diff --git a/apps/server/src/core/api-key/api-key.controller.spec.ts b/apps/server/src/core/api-key/api-key.controller.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3cf3d94c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/server/src/core/api-key/api-key.controller.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,193 @@
+import { ForbiddenException, NotFoundException } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { ApiKeyController } from './api-key.controller';
+import {
+  WorkspaceCaslAction,
+  WorkspaceCaslSubject,
+} from '../casl/interfaces/workspace-ability.type';
+
+/**
+ * Authorization contract for the /api-keys management surface.
+ *
+ *  - A token cannot manage tokens (an api_key PRINCIPAL is 403 on every method)
+ *    — GitHub-PAT semantics closing post-revocation laundering.
+ *  - admin (CASL Manage on API) sees/revokes all workspace keys; a member only
+ *    their own.
+ *  - kill-switch OFF -> the surface 404s (looks like the feature does not exist).
+ */
+
+function makeController(over: any = {}) {
+  const apiKeyService = {
+    create: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+      token: 'tok',
+      key: { id: 'k1', name: 'n', expiresAt: null, createdAt: new Date() },
+    }),
+    revoke: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+    ...(over.apiKeyService ?? {}),
+  };
+  const apiKeyRepo = {
+    findAllInWorkspace: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue([]),
+    findByCreator: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue([]),
+    findById: jest.fn(),
+    ...(over.apiKeyRepo ?? {}),
+  };
+  const workspaceAbility = {
+    createForUser: jest.fn().mockReturnValue({
+      can: (_a: any, _s: any) => over.canManage ?? false,
+    }),
+    ...(over.workspaceAbility ?? {}),
+  };
+  const environmentService = {
+    isApiKeysEnabled: jest.fn().mockReturnValue(over.enabled ?? true),
+    ...(over.environmentService ?? {}),
+  };
+  const auditService = { log: jest.fn() };
+  const controller = new ApiKeyController(
+    apiKeyService as any,
+    apiKeyRepo as any,
+    workspaceAbility as any,
+    environmentService as any,
+    auditService as any,
+  );
+  return {
+    controller,
+    apiKeyService,
+    apiKeyRepo,
+    workspaceAbility,
+    environmentService,
+    auditService,
+  };
+}
+
+const user = { id: 'u-1', workspaceId: 'ws-1' } as any;
+const workspace = { id: 'ws-1' } as any;
+const reqAccess = () => ({ raw: {}, ip: '1.2.3.4', socket: {} }) as any;
+const reqApiKey = () =>
+  ({ raw: { authType: 'api_key', apiKeyId: 'k-self' }, ip: '1.2.3.4', socket: {} }) as any;
+
+describe('ApiKeyController — a token cannot manage tokens', () => {
+  it('403 on create for an api_key principal', async () => {
+    const { controller, apiKeyService } = makeController();
+    await expect(
+      controller.create({ name: 'x' } as any, user, reqApiKey()),
+    ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(ForbiddenException);
+    expect(apiKeyService.create).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('403 on list for an api_key principal', async () => {
+    const { controller } = makeController();
+    await expect(
+      controller.list(user, workspace, reqApiKey()),
+    ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(ForbiddenException);
+  });
+
+  it('403 on revoke for an api_key principal', async () => {
+    const { controller } = makeController();
+    await expect(
+      controller.revoke({ id: 'k1' } as any, user, workspace, reqApiKey()),
+    ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(ForbiddenException);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('ApiKeyController — kill-switch OFF → 404', () => {
+  it('create/list/revoke all 404 when disabled', async () => {
+    const { controller } = makeController({ enabled: false });
+    await expect(
+      controller.create({ name: 'x' } as any, user, reqAccess()),
+    ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(NotFoundException);
+    await expect(
+      controller.list(user, workspace, reqAccess()),
+    ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(NotFoundException);
+    await expect(
+      controller.revoke({ id: 'k1' } as any, user, workspace, reqAccess()),
+    ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(NotFoundException);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('ApiKeyController — list scoping', () => {
+  it('admin (Manage on API) lists ALL workspace keys', async () => {
+    const { controller, apiKeyRepo } = makeController({ canManage: true });
+    await controller.list(user, workspace, reqAccess());
+    expect(apiKeyRepo.findAllInWorkspace).toHaveBeenCalledWith('ws-1');
+    expect(apiKeyRepo.findByCreator).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('member lists ONLY their own keys', async () => {
+    const { controller, apiKeyRepo } = makeController({ canManage: false });
+    await controller.list(user, workspace, reqAccess());
+    expect(apiKeyRepo.findByCreator).toHaveBeenCalledWith('u-1', 'ws-1');
+    expect(apiKeyRepo.findAllInWorkspace).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('ApiKeyController — revoke scoping', () => {
+  it("member cannot revoke another user's key (403)", async () => {
+    const { controller, apiKeyRepo, apiKeyService } = makeController({
+      canManage: false,
+    });
+    apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue({
+      id: 'k1',
+      creatorId: 'someone-else',
+      workspaceId: 'ws-1',
+    });
+    await expect(
+      controller.revoke({ id: 'k1' } as any, user, workspace, reqAccess()),
+    ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(ForbiddenException);
+    expect(apiKeyService.revoke).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('member CAN revoke their own key', async () => {
+    const { controller, apiKeyRepo, apiKeyService } = makeController({
+      canManage: false,
+    });
+    apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue({
+      id: 'k1',
+      creatorId: 'u-1',
+      workspaceId: 'ws-1',
+    });
+    await controller.revoke({ id: 'k1' } as any, user, workspace, reqAccess());
+    expect(apiKeyService.revoke).toHaveBeenCalledWith('k1', 'ws-1');
+  });
+
+  it("admin CAN revoke another user's key", async () => {
+    const { controller, apiKeyRepo, apiKeyService } = makeController({
+      canManage: true,
+    });
+    apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue({
+      id: 'k1',
+      creatorId: 'someone-else',
+      workspaceId: 'ws-1',
+    });
+    await controller.revoke({ id: 'k1' } as any, user, workspace, reqAccess());
+    expect(apiKeyService.revoke).toHaveBeenCalledWith('k1', 'ws-1');
+  });
+
+  it('404 when the key does not exist', async () => {
+    const { controller, apiKeyRepo } = makeController({ canManage: true });
+    apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    await expect(
+      controller.revoke({ id: 'k1' } as any, user, workspace, reqAccess()),
+    ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(NotFoundException);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('ApiKeyController — create emits audit + returns token once', () => {
+  it('logs API_KEY_CREATED and returns the token + computed expiry', async () => {
+    const { controller, auditService } = makeController();
+    const res = await controller.create(
+      { name: 'ci' } as any,
+      user,
+      reqAccess(),
+    );
+    expect(res.token).toBe('tok');
+    expect(res.apiKey).toMatchObject({ id: 'k1', name: 'n' });
+    expect(auditService.log).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({ event: 'api_key.created' }),
+    );
+  });
+});
+
+// Sanity: the CASL subject used is the workspace API subject.
+it('uses WorkspaceCaslSubject.API with the Manage action', () => {
+  expect(WorkspaceCaslSubject.API).toBe('api_key');
+  expect(WorkspaceCaslAction.Manage).toBeDefined();
+});
diff --git a/apps/server/src/core/api-key/api-key.controller.ts b/apps/server/src/core/api-key/api-key.controller.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..455d64d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/server/src/core/api-key/api-key.controller.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,201 @@
+import {
+  Body,
+  Controller,
+  ForbiddenException,
+  HttpCode,
+  HttpStatus,
+  Inject,
+  Logger,
+  NotFoundException,
+  Post,
+  Req,
+  UseGuards,
+} from '@nestjs/common';
+import { Throttle } from '@nestjs/throttler';
+import { FastifyRequest } from 'fastify';
+import { ApiKeyService } from './api-key.service';
+import { ApiKeyRepo } from '@docmost/db/repos/api-key/api-key.repo';
+import { CreateApiKeyDto } from './dto/create-api-key.dto';
+import { RevokeApiKeyDto } from './dto/revoke-api-key.dto';
+import { AuthUser } from '../../common/decorators/auth-user.decorator';
+import { AuthWorkspace } from '../../common/decorators/auth-workspace.decorator';
+import { JwtAuthGuard } from '../../common/guards/jwt-auth.guard';
+import { User, Workspace } from '@docmost/db/types/entity.types';
+import WorkspaceAbilityFactory from '../casl/abilities/workspace-ability.factory';
+import {
+  WorkspaceCaslAction,
+  WorkspaceCaslSubject,
+} from '../casl/interfaces/workspace-ability.type';
+import { AuditEvent, AuditResource } from '../../common/events/audit-events';
+import {
+  AUDIT_SERVICE,
+  IAuditService,
+} from '../../integrations/audit/audit.service';
+import { EnvironmentService } from '../../integrations/environment/environment.service';
+import { UserThrottlerGuard } from '../../integrations/throttle/user-throttler.guard';
+import { AUTH_THROTTLER } from '../../integrations/throttle/throttler-names';
+
+@UseGuards(JwtAuthGuard)
+@Controller('api-keys')
+export class ApiKeyController {
+  private readonly logger = new Logger(ApiKeyController.name);
+
+  constructor(
+    private readonly apiKeyService: ApiKeyService,
+    private readonly apiKeyRepo: ApiKeyRepo,
+    private readonly workspaceAbility: WorkspaceAbilityFactory,
+    private readonly environmentService: EnvironmentService,
+    @Inject(AUDIT_SERVICE) private readonly auditService: IAuditService,
+  ) {}
+
+  // Kill-switch OFF: the issuance surface disappears entirely (404), not a 403 —
+  // it must look like the feature does not exist.
+  private assertEnabled(): void {
+    if (!this.environmentService.isApiKeysEnabled()) {
+      throw new NotFoundException();
+    }
+  }
+
+  // A token cannot manage tokens (GitHub-PAT semantics): an api-key principal is
+  // refused on the management surface, so a leaked key cannot mint a replacement
+  // or revoke the keys that would lock it out (closes post-revocation laundering).
+  private rejectApiKeyPrincipal(req: FastifyRequest): void {
+    if ((req.raw as { authType?: string }).authType === 'api_key') {
+      throw new ForbiddenException('API keys cannot manage API keys');
+    }
+  }
+
+  private clientIp(req: FastifyRequest): string {
+    return req.ip ?? req.socket?.remoteAddress ?? 'unknown';
+  }
+
+  @HttpCode(HttpStatus.OK)
+  @UseGuards(JwtAuthGuard, UserThrottlerGuard)
+  @Throttle({ [AUTH_THROTTLER]: { limit: 10, ttl: 60_000 } })
+  @Post('create')
+  async create(
+    @Body() dto: CreateApiKeyDto,
+    @AuthUser() user: User,
+    @Req() req: FastifyRequest,
+  ) {
+    this.assertEnabled();
+    this.rejectApiKeyPrincipal(req);
+
+    // undefined -> service default (1 year); null -> unlimited; string -> Date.
+    const expiresAt =
+      dto.expiresAt === undefined
+        ? undefined
+        : dto.expiresAt === null
+          ? null
+          : new Date(dto.expiresAt);
+
+    const { token, key } = await this.apiKeyService.create(
+      user,
+      dto.name,
+      expiresAt,
+    );
+
+    this.auditService.log({
+      event: AuditEvent.API_KEY_CREATED,
+      resourceType: AuditResource.API_KEY,
+      resourceId: key.id,
+    });
+    // The durable trail lives in container logs (AUDIT_SERVICE is a Noop in this
+    // build). No token material — the JWT is only ever returned in the response.
+    this.logger.log(
+      `API key created: id=${key.id} name=${JSON.stringify(
+        key.name,
+      )} actor=${user.id} expiresAt=${
+        key.expiresAt ? new Date(key.expiresAt).toISOString() : 'never'
+      } ip=${this.clientIp(req)}`,
+    );
+
+    // Return the token ONCE (never retrievable again) and the computed expiry so
+    // the caller/UI can surface "expires <date>" (the year-default time-bomb
+    // early-warning).
+    return {
+      token,
+      apiKey: {
+        id: key.id,
+        name: key.name,
+        expiresAt: key.expiresAt,
+        createdAt: key.createdAt,
+      },
+    };
+  }
+
+  @HttpCode(HttpStatus.OK)
+  @Post('list')
+  async list(
+    @AuthUser() user: User,
+    @AuthWorkspace() workspace: Workspace,
+    @Req() req: FastifyRequest,
+  ) {
+    this.assertEnabled();
+    this.rejectApiKeyPrincipal(req);
+
+    const ability = this.workspaceAbility.createForUser(user, workspace);
+    // Admin (CASL Manage on API): every key in the workspace, attributed to its
+    // creator (closes "a leaked key of a departed employee is invisible"). A
+    // member sees only their own.
+    const keys = ability.can(
+      WorkspaceCaslAction.Manage,
+      WorkspaceCaslSubject.API,
+    )
+      ? await this.apiKeyRepo.findAllInWorkspace(workspace.id)
+      : await this.apiKeyRepo.findByCreator(user.id, workspace.id);
+
+    return keys.map((k) => ({
+      id: k.id,
+      name: k.name,
+      expiresAt: k.expiresAt,
+      lastUsedAt: k.lastUsedAt,
+      createdAt: k.createdAt,
+      creator: k.creator,
+    }));
+  }
+
+  @HttpCode(HttpStatus.OK)
+  @Post('revoke')
+  async revoke(
+    @Body() dto: RevokeApiKeyDto,
+    @AuthUser() user: User,
+    @AuthWorkspace() workspace: Workspace,
+    @Req() req: FastifyRequest,
+  ) {
+    this.assertEnabled();
+    this.rejectApiKeyPrincipal(req);
+
+    const key = await this.apiKeyRepo.findById(dto.id, workspace.id);
+    // Uniform 404 for a missing/already-revoked key regardless of who asks — no
+    // existence oracle for keys the caller may not own.
+    if (!key) {
+      throw new NotFoundException();
+    }
+
+    const ability = this.workspaceAbility.createForUser(user, workspace);
+    const canManageAll = ability.can(
+      WorkspaceCaslAction.Manage,
+      WorkspaceCaslSubject.API,
+    );
+    // Admin may revoke any key in the workspace; a member only their own.
+    if (!canManageAll && key.creatorId !== user.id) {
+      throw new ForbiddenException();
+    }
+
+    await this.apiKeyService.revoke(key.id, workspace.id);
+
+    this.auditService.log({
+      event: AuditEvent.API_KEY_DELETED,
+      resourceType: AuditResource.API_KEY,
+      resourceId: key.id,
+    });
+    this.logger.log(
+      `API key revoked: id=${key.id} name=${JSON.stringify(
+        key.name,
+      )} actor=${user.id} ip=${this.clientIp(req)}`,
+    );
+
+    return { success: true };
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apps/server/src/core/api-key/api-key.module.ts b/apps/server/src/core/api-key/api-key.module.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9c002f5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/server/src/core/api-key/api-key.module.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import { Module } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { ApiKeyService } from './api-key.service';
+import { ApiKeyController } from './api-key.controller';
+import { TokenModule } from '../auth/token.module';
+
+// Core (non-EE) API-key feature: issuance REST endpoints + the shared validator
+// consumed by jwt.strategy (REST) and McpService (the /mcp Bearer router).
+// DatabaseModule (global) provides ApiKeyRepo/UserRepo/WorkspaceRepo; CaslModule
+// (global) provides WorkspaceAbilityFactory; TokenModule provides TokenService
+// (the no-exp api-key signer). ApiKeyService is exported so AuthModule (for
+// jwt.strategy) and McpModule (for the /mcp router) can inject it directly,
+// replacing the absent EE `ee/api-key` dynamic require.
+@Module({
+  imports: [TokenModule],
+  controllers: [ApiKeyController],
+  providers: [ApiKeyService],
+  exports: [ApiKeyService],
+})
+export class ApiKeyModule {}
diff --git a/apps/server/src/core/api-key/api-key.service.spec.ts b/apps/server/src/core/api-key/api-key.service.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..248267ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/server/src/core/api-key/api-key.service.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,299 @@
+import { UnauthorizedException } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { ApiKeyService } from './api-key.service';
+import { JwtType } from '../auth/dto/jwt-payload';
+
+/**
+ * Security contract for ApiKeyService.validate — the single validator shared by
+ * jwt.strategy (REST) and the /mcp Bearer router.
+ *
+ * Invariants under test:
+ *  - Anti-enumeration: every DEFINITE deny (missing/revoked/expired row, disabled
+ *    user, workspace mismatch, kill-switch off) throws the SAME bare
+ *    UnauthorizedException — an agent cannot distinguish expired from revoked.
+ *  - deny-on-decision / 5xx-on-infra: an UNEXPECTED (infra) error PROPAGATES as
+ *    itself (→ 5xx), never masked as a 401.
+ *  - Expiry is read from the ROW, never a JWT exp claim.
+ *  - No validate cache (each call re-reads the row → immediate revocation).
+ */
+
+const APP_SECRET = 'secret';
+
+function makeDeps(over: Partial<Record<string, any>> = {}) {
+  const apiKeyRepo = {
+    findById: jest.fn(),
+    insert: jest.fn(),
+    softDelete: jest.fn(),
+    touchLastUsed: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+    ...(over.apiKeyRepo ?? {}),
+  };
+  const userRepo = {
+    findById: jest.fn(),
+    ...(over.userRepo ?? {}),
+  };
+  const workspaceRepo = {
+    findById: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue({ id: 'ws-1' }),
+    ...(over.workspaceRepo ?? {}),
+  };
+  const tokenService = {
+    generateApiToken: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue('minted.jwt.token'),
+    ...(over.tokenService ?? {}),
+  };
+  const environmentService = {
+    isApiKeysEnabled: jest.fn().mockReturnValue(true),
+    getApiKeysEnabledRaw: jest.fn().mockReturnValue(undefined),
+    getAppSecret: jest.fn().mockReturnValue(APP_SECRET),
+    ...(over.environmentService ?? {}),
+  };
+  const service = new (ApiKeyService as unknown as new (...a: any[]) => ApiKeyService)(
+    apiKeyRepo,
+    userRepo,
+    workspaceRepo,
+    tokenService,
+    environmentService,
+  );
+  return { service, apiKeyRepo, userRepo, workspaceRepo, tokenService, environmentService };
+}
+
+const payload = (over: Record<string, any> = {}) => ({
+  sub: 'u-1',
+  workspaceId: 'ws-1',
+  apiKeyId: 'key-1',
+  type: JwtType.API_KEY,
+  ...over,
+});
+
+const activeRow = (over: Record<string, any> = {}) => ({
+  id: 'key-1',
+  name: 'k',
+  creatorId: 'u-1',
+  workspaceId: 'ws-1',
+  expiresAt: null,
+  lastUsedAt: null,
+  deletedAt: null,
+  ...over,
+});
+
+const activeUser = (over: Record<string, any> = {}) => ({
+  id: 'u-1',
+  workspaceId: 'ws-1',
+  deactivatedAt: null,
+  deletedAt: null,
+  isAgent: false,
+  ...over,
+});
+
+describe('ApiKeyService.validate', () => {
+  it('returns { user, workspace } for a valid active key', async () => {
+    const { service, apiKeyRepo, userRepo } = makeDeps();
+    apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(activeRow());
+    userRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(activeUser());
+
+    const res = await service.validate(payload() as any);
+
+    expect(res.user).toMatchObject({ id: 'u-1' });
+    expect(res.workspace).toMatchObject({ id: 'ws-1' });
+    // Loads isAgent so downstream provenance does not silently degrade.
+    expect(userRepo.findById).toHaveBeenCalledWith('u-1', 'ws-1', {
+      includeIsAgent: true,
+    });
+  });
+
+  // --- Anti-enumeration: every deny is the SAME bare 401 -------------------
+  const denyCases: Array<[string, (d: ReturnType<typeof makeDeps>) => void]> = [
+    [
+      'missing/orphaned row',
+      (d) => d.apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+    ],
+    [
+      'revoked (soft-deleted → findById returns undefined)',
+      (d) => d.apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+    ],
+    [
+      'expired (expires_at in the past)',
+      (d) => {
+        d.apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(
+          activeRow({ expiresAt: new Date(Date.now() - 1000) }),
+        );
+        d.userRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(activeUser());
+      },
+    ],
+    [
+      'disabled user',
+      (d) => {
+        d.apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(activeRow());
+        d.userRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(
+          activeUser({ deactivatedAt: new Date() }),
+        );
+      },
+    ],
+    [
+      'user not found',
+      (d) => {
+        d.apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(activeRow());
+        d.userRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+      },
+    ],
+    [
+      'creator/sub mismatch',
+      (d) => {
+        d.apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(activeRow({ creatorId: 'other' }));
+        d.userRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(activeUser());
+      },
+    ],
+    [
+      'workspace row missing',
+      (d) => {
+        d.apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(activeRow());
+        d.userRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(activeUser());
+        d.workspaceRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+      },
+    ],
+    [
+      'kill-switch OFF',
+      (d) => d.environmentService.isApiKeysEnabled.mockReturnValue(false),
+    ],
+    [
+      'malformed payload (missing apiKeyId)',
+      () => undefined,
+    ],
+  ];
+
+  it.each(denyCases)(
+    'throws a bare UnauthorizedException with NO message for: %s',
+    async (label, arrange) => {
+      const deps = makeDeps();
+      arrange(deps);
+      const p =
+        label === 'malformed payload (missing apiKeyId)'
+          ? (payload({ apiKeyId: undefined }) as any)
+          : (payload() as any);
+
+      const err = await deps.service.validate(p).catch((e) => e);
+      expect(err).toBeInstanceOf(UnauthorizedException);
+      // Anti-enumeration: identical, class-less message for every failure mode.
+      expect(err.message).toBe('Unauthorized');
+    },
+  );
+
+  it('kill-switch OFF denies BEFORE any DB read', async () => {
+    const { service, apiKeyRepo, environmentService } = makeDeps();
+    environmentService.isApiKeysEnabled.mockReturnValue(false);
+
+    await expect(service.validate(payload() as any)).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(
+      UnauthorizedException,
+    );
+    expect(apiKeyRepo.findById).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  // --- Infra error propagates (5xx), NOT masked as 401 ---------------------
+  it('PROPAGATES an infra (DB) error instead of masking it as 401', async () => {
+    const { service, apiKeyRepo } = makeDeps();
+    const boom = new Error('connection terminated');
+    apiKeyRepo.findById.mockRejectedValue(boom);
+
+    await expect(service.validate(payload() as any)).rejects.toBe(boom);
+  });
+
+  // --- No cache: revocation is immediate on the next call ------------------
+  it('re-reads the row on every call (no validate cache → immediate revocation)', async () => {
+    const { service, apiKeyRepo, userRepo } = makeDeps();
+    apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(activeRow());
+    userRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(activeUser());
+    await service.validate(payload() as any);
+
+    // Now the key is revoked (row invisible) — the very next call denies.
+    apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    await expect(service.validate(payload() as any)).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(
+      UnauthorizedException,
+    );
+    expect(apiKeyRepo.findById).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+  });
+
+  // --- last_used_at is throttled + fire-and-forget -------------------------
+  it('touches last_used_at when stale and skips when fresh', async () => {
+    const { service, apiKeyRepo, userRepo } = makeDeps();
+    userRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(activeUser());
+
+    // Stale (never used) -> touch.
+    apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(activeRow({ lastUsedAt: null }));
+    await service.validate(payload() as any);
+    expect(apiKeyRepo.touchLastUsed).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+    // Fresh (used 1 minute ago) -> skip.
+    apiKeyRepo.touchLastUsed.mockClear();
+    apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(
+      activeRow({ lastUsedAt: new Date(Date.now() - 60_000) }),
+    );
+    await service.validate(payload() as any);
+    expect(apiKeyRepo.touchLastUsed).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('a failing last_used_at touch never fails the request', async () => {
+    const { service, apiKeyRepo, userRepo } = makeDeps();
+    apiKeyRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(activeRow({ lastUsedAt: null }));
+    userRepo.findById.mockResolvedValue(activeUser());
+    apiKeyRepo.touchLastUsed.mockRejectedValue(new Error('write failed'));
+
+    await expect(service.validate(payload() as any)).resolves.toMatchObject({
+      user: { id: 'u-1' },
+    });
+  });
+});
+
+describe('ApiKeyService.create (mint-then-insert, no exp)', () => {
+  it('mints the JWT BEFORE inserting the row and returns the token once', async () => {
+    const { service, apiKeyRepo, tokenService } = makeDeps();
+    const order: string[] = [];
+    tokenService.generateApiToken.mockImplementation(async () => {
+      order.push('mint');
+      return 'tok';
+    });
+    apiKeyRepo.insert.mockImplementation(async (row: any) => {
+      order.push('insert');
+      return { ...row, createdAt: new Date() };
+    });
+
+    const user = { id: 'u-1', workspaceId: 'ws-1' } as any;
+    const res = await service.create(user, 'my key');
+
+    expect(order).toEqual(['mint', 'insert']);
+    expect(res.token).toBe('tok');
+    // The id is generated before minting and reused for the row.
+    const mintArg = tokenService.generateApiToken.mock.calls[0][0];
+    const insertArg = apiKeyRepo.insert.mock.calls[0][0];
+    expect(mintArg.apiKeyId).toBe(insertArg.id);
+  });
+
+  it('applies the 1-year default when expiresAt is undefined', async () => {
+    const { service, apiKeyRepo } = makeDeps();
+    apiKeyRepo.insert.mockImplementation(async (row: any) => row);
+    const user = { id: 'u-1', workspaceId: 'ws-1' } as any;
+
+    await service.create(user, 'k');
+
+    const insertArg = apiKeyRepo.insert.mock.calls[0][0];
+    const days =
+      (insertArg.expiresAt.getTime() - Date.now()) / (24 * 60 * 60 * 1000);
+    expect(days).toBeGreaterThan(364);
+    expect(days).toBeLessThan(367);
+  });
+
+  it('honors an explicit null (unlimited)', async () => {
+    const { service, apiKeyRepo } = makeDeps();
+    apiKeyRepo.insert.mockImplementation(async (row: any) => row);
+    const user = { id: 'u-1', workspaceId: 'ws-1' } as any;
+
+    await service.create(user, 'k', null);
+
+    expect(apiKeyRepo.insert.mock.calls[0][0].expiresAt).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('does NOT insert a row when minting fails (mint-then-insert → inert)', async () => {
+    const { service, apiKeyRepo, tokenService } = makeDeps();
+    tokenService.generateApiToken.mockRejectedValue(new Error('mint failed'));
+    const user = { id: 'u-1', workspaceId: 'ws-1' } as any;
+
+    await expect(service.create(user, 'k')).rejects.toThrow('mint failed');
+    expect(apiKeyRepo.insert).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/server/src/core/api-key/api-key.service.ts b/apps/server/src/core/api-key/api-key.service.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..797fee8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/server/src/core/api-key/api-key.service.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,191 @@
+import {
+  Injectable,
+  Logger,
+  OnModuleInit,
+  UnauthorizedException,
+} from '@nestjs/common';
+import { v7 as uuid7 } from 'uuid';
+import { ApiKeyRepo } from '@docmost/db/repos/api-key/api-key.repo';
+import { UserRepo } from '@docmost/db/repos/user/user.repo';
+import { WorkspaceRepo } from '@docmost/db/repos/workspace/workspace.repo';
+import { TokenService } from '../auth/services/token.service';
+import { EnvironmentService } from '../../integrations/environment/environment.service';
+import { JwtApiKeyPayload } from '../auth/dto/jwt-payload';
+import { ApiKey, User, Workspace } from '@docmost/db/types/entity.types';
+import { isUserDisabled } from '../../common/helpers';
+
+// Default lifetime for a new key when the caller does not specify one: 1 year.
+// The owner runs a homelab where agents live for years; forcing rotation is
+// operational pain, so an explicit `null` (unlimited) is also allowed.
+const DEFAULT_LIFETIME_MS = 365 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
+
+// last_used_at is a best-effort forensics stamp, not an access record; we only
+// refresh it when it is older than this to avoid a write on every request. The
+// 1h resolution is a deliberate constant (forensics granularity, not accounting).
+const LAST_USED_THROTTLE_MS = 60 * 60 * 1000;
+
+/**
+ * Core API-key lifecycle service. Owns minting (create), the single validator
+ * shared by BOTH the REST jwt.strategy path and the /mcp Bearer path (validate),
+ * and revocation (revoke). The `api_keys` ROW is the sole source of truth for a
+ * key's lifetime and revocation — never the JWT, which carries no `exp` claim.
+ */
+@Injectable()
+export class ApiKeyService implements OnModuleInit {
+  private readonly logger = new Logger(ApiKeyService.name);
+
+  constructor(
+    private readonly apiKeyRepo: ApiKeyRepo,
+    private readonly userRepo: UserRepo,
+    private readonly workspaceRepo: WorkspaceRepo,
+    private readonly tokenService: TokenService,
+    private readonly environmentService: EnvironmentService,
+  ) {}
+
+  onModuleInit() {
+    // Boot log so the kill-switch state after each deploy is verifiable in logs.
+    const enabled = this.environmentService.isApiKeysEnabled();
+    const raw = this.environmentService.getApiKeysEnabledRaw();
+    this.logger.log(
+      `API keys: ${enabled ? 'ENABLED' : 'DISABLED'} (API_KEYS_ENABLED=${
+        raw ?? 'unset'
+      })`,
+    );
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Mint a new key for `user`. mint-then-insert ordering (R1):
+   *   1. generate the id first — it must be in the JWT payload before the row.
+   *   2. mint the JWT (no `exp` claim). A mint failure aborts before any row is
+   *      written (inert), so a half-created key cannot exist.
+   *   3. insert the row last. A lost response leaves an orphaned row that is
+   *      visible in `list` and self-heals (the user revokes it).
+   * The token is returned ONCE and never stored — the JWT is self-contained, so
+   * no token material lives in the table.
+   *
+   * `expiresAt`: `undefined` -> default 1 year; `null` -> unlimited (explicit);
+   * a Date -> that instant (a past date is rejected at the DTO layer).
+   */
+  async create(
+    user: User,
+    name: string,
+    expiresAt?: Date | null,
+  ): Promise<{ token: string; key: ApiKey }> {
+    const resolvedExpiresAt =
+      expiresAt === undefined
+        ? new Date(Date.now() + DEFAULT_LIFETIME_MS)
+        : expiresAt;
+
+    const apiKeyId = uuid7();
+
+    const token = await this.tokenService.generateApiToken({
+      apiKeyId,
+      user,
+      workspaceId: user.workspaceId,
+    });
+
+    const key = await this.apiKeyRepo.insert({
+      id: apiKeyId,
+      name,
+      creatorId: user.id,
+      workspaceId: user.workspaceId,
+      expiresAt: resolvedExpiresAt,
+    });
+
+    return { token, key };
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * The single validator for an api-key principal, shared by jwt.strategy and the
+   * /mcp Bearer router. Returns `{ user, workspace }` (the same shape the access
+   * path returns) so the AuthUser/AuthWorkspace decorators and MCP identity work
+   * unchanged.
+   *
+   * Failure semantics (R4, anti-enumeration): a DEFINITE negative fact — feature
+   * disabled, missing/revoked/expired row, workspace mismatch, disabled user —
+   * throws a bare `UnauthorizedException` (a single generic 401 for every case;
+   * an agent cannot distinguish expired from revoked, and its reaction is
+   * identical). An UNEXPECTED (infra) error is NOT caught here: it propagates so
+   * the surface returns 5xx, never a masked 401 (deny-on-decision / 5xx-on-infra).
+   * There is NO validate cache: it is 2–3 PK lookups (~1ms), two orders of
+   * magnitude cheaper than the bcrypt it replaces; a cache would only add a
+   * Date-serialization trap and a revocation lag. Revocation is immediate.
+   */
+  async validate(
+    payload: JwtApiKeyPayload,
+  ): Promise<{ user: User; workspace: Workspace }> {
+    // Kill-switch OFF: deny unconditionally (same generic 401). Note the
+    // endpoints additionally 404 at the controller; here we deny the token.
+    if (!this.environmentService.isApiKeysEnabled()) {
+      throw new UnauthorizedException();
+    }
+
+    if (!payload?.apiKeyId || !payload?.sub || !payload?.workspaceId) {
+      throw new UnauthorizedException();
+    }
+
+    const row = await this.apiKeyRepo.findById(
+      payload.apiKeyId,
+      payload.workspaceId,
+    );
+    // Absent row = revoked (soft-deleted, invisible to findById), orphaned
+    // (creator/workspace cascade-deleted), or never existed. All terminal deny.
+    if (!row) {
+      throw new UnauthorizedException();
+    }
+
+    // Expiry is read from the ROW, never an `exp` JWT claim.
+    if (row.expiresAt && row.expiresAt.getTime() <= Date.now()) {
+      throw new UnauthorizedException();
+    }
+
+    const user = await this.userRepo.findById(
+      payload.sub,
+      payload.workspaceId,
+      { includeIsAgent: true },
+    );
+    if (!user || isUserDisabled(user)) {
+      throw new UnauthorizedException();
+    }
+
+    // The key acts only as its creator (defence in depth against a token whose
+    // signed `sub` ever drifted from the row's owner).
+    if (row.creatorId !== user.id) {
+      throw new UnauthorizedException();
+    }
+
+    const workspace = await this.workspaceRepo.findById(payload.workspaceId);
+    if (!workspace) {
+      throw new UnauthorizedException();
+    }
+
+    // Best-effort, throttled, fire-and-forget forensics stamp AFTER all checks.
+    this.touchLastUsed(row);
+
+    return { user, workspace };
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Revoke (soft-delete) a key. Authorization/ownership is decided by the caller
+   * (the controller, via CASL); this only performs the terminal write. Idempotent:
+   * a second revoke is a no-op (the row is already invisible).
+   */
+  async revoke(id: string, workspaceId: string): Promise<void> {
+    await this.apiKeyRepo.softDelete(id, workspaceId);
+  }
+
+  // Throttled best-effort last_used_at bump: skip if it was touched within the
+  // window; otherwise fire-and-forget so a stamp write never fails or slows the
+  // request (mirrors SessionActivityService.trackActivity).
+  private touchLastUsed(row: ApiKey): void {
+    const last = row.lastUsedAt ? new Date(row.lastUsedAt).getTime() : 0;
+    if (Date.now() - last < LAST_USED_THROTTLE_MS) return;
+    void this.apiKeyRepo.touchLastUsed(row.id).catch((err) => {
+      this.logger.warn(
+        `Failed to update api_key last_used_at for ${row.id}: ${
+          (err as Error)?.message ?? err
+        }`,
+      );
+    });
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apps/server/src/core/api-key/dto/create-api-key.dto.ts b/apps/server/src/core/api-key/dto/create-api-key.dto.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a3ee1bff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/server/src/core/api-key/dto/create-api-key.dto.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+import {
+  IsDateString,
+  IsNotEmpty,
+  IsOptional,
+  IsString,
+  MaxLength,
+  registerDecorator,
+  ValidationOptions,
+} from 'class-validator';
+
+/**
+ * `expiresAt` must be strictly in the future. Skips validation for `null`
+ * (explicit "unlimited") and `undefined` (server applies the 1-year default),
+ * so only an actually-supplied date is range-checked. Rejecting a PAST date at
+ * the DTO layer means a caller cannot mint an already-dead key.
+ */
+function IsFutureDateString(options?: ValidationOptions) {
+  return function (object: object, propertyName: string) {
+    registerDecorator({
+      name: 'isFutureDateString',
+      target: object.constructor,
+      propertyName,
+      options: {
+        message: 'expiresAt must be a date in the future',
+        ...options,
+      },
+      validator: {
+        validate(value: unknown) {
+          if (value === null || value === undefined) return true;
+          if (typeof value !== 'string') return false;
+          const t = Date.parse(value);
+          return !Number.isNaN(t) && t > Date.now();
+        },
+      },
+    });
+  };
+}
+
+export class CreateApiKeyDto {
+  @IsString()
+  @IsNotEmpty()
+  @MaxLength(255)
+  name: string;
+
+  // undefined -> default 1 year (applied server-side); null -> unlimited
+  // (explicit); an ISO date string -> that instant, which must be in the future.
+  @IsOptional()
+  @IsDateString()
+  @IsFutureDateString()
+  expiresAt?: string | null;
+}
diff --git a/apps/server/src/core/api-key/dto/revoke-api-key.dto.ts b/apps/server/src/core/api-key/dto/revoke-api-key.dto.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c304fa8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/server/src/core/api-key/dto/revoke-api-key.dto.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+import { IsUUID } from 'class-validator';
+
+export class RevokeApiKeyDto {
+  @IsUUID()
+  id: string;
+}
diff --git a/apps/server/src/core/auth/auth.module.ts b/apps/server/src/core/auth/auth.module.ts
index 236f4dd5..3895fff0 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/core/auth/auth.module.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/core/auth/auth.module.ts
@@ -5,9 +5,13 @@ import { JwtStrategy } from './strategies/jwt.strategy';
 import { WorkspaceModule } from '../workspace/workspace.module';
 import { SignupService } from './services/signup.service';
 import { TokenModule } from './token.module';
+import { ApiKeyModule } from '../api-key/api-key.module';
 
 @Module({
-  imports: [TokenModule, WorkspaceModule],
+  // ApiKeyModule supplies ApiKeyService, injected into JwtStrategy so an
+  // api_key Bearer/cookie token is validated directly (replacing the absent EE
+  // `ee/api-key` dynamic require).
+  imports: [TokenModule, WorkspaceModule, ApiKeyModule],
   controllers: [AuthController],
   providers: [AuthService, SignupService, JwtStrategy],
   exports: [SignupService, AuthService],
diff --git a/apps/server/src/core/auth/strategies/jwt.strategy.spec.ts b/apps/server/src/core/auth/strategies/jwt.strategy.spec.ts
index 20a669ca..cbcb3fc9 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/core/auth/strategies/jwt.strategy.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/core/auth/strategies/jwt.strategy.spec.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ describe('JwtStrategy — provenance derivation', () => {
     const userSessionRepo: any = { findActiveById: jest.fn() };
     const sessionActivityService: any = { trackActivity: jest.fn() };
     const environmentService: any = { getAppSecret: () => 'test-secret' };
-    const moduleRef: any = {};
+    // ACCESS-path tests never touch the api-key seam; a bare stub suffices.
+    const apiKeyService: any = { validate: jest.fn() };
 
     const strategy = new JwtStrategy(
       userRepo,
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ describe('JwtStrategy — provenance derivation', () => {
       userSessionRepo,
       sessionActivityService,
       environmentService,
-      moduleRef,
+      apiKeyService,
     );
     return { strategy, userRepo };
   }
@@ -122,25 +123,29 @@ describe('JwtStrategy — provenance derivation', () => {
 });
 
 /**
- * Provenance derivation on the API-KEY path (jwt.strategy.validateApiKey, #486).
+ * Provenance derivation on the API-KEY path (jwt.strategy.validateApiKey, #486
+ * + #501).
  *
  * The access-token path stamped provenance; the API-key path returned early
  * WITHOUT it, so an is_agent API key's REST writes recorded no 'agent' marker.
  * The API-key payload carries no signed claim, so provenance is resolved from the
- * SERVER-SIDE user returned by ApiKeyService.validateApiKey: isAgent -> 'agent',
+ * SERVER-SIDE user returned by ApiKeyService.validate: isAgent -> 'agent',
  * otherwise 'user'; aiChatId is always null (an API key has no ai_chats row).
  *
- * The enterprise ApiKeyService is not bundled in the OSS build, so the strategy
- * loads it through an overridable `resolveApiKeyService` seam that we stub here.
+ * #501 wires the CORE ApiKeyService (the EE `ee/api-key` module is absent in the
+ * fork) directly into the strategy — no dynamic require. The strategy also stamps
+ * `req.raw.authType='api_key'` + `req.raw.apiKeyId` for the "a token cannot manage
+ * tokens" guard on the /api-keys surface.
  */
-describe('JwtStrategy — API-key provenance derivation (#486)', () => {
-  function makeApiKeyStrategy(validateApiKeyImpl: (p: any) => Promise<any>) {
+describe('JwtStrategy — API-key provenance derivation (#486/#501)', () => {
+  function makeApiKeyStrategy(validateImpl: (p: any) => Promise<any>) {
     const userRepo: any = { findById: jest.fn() };
     const workspaceRepo: any = { findById: jest.fn() };
     const userSessionRepo: any = { findActiveById: jest.fn() };
     const sessionActivityService: any = { trackActivity: jest.fn() };
     const environmentService: any = { getAppSecret: () => 'test-secret' };
-    const moduleRef: any = {};
+    const validate = jest.fn(validateImpl);
+    const apiKeyService: any = { validate };
 
     const strategy = new JwtStrategy(
       userRepo,
@@ -148,14 +153,9 @@ describe('JwtStrategy — API-key provenance derivation (#486)', () => {
       userSessionRepo,
       sessionActivityService,
       environmentService,
-      moduleRef,
+      apiKeyService,
     );
-    // Stub the EE ApiKeyService seam (the real module is not in the OSS build).
-    const validateApiKey = jest.fn(validateApiKeyImpl);
-    jest
-      .spyOn(strategy as any, 'resolveApiKeyService')
-      .mockReturnValue({ validateApiKey });
-    return { strategy, validateApiKey };
+    return { strategy, validate };
   }
 
   const makeReq = () => ({ raw: {} as Record<string, any> });
@@ -166,22 +166,23 @@ describe('JwtStrategy — API-key provenance derivation (#486)', () => {
     type: JwtType.API_KEY,
   });
 
-  it("stamps actor='agent' for an is_agent API key (from the validated user)", async () => {
+  it("stamps actor='agent' + authType/apiKeyId for an is_agent API key", async () => {
     const validated = {
       user: { id: 'svc-1', isAgent: true },
       workspace: { id: 'ws-1' },
     };
-    const { strategy, validateApiKey } = makeApiKeyStrategy(
-      async () => validated,
-    );
+    const { strategy, validate } = makeApiKeyStrategy(async () => validated);
     const req = makeReq();
 
     const result = await strategy.validate(req, apiKeyPayload() as any);
 
-    expect(validateApiKey).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(validate).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     expect(req.raw.actor).toBe('agent');
     // API keys carry no internal ai_chats row -> null.
     expect(req.raw.aiChatId).toBeNull();
+    // Principal-kind markers for the management-surface guard.
+    expect(req.raw.authType).toBe('api_key');
+    expect(req.raw.apiKeyId).toBe('key-1');
     // The validated auth object is returned unchanged (req.user shape preserved).
     expect(result).toBe(validated);
   });
@@ -197,25 +198,19 @@ describe('JwtStrategy — API-key provenance derivation (#486)', () => {
 
     expect(req.raw.actor).toBe('user');
     expect(req.raw.aiChatId).toBeNull();
+    expect(req.raw.authType).toBe('api_key');
   });
 
-  it('throws Unauthorized (and stamps nothing) when the EE module is missing', async () => {
-    const userRepo: any = { findById: jest.fn() };
-    const strategy = new JwtStrategy(
-      userRepo,
-      { findById: jest.fn() } as any,
-      { findActiveById: jest.fn() } as any,
-      { trackActivity: jest.fn() } as any,
-      { getAppSecret: () => 'test-secret' } as any,
-      {} as any,
-    );
-    // EE not bundled: the seam returns null.
-    jest.spyOn(strategy as any, 'resolveApiKeyService').mockReturnValue(null);
+  it('propagates a validate() rejection and stamps nothing', async () => {
+    const { strategy } = makeApiKeyStrategy(async () => {
+      throw new UnauthorizedException();
+    });
     const req = makeReq();
 
     await expect(
       strategy.validate(req, apiKeyPayload() as any),
     ).rejects.toThrow(UnauthorizedException);
     expect(req.raw.actor).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(req.raw.authType).toBeUndefined();
   });
 });
diff --git a/apps/server/src/core/auth/strategies/jwt.strategy.ts b/apps/server/src/core/auth/strategies/jwt.strategy.ts
index 2abd65c2..ebb60283 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/core/auth/strategies/jwt.strategy.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/core/auth/strategies/jwt.strategy.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Injectable, Logger, UnauthorizedException } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { Injectable, UnauthorizedException } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { PassportStrategy } from '@nestjs/passport';
 import { Strategy } from 'passport-jwt';
 import { EnvironmentService } from '../../../integrations/environment/environment.service';
@@ -9,20 +9,18 @@ import { UserSessionRepo } from '@docmost/db/repos/session/user-session.repo';
 import { SessionActivityService } from '../../session/session-activity.service';
 import { FastifyRequest } from 'fastify';
 import { extractBearerTokenFromHeader, isUserDisabled } from '../../../common/helpers';
-import { ModuleRef } from '@nestjs/core';
 import { resolveProvenance } from '../../../common/decorators/auth-provenance.decorator';
+import { ApiKeyService } from '../../api-key/api-key.service';
 
 @Injectable()
 export class JwtStrategy extends PassportStrategy(Strategy, 'jwt') {
-  private logger = new Logger('JwtStrategy');
-
   constructor(
     private userRepo: UserRepo,
     private workspaceRepo: WorkspaceRepo,
     private userSessionRepo: UserSessionRepo,
     private sessionActivityService: SessionActivityService,
     private readonly environmentService: EnvironmentService,
-    private moduleRef: ModuleRef,
+    private readonly apiKeyService: ApiKeyService,
   ) {
     super({
       jwtFromRequest: (req: FastifyRequest) => {
@@ -102,12 +100,17 @@ export class JwtStrategy extends PassportStrategy(Strategy, 'jwt') {
   }
 
   private async validateApiKey(req: any, payload: JwtApiKeyPayload) {
-    const apiKeyService = this.resolveApiKeyService();
-    if (!apiKeyService) {
-      throw new UnauthorizedException('Enterprise API Key module missing');
-    }
+    // The fork ships the core `ApiKeyService` (the EE `ee/api-key` module is
+    // absent). `validate` throws a bare UnauthorizedException on any definite
+    // deny (missing/revoked/expired row, disabled user, kill-switch off) and
+    // propagates infra errors (→ 5xx) rather than masking them as a 401.
+    const result = await this.apiKeyService.validate(payload);
 
-    const result = await apiKeyService.validateApiKey(payload);
+    // Stamp the principal kind + key id so the /api-keys management surface can
+    // enforce "a token cannot manage tokens". Done in this branch because it
+    // returns before the shared ACCESS-path stamping below.
+    req.raw.authType = 'api_key';
+    req.raw.apiKeyId = payload.apiKeyId;
 
     // Stamp the agent-edit provenance for the API-KEY path too (#486). Unlike the
     // access-token path above, it CANNOT be resolved before this point: the
@@ -119,32 +122,10 @@ export class JwtStrategy extends PassportStrategy(Strategy, 'jwt') {
     // SERVER-SIDE user (never a client field), so an 'agent' badge is unspoofable
     // — mirroring the access-token path. Passing `null` for the claim means the
     // actor is decided solely by user.isAgent.
-    const provenance = resolveProvenance((result as any)?.user, null);
+    const provenance = resolveProvenance(result.user, null);
     req.raw.actor = provenance.actor;
     req.raw.aiChatId = provenance.aiChatId;
 
     return result;
   }
-
-  /**
-   * Resolve the enterprise ApiKeyService, or `null` when the EE module is not
-   * bundled in this build (community build). Extracted as an overridable seam so
-   * the API-key provenance stamping can be unit-tested without the EE package
-   * present (docmost is OSS + a separate EE bundle; `require` of the EE path
-   * throws here). Any load/resolve error is treated as "module missing".
-   */
-  protected resolveApiKeyService(): {
-    validateApiKey: (payload: JwtApiKeyPayload) => Promise<unknown>;
-  } | null {
-    try {
-      // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-require-imports
-      const ApiKeyModule = require('./../../../ee/api-key/api-key.service');
-      return this.moduleRef.get(ApiKeyModule.ApiKeyService, { strict: false });
-    } catch (err) {
-      this.logger.debug(
-        'API Key module requested but enterprise module not bundled in this build',
-      );
-      return null;
-    }
-  }
 }
diff --git a/apps/server/src/core/core.module.ts b/apps/server/src/core/core.module.ts
index e898a4a1..50d7f090 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/core/core.module.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/core/core.module.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
 } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { UserModule } from './user/user.module';
 import { AuthModule } from './auth/auth.module';
+import { ApiKeyModule } from './api-key/api-key.module';
 import { WorkspaceModule } from './workspace/workspace.module';
 import { PageModule } from './page/page.module';
 import { AttachmentModule } from './attachment/attachment.module';
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ import { ClsMiddleware } from 'nestjs-cls';
   imports: [
     UserModule,
     AuthModule,
+    ApiKeyModule,
     WorkspaceModule,
     PageModule,
     AttachmentModule,
diff --git a/apps/server/src/database/database.module.ts b/apps/server/src/database/database.module.ts
index 3e9218cc..8d16e5f9 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/database/database.module.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/database/database.module.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import { AiProviderCredentialsRepo } from '@docmost/db/repos/ai-chat/ai-provider
 import { AiMcpServerRepo } from '@docmost/db/repos/ai-chat/ai-mcp-server.repo';
 import { AiAgentRoleRepo } from '@docmost/db/repos/ai-agent-roles/ai-agent-roles.repo';
 import { PageEmbeddingRepo } from '@docmost/db/repos/ai-chat/page-embedding.repo';
+import { ApiKeyRepo } from '@docmost/db/repos/api-key/api-key.repo';
 import { PageListener } from '@docmost/db/listeners/page.listener';
 import { PostgresJSDialect } from 'kysely-postgres-js';
 import * as postgres from 'postgres';
@@ -129,6 +130,7 @@ import { firstSqlToken } from '../integrations/metrics/metrics.constants';
     AiMcpServerRepo,
     AiAgentRoleRepo,
     PageEmbeddingRepo,
+    ApiKeyRepo,
     PageListener,
   ],
   exports: [
@@ -164,6 +166,7 @@ import { firstSqlToken } from '../integrations/metrics/metrics.constants';
     AiMcpServerRepo,
     AiAgentRoleRepo,
     PageEmbeddingRepo,
+    ApiKeyRepo,
   ],
 })
 export class DatabaseModule implements OnApplicationBootstrap {
diff --git a/apps/server/src/database/repos/api-key/api-key.repo.ts b/apps/server/src/database/repos/api-key/api-key.repo.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..835f0ac0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/server/src/database/repos/api-key/api-key.repo.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { InjectKysely } from 'nestjs-kysely';
+import { KyselyDB, KyselyTransaction } from '@docmost/db/types/kysely.types';
+import { DB, Users } from '@docmost/db/types/db';
+import { dbOrTx } from '@docmost/db/utils';
+import { ApiKey, InsertableApiKey } from '@docmost/db/types/entity.types';
+import { jsonObjectFrom } from 'kysely/helpers/postgres';
+import { ExpressionBuilder } from 'kysely';
+
+// Public-facing shape: the api_keys row plus a compact creator attribution used
+// by the admin list (the workspace-wide view attributes each key to its author).
+export type ApiKeyWithCreator = ApiKey & {
+  creator: Pick<Users, 'id' | 'name' | 'email' | 'avatarUrl'> | null;
+};
+
+@Injectable()
+export class ApiKeyRepo {
+  constructor(@InjectKysely() private readonly db: KyselyDB) {}
+
+  // Compact creator attribution embedded in the admin list rows. A nested
+  // subquery (jsonObjectFrom) keeps it one round-trip; the token material is
+  // never stored, so nothing sensitive is joined in.
+  private withCreator(eb: ExpressionBuilder<DB, 'apiKeys'>) {
+    return jsonObjectFrom(
+      eb
+        .selectFrom('users')
+        .select(['users.id', 'users.name', 'users.email', 'users.avatarUrl'])
+        .whereRef('users.id', '=', 'apiKeys.creatorId'),
+    ).as('creator');
+  }
+
+  async findById(
+    id: string,
+    workspaceId: string,
+    trx?: KyselyTransaction,
+  ): Promise<ApiKey | undefined> {
+    const db = dbOrTx(this.db, trx);
+    return db
+      .selectFrom('apiKeys')
+      .selectAll()
+      .where('id', '=', id)
+      .where('workspaceId', '=', workspaceId)
+      // Convention (soft-delete): a revoked key is invisible to reads.
+      .where('deletedAt', 'is', null)
+      .executeTakeFirst();
+  }
+
+  async findByCreator(
+    creatorId: string,
+    workspaceId: string,
+  ): Promise<ApiKeyWithCreator[]> {
+    return this.db
+      .selectFrom('apiKeys')
+      .selectAll('apiKeys')
+      .select((eb) => this.withCreator(eb))
+      .where('creatorId', '=', creatorId)
+      .where('workspaceId', '=', workspaceId)
+      .where('deletedAt', 'is', null)
+      .orderBy('createdAt', 'desc')
+      .execute() as unknown as Promise<ApiKeyWithCreator[]>;
+  }
+
+  async findAllInWorkspace(
+    workspaceId: string,
+  ): Promise<ApiKeyWithCreator[]> {
+    return this.db
+      .selectFrom('apiKeys')
+      .selectAll('apiKeys')
+      .select((eb) => this.withCreator(eb))
+      .where('workspaceId', '=', workspaceId)
+      .where('deletedAt', 'is', null)
+      .orderBy('createdAt', 'desc')
+      .execute() as unknown as Promise<ApiKeyWithCreator[]>;
+  }
+
+  async insert(
+    insertable: InsertableApiKey,
+    trx?: KyselyTransaction,
+  ): Promise<ApiKey> {
+    const db = dbOrTx(this.db, trx);
+    return db
+      .insertInto('apiKeys')
+      .values(insertable)
+      .returningAll()
+      .executeTakeFirst();
+  }
+
+  // Soft-delete = revoke. Terminal: the row stays for forensics but is invisible
+  // to every read above, so validate() denies it immediately (no grace window).
+  async softDelete(id: string, workspaceId: string): Promise<void> {
+    await this.db
+      .updateTable('apiKeys')
+      .set({ deletedAt: new Date(), updatedAt: new Date() })
+      .where('id', '=', id)
+      .where('workspaceId', '=', workspaceId)
+      .where('deletedAt', 'is', null)
+      .execute();
+  }
+
+  // Throttled best-effort forensics stamp. Not on the critical path: callers
+  // fire-and-forget and swallow errors, so it never fails a request.
+  async touchLastUsed(id: string): Promise<void> {
+    await this.db
+      .updateTable('apiKeys')
+      .set({ lastUsedAt: new Date() })
+      .where('id', '=', id)
+      .where('deletedAt', 'is', null)
+      .execute();
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apps/server/src/integrations/environment/environment.service.ts b/apps/server/src/integrations/environment/environment.service.ts
index cea4d00d..e1fc423c 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/integrations/environment/environment.service.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/integrations/environment/environment.service.ts
@@ -70,6 +70,23 @@ export class EnvironmentService {
     return this.configService.get<string>('JWT_TOKEN_EXPIRES_IN', '90d');
   }
 
+  // Kill-switch for the agent API-key feature. Default ON (unset -> enabled): a
+  // deploy that never sets the variable must NOT silently kill every agent. The
+  // parse is STRICT — the value is validated by environment.validation to be
+  // exactly 'true' or 'false' (or absent), so a typo like `=0`/`=off`/`=False`
+  // fails at boot rather than being read as "enabled" (which would leave an
+  // operator who yanked the switch during an incident with it still on). When
+  // OFF: validate() denies every api-key token and the issuance endpoints 404.
+  isApiKeysEnabled(): boolean {
+    return this.configService.get<string>('API_KEYS_ENABLED', 'true') !== 'false';
+  }
+
+  // Raw value (or undefined) for the boot log, so the state after each deploy is
+  // verifiable in container logs: `API keys: ENABLED/DISABLED (API_KEYS_ENABLED=...)`.
+  getApiKeysEnabledRaw(): string | undefined {
+    return this.configService.get<string>('API_KEYS_ENABLED');
+  }
+
   getCookieExpiresIn(): Date {
     const expiresInStr = this.getJwtTokenExpiresIn();
     let msUntilExpiry: number;
diff --git a/apps/server/src/integrations/environment/environment.validation.ts b/apps/server/src/integrations/environment/environment.validation.ts
index 476bc81c..3b2f65eb 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/integrations/environment/environment.validation.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/integrations/environment/environment.validation.ts
@@ -103,6 +103,15 @@ export class EnvironmentVariables {
   @IsString()
   TYPESENSE_LOCALE: string;
 
+  // Agent API-key kill-switch. Optional (absent -> default ON). STRICT: only the
+  // literals 'true'/'false' are accepted, so `=0`/`=off`/`=False` fail at boot
+  // instead of being silently read as "enabled" — the switch must actually flip
+  // when an operator flips it. See EnvironmentService.isApiKeysEnabled.
+  @IsOptional()
+  @IsIn(['true', 'false'])
+  @IsString()
+  API_KEYS_ENABLED: string;
+
   @IsOptional()
   @ValidateIf((obj) => obj.AI_DRIVER)
   @IsIn(['openai', 'openai-compatible', 'gemini', 'ollama'])