1d", None, _EXPIRATION_BOUNDARY, False),
+        ({"duration": "1h"}, None, None, _EXPIRATION_NOW + timedelta(hours=1), False),
+        ({}, None, None, None, False),
+        ({"expires": _EXPIRATION_NOW - timedelta(seconds=1)}, None, None,
+         _EXPIRATION_NOW - timedelta(seconds=1), False),
+        ({"expires": _EXPIRATION_BOUNDARY}, None, True, _EXPIRATION_BOUNDARY, False),
+        ({"duration": "2h"}, None, True, _EXPIRATION_BOUNDARY, False),
+        ({"expires": _EXPIRATION_BOUNDARY + timedelta(microseconds=1)}, None, True, None, True),
+        ({"expires": None}, None, True, None, True),
+        ({"expires": None}, None, False, None, False),
+        ({"expires": _EXPIRATION_NOW + timedelta(days=2)}, None, False,
+         _EXPIRATION_NOW + timedelta(days=2), False),
+    ),
+    ids=("absolute-overrides-duration-and-default", "null-overrides-duration-and-default",
+         "default-duration", "relative-duration", "no-expiration", "already-expired",
+         "member-at-limit", "legacy-member-duration", "member-over-limit", "member-cannot-clear",
+         "service-account-can-clear", "service-account-exempt"),
+)
+async def test_key_expiration_generation_policy_storage_and_response_agree(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+    payload: dict[str, object],
+    default_duration: str | None,
+    member: bool | None,
+    expected: datetime | None,
+    rejected: bool,
+) -> None:
+    insert_data: Final = _wire_key_generation_prisma(monkeypatch)
+    policy: Final = AsyncMock(return_value={"decision": True})
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        litellm, "default_key_generate_params",
+        {"duration": default_duration} if default_duration is not None else None,
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        litellm, "upperbound_key_generate_params", LiteLLM_UpperboundKeyGenerateParams(max_budget=10)
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr("litellm.proxy.proxy_server.user_custom_key_policy", policy)
+    team: Final = (
+        LiteLLM_TeamTableCachedObj(team_id="expiry-team", metadata={"team_member_key_duration": "1d"})
+        if member is not None else None
+    )
+    request: Final = GenerateKeyRequest.model_validate(
+        {
+            **payload,
+            "user_id": "expiry-member" if member else None,
+            "team_id": team.team_id if team is not None else None,
+        }
+    )
+    caller: Final = UserAPIKeyAuth(user_role=LitellmUserRoles.PROXY_ADMIN, user_id="expiry-admin")
+    if rejected:
+        with pytest.raises(HTTPException, match="team_member_key_duration") as exc:
+            await _common_key_generation_helper(
+                data=request,
+                user_api_key_dict=caller,
+                litellm_changed_by=None,
+                team_table=team,
+                now=_EXPIRATION_NOW,
+            )
+        assert exc.value.status_code == 400
+        insert_data.assert_not_awaited()
+        policy.assert_not_awaited()
+        return
+    response: Final = await _common_key_generation_helper(
+        data=request,
+        user_api_key_dict=caller,
+        litellm_changed_by=None,
+        team_table=team,
+        now=_EXPIRATION_NOW,
+    )
+    saved: Final = next(
+        call.kwargs["data"] for call in insert_data.await_args_list if call.kwargs["table_name"] == "key"
+    )
+    policy.assert_awaited_once()
+    policy_request: Final = CustomKeyPolicyRequest.model_validate(policy.await_args.args[0])
+    assert policy_request.effective_key.expires == saved["expires"] == response.expires == expected
+    assert policy_request.effective_key.max_budget == saved["max_budget"] == response.max_budget == 10
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("request_type", (UpdateKeyRequest, RegenerateKeyRequest))
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("payload", "expected", "writes_expiration"),
+    (
+        ({"expires": _EXPIRATION_OFFSET, "duration": "not-a-duration"}, _EXPIRATION_INSTANT, True),
+        ({"expires": None, "duration": "1h"}, None, True),
+        ({}, _EXPIRATION_BOUNDARY, False),
+        ({"duration": None}, None, True),
+        ({"duration": ""}, _EXPIRATION_BOUNDARY, False),
+    ),
+    ids=("absolute-precedence", "null-precedence", "omitted", "relative-clear", "blank-duration"),
+)
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_key_expiration_update_and_regenerate_preserve_intent(
+    request_type: type[UpdateKeyRequest] | type[RegenerateKeyRequest],
+    payload: dict[str, object],
+    expected: datetime | None,
+    writes_expiration: bool,
+) -> None:
+    existing: Final = LiteLLM_VerificationToken(token="expiry-token", expires=_EXPIRATION_BOUNDARY)
+    request: Final = request_type.model_validate({"key": "expiry-token", **payload})
+    prepared: Final = await prepare_key_update_data(data=request, existing_key_row=existing)
+    effective: Final = _effective_key_after_update(existing_key_row=existing, non_default_values=prepared)
+    assert ("expires" in prepared) is writes_expiration
+    assert "duration" not in prepared
+    assert effective.expires == expected
+    assert existing.expires == _EXPIRATION_BOUNDARY
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("request_type", (GenerateKeyRequest, UpdateKeyRequest, RegenerateKeyRequest))
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("payload", "rejected"),
+    (
+        ({"expires": _EXPIRATION_BOUNDARY.astimezone(timezone(timedelta(hours=5, minutes=30))),
+          "duration": "30d"}, False),
+        ({"expires": _EXPIRATION_BOUNDARY + timedelta(microseconds=1)}, True),
+        ({"expires": None, "duration": "1h"}, True),
+        ({}, False),
+        ({"duration": None}, False),
+    ),
+    ids=("same-instant-boundary-and-precedence", "over-limit", "explicit-clear", "omitted", "relative-clear"),
+)
+def test_key_expiration_upperbound_checks_effective_deadline(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+    request_type: type[GenerateKeyRequest] | type[UpdateKeyRequest],
+    payload: dict[str, object],
+    rejected: bool,
+) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        litellm, "upperbound_key_generate_params", LiteLLM_UpperboundKeyGenerateParams(duration="1d")
+    )
+    request: Final = request_type.model_validate({"key": "sk-expiration", **payload})
+    fill_defaults: Final = request_type is GenerateKeyRequest
+    if rejected:
+        with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as exc:
+            _enforce_upperbound_key_params(request, fill_defaults=fill_defaults, now=_EXPIRATION_NOW)
+        assert exc.value.status_code == 400
+        return
+    _enforce_upperbound_key_params(request, fill_defaults=fill_defaults, now=_EXPIRATION_NOW)
+    if "expires" in payload:
+        assert request.expires == _EXPIRATION_BOUNDARY
+    elif fill_defaults:
+        assert request.duration == "1d"
+    elif "duration" in payload:
+        assert "duration" in request.model_fields_set
+        assert request.duration is None
+    else:
+        assert "duration" not in request.model_fields_set
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("expires", (_EXPIRATION_OFFSET, None))
+def test_key_expiration_bulk_requests_do_not_silently_discard_input(expires: str | None) -> None:
+    with pytest.raises(ValidationError, match="/key/update"):
+        BulkUpdateKeyRequest.model_validate({"keys": [{"key": "expiry-token", "expires": expires}]})
+    with pytest.raises(ValidationError, match="expires"):
+        KeyUpdateFields.model_validate({"expires": expires})
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/organisms/createKeyPayload.test.ts b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/organisms/createKeyPayload.test.ts
index 7c6d5def8da..f084829a582 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/organisms/createKeyPayload.test.ts
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/organisms/createKeyPayload.test.ts
@@ -131,6 +131,23 @@ describe("duration", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("absolute expiration", () => {
+  it.each(["", "   "])("omits a cleared expiration from the request (%j)", (expires) => {
+    const payload = payloadOf(build({ key_alias: "my-key", expires }));
+    expect(JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(payload))).toStrictEqual(aliasOnly());
+  });
+
+  it.each(["2030-01-01T10:30:00+05:30", null])("preserves an explicit expiration (%j)", (expires) => {
+    const payload = payloadOf(build({ key_alias: "my-key", expires }));
+    expect(JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(payload))).toStrictEqual(aliasOnly({ expires }));
+  });
+
+  it("omits an untouched expiration without turning it into an explicit null", () => {
+    const payload = payloadOf(build({ key_alias: "my-key", expires: undefined }));
+    expect(JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(payload))).toStrictEqual(aliasOnly());
+  });
+});
+
 describe("key ownership", () => {
   it("overwrites user_id with the signed-in user when the key is owned by you", () => {
     expect(payloadOf(build({ key_alias: "my-key", user_id: "someone-else" }))).toStrictEqual(
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/organisms/createKeyPayload.ts b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/organisms/createKeyPayload.ts
index 311e9357825..1f5f54cfa82 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/organisms/createKeyPayload.ts
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/organisms/createKeyPayload.ts
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@ export const buildKeyCreatePayload = (input: KeyCreateInput): KeyPayloadResult =
     endpoint: input.keyOwner === "service_account" ? "service_account" : "standard",
     payload: {
       ...withoutKeys(values, dropped),
+      ...(typeof values.expires === "string" && values.expires.trim() === "" && { expires: undefined }),
       ...(values.organization_id === null && { organization_id: undefined }),
       ...(values.project_id === null && { project_id: undefined }),
       ...(input.keyOwner === "you" && { user_id: input.userID }),
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/lib/http/schema.d.ts b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/lib/http/schema.d.ts
index 13a8a8b993d..1f50d83bb38 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/lib/http/schema.d.ts
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/lib/http/schema.d.ts
@@ -8451,6 +8451,7 @@ export interface paths {
          *
          *     Parameters:
          *     - duration: Optional[str] - Specify the length of time the token is valid for. You can set duration as seconds ("30s"), minutes ("30m"), hours ("30h"), days ("30d").
+         *     - expires: Optional[datetime] - Absolute expiration with a timezone, overriding duration when supplied. Null requests no expiration, subject to lifetime limits. Past timestamps expire the key immediately.
          *     - key_alias: Optional[str] - User defined key alias
          *     - key: Optional[str] - User defined key value. Must start with 'sk-' and be at least 16 characters long. If not set, a 16-digit unique sk-key is created for you.
          *     - team_id: Optional[str] - The team id of the key
@@ -8733,6 +8734,7 @@ export interface paths {
          *         - model_tpm_limit: Optional[dict] - Model-specific TPM limits {"gpt-4": 100000, "claude-v1": 200000}
          *         - allowed_cache_controls: Optional[list] - List of allowed cache control values
          *         - duration: Optional[str] - Key validity duration ("30d", "1h", etc.)
+         *         - expires: Optional[datetime] - Absolute expiration with a timezone, overriding duration when supplied. Omit to retain expiration, or use null to clear it when lifetime limits allow. Past timestamps expire the key immediately.
          *         - permissions: Optional[dict] - Key-specific permissions
          *         - guardrails: Optional[List[str]] - List of active guardrails for the key
          *         - blocked: Optional[bool] - Whether the key is blocked
@@ -8950,6 +8952,7 @@ export interface paths {
          *     - rpm_limit_type: Optional[str] - RPM rate limit type - "best_effort_throughput", "guaranteed_throughput", or "dynamic"
          *     - allowed_cache_controls: Optional[list] - List of allowed cache control values
          *     - duration: Optional[str] - Key validity duration ("30d", "1h", etc.), null to never expire, or "-1" to never expire (deprecated, use null)
+         *     - expires: Optional[datetime] - Absolute expiration with a timezone, overriding duration when supplied. Omit to retain expiration, or use null to clear it when lifetime limits allow. Past timestamps expire the key immediately.
          *     - permissions: Optional[dict] - Key-specific permissions
          *     - send_invite_email: Optional[bool] - Send invite email to user_id
          *     - guardrails: Optional[List[str]] - List of active guardrails for the key
@@ -9032,6 +9035,7 @@ export interface paths {
          *         - model_tpm_limit: Optional[dict] - Model-specific TPM limits {"gpt-4": 100000, "claude-v1": 200000}
          *         - allowed_cache_controls: Optional[list] - List of allowed cache control values
          *         - duration: Optional[str] - Key validity duration ("30d", "1h", etc.)
+         *         - expires: Optional[datetime] - Absolute expiration with a timezone, overriding duration when supplied. Omit to retain expiration, or use null to clear it when lifetime limits allow. Past timestamps expire the key immediately.
          *         - permissions: Optional[dict] - Key-specific permissions
          *         - guardrails: Optional[List[str]] - List of active guardrails for the key
          *         - blocked: Optional[bool] - Whether the key is blocked
@@ -32817,6 +32821,11 @@ export interface components {
             end_user_budget_id?: string | null;
             /** Enforced Params */
             enforced_params?: string[] | null;
+            /**
+             * Expires
+             * @description Absolute expiration with a timezone. When supplied, overrides duration. Null means no expiration, subject to lifetime limits. Past timestamps expire the key immediately.
+             */
+            expires?: string | null;
             /** Guardrails */
             guardrails?: string[] | null;
             /** Key */
@@ -42152,6 +42161,11 @@ export interface components {
             end_user_budget_id?: string | null;
             /** Enforced Params */
             enforced_params?: string[] | null;
+            /**
+             * Expires
+             * @description Absolute expiration with a timezone. When supplied, overrides duration. Null means no expiration, subject to lifetime limits. Past timestamps expire the key immediately.
+             */
+            expires?: string | null;
             /** Grace Period */
             grace_period?: string | null;
             /** Guardrails */
@@ -48294,6 +48308,11 @@ export interface components {
             end_user_budget_id?: string | null;
             /** Enforced Params */
             enforced_params?: string[] | null;
+            /**
+             * Expires
+             * @description Absolute expiration with a timezone. When supplied, overrides duration. Omit to retain expiration, or use null to clear it when lifetime limits allow. Past timestamps expire the key immediately.
+             */
+            expires?: string | null;
             /** Guardrails */
             guardrails?: string[] | null;
             /** Key */