diff --git a/doc/man-sections/tls-options.rst b/doc/man-sections/tls-options.rst
index de74c0d6..cdb85716 100644
--- a/doc/man-sections/tls-options.rst
+++ b/doc/man-sections/tls-options.rst
@@ -85,10 +85,17 @@ certificates and keys: https://github.com/OpenVPN/easy-rsa
   OpenVPN will log the usual warning in the logs if the relevant CRL is
   missing, but the connection will be allowed.
 
---cert file
-  Local peer's signed certificate in .pem format -- must be signed by a
-  certificate authority whose certificate is in ``--ca file``. Each peer
-  in an OpenVPN link running in TLS mode should have its own certificate
+--cert file|uri
+  Local peer's signed certificate in .pem format or as a URI -- must be
+  signed by a certificate authority whose certificate is in ``--ca file``
+  in the peer configuration. URI is supported only when built with
+  OpenSSL 3.0 or later and any required providers are loaded. Types
+  of URIs supported and their syntax depends on providers. OpenSSL has
+  internal support for "file:/absolute/path" URI in which case the scheme
+  "file:" is optional, and any file format recognized by OpenSSL (e.g., PEM,
+  PKCS12) is supported. PKCS#11 URI (RFC 7512) is supported by pkcs11-provider.
+
+  Each peer in an OpenVPN link running in TLS mode should have its own certificate
   and private key file. In addition, each certificate should have been
   signed by the key of a certificate authority whose public key resides in
   the ``--ca`` certificate authority file. You can easily make your own
@@ -203,10 +210,11 @@ certificates and keys: https://github.com/OpenVPN/easy-rsa
   The ``--hand-window`` parameter also controls the amount of time that
   the OpenVPN client repeats the pull request until it times out.
 
---key file
-  Local peer's private key in .pem format. Use the private key which was
-  generated when you built your peer's certificate (see ``--cert file``
-  above).
+--key file|uri
+  Local peer's private key in .pem format or a URI. Use the private key
+  which was generated when you built your peer's certificate (see
+  ``--cert file`` above). URI is supported only when built with OpenSSL 3.0
+  or later and any required providers are loaded. (See `--cert` for more details).
 
 --pkcs12 file
   Specify a PKCS #12 file containing local private key, local certificate,
diff --git a/src/openvpn/options.c b/src/openvpn/options.c
index d2ef8956..36105cea 100644
--- a/src/openvpn/options.c
+++ b/src/openvpn/options.c
@@ -567,10 +567,10 @@ static const char usage_message[] =
     "--dh file       : File containing Diffie Hellman parameters\n"
     "                  in .pem format (for --tls-server only).\n"
     "                  Use \"openssl dhparam -out dh1024.pem 1024\" to generate.\n"
-    "--cert file     : Local certificate in .pem format -- must be signed\n"
-    "                  by a Certificate Authority in --ca file.\n"
+    "--cert file     : Local certificate in .pem format or a URI -- must be signed\n"
+    "                  by a Certificate Authority in --ca file used by the peer.\n"
     "--extra-certs file : one or more PEM certs that complete the cert chain.\n"
-    "--key file      : Local private key in .pem format.\n"
+    "--key file      : Local private key in .pem format or a URI.\n"
     "--tls-version-min <version> ['or-highest'] : sets the minimum TLS version we\n"
     "    will accept from the peer.  If version is unrecognized and 'or-highest'\n"
     "    is specified, require max TLS version supported by SSL implementation.\n"
@@ -3851,6 +3851,7 @@ options_postprocess_mutate(struct options *o, struct env_set *es)
 #define CHKACC_FILEXSTWR (1<<2)  /** If file exists, is it writable? */
 #define CHKACC_ACPTSTDIN (1<<3)  /** If filename is stdin, it's allowed and "exists" */
 #define CHKACC_PRIVATE (1<<4)    /** Warn if this (private) file is group/others accessible */
+#define CHKACC_ACCEPT_URI (1<<5) /** If filename is a URI, no check is done unless it starts with file: */
 
 static bool
 check_file_access(const int type, const char *file, const int mode, const char *opt)
@@ -3871,6 +3872,21 @@ check_file_access(const int type, const char *file, const int mode, const char *
         return false;
     }
 
+    /* file name is a URI if its first segment  has ":" (i.e., before any "/")
+     * Then no checks done if CHKACC_ACCEPT_URI is set and the URI does not start with "file:"
+     */
+    if ((type & CHKACC_ACCEPT_URI) && strchr(file, ':'))
+    {
+        if (!strncmp(file, "file:", 5))
+        {
+            file += 5;
+        }
+        else if (!strchr(file, '/') || strchr(file, '/') > strchr(file, ':'))
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+
     /* Is the directory path leading to the given file accessible? */
     if (type & CHKACC_DIRPATH)
     {
@@ -4069,7 +4085,7 @@ options_postprocess_filechecks(struct options *options)
     errs |= check_file_access_chroot(options->chroot_dir, CHKACC_FILE,
                                      options->ca_path, R_OK, "--capath");
 
-    errs |= check_file_access_inline(options->cert_file_inline, CHKACC_FILE,
+    errs |= check_file_access_inline(options->cert_file_inline, CHKACC_FILE|CHKACC_ACCEPT_URI,
                                      options->cert_file, R_OK, "--cert");
 
     errs |= check_file_access_inline(options->extra_certs_file, CHKACC_FILE,
@@ -4079,7 +4095,7 @@ options_postprocess_filechecks(struct options *options)
     if (!(options->management_flags & MF_EXTERNAL_KEY))
     {
         errs |= check_file_access_inline(options->priv_key_file_inline,
-                                         CHKACC_FILE|CHKACC_PRIVATE,
+                                         CHKACC_FILE|CHKACC_PRIVATE|CHKACC_ACCEPT_URI,
                                          options->priv_key_file, R_OK, "--key");
     }
 
diff --git a/src/openvpn/ssl_openssl.c b/src/openvpn/ssl_openssl.c
index e8a30a31..05555a38 100644
--- a/src/openvpn/ssl_openssl.c
+++ b/src/openvpn/ssl_openssl.c
@@ -65,6 +65,12 @@
 #include <openssl/ec.h>
 #endif
 
+#if OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER >= 0x30000000L
+#define HAVE_OPENSSL_STORE_API
+#include <openssl/ui.h>
+#include <openssl/store.h>
+#endif
+
 #if defined(_MSC_VER) && !defined(_M_ARM64)
 #include <openssl/applink.c>
 #endif
@@ -768,6 +774,111 @@ tls_ctx_load_ecdh_params(struct tls_root_ctx *ctx, const char *curve_name)
 #endif /* OPENSSL_NO_EC */
 }
 
+#if defined(HAVE_OPENSSL_STORE_API)
+/**
+ * A wrapper for pem_password_callback for use with OpenSSL UI_METHOD.
+ */
+static int
+ui_reader(UI *ui, UI_STRING *uis)
+{
+    SSL_CTX *ctx = UI_get0_user_data(ui);
+
+    if (UI_get_string_type(uis) == UIT_PROMPT)
+    {
+        const char *prompt = UI_get0_output_string(uis);
+
+        /* If pkcs#11 Use custom prompt similar to pkcs11-helper */
+        if (strstr(prompt, "PKCS#11"))
+        {
+            struct user_pass up;
+            get_user_pass(&up, NULL, "PKCS#11 token", GET_USER_PASS_MANAGEMENT|GET_USER_PASS_PASSWORD_ONLY);
+            UI_set_result(ui, uis, up.password);
+            purge_user_pass(&up, true);
+        }
+        else /* use our generic 'Private Key' passphrase callback */
+        {
+            char password[64];
+            pem_password_cb *cb = SSL_CTX_get_default_passwd_cb(ctx);
+            void *d = SSL_CTX_get_default_passwd_cb_userdata(ctx);
+
+            cb(password, sizeof(password), 0, d);
+            UI_set_result(ui, uis, password);
+            secure_memzero(password, sizeof(password));
+        }
+
+        return 1;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+#endif /* defined(HAVE_OPENSSL_STORE_API) */
+
+/**
+ * Load private key from OSSL_STORE URI or file
+ * uri : URI of object or filename
+ * ssl_ctx : SSL_CTX for UI prompt
+ *
+ * Return a pointer to the key or NULL if not found.
+ * Caller must free the key after use.
+ */
+static void *
+load_pkey_from_uri(const char *uri, SSL_CTX *ssl_ctx)
+{
+    EVP_PKEY *pkey = NULL;
+
+#if !defined(HAVE_OPENSSL_STORE_API)
+
+    /* Treat the uri as file name */
+    BIO *in = BIO_new_file(uri, "r");
+    if (!in)
+    {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    pkey = PEM_read_bio_PrivateKey(in, NULL,
+                                   SSL_CTX_get_default_passwd_cb(ssl_ctx),
+                                   SSL_CTX_get_default_passwd_cb_userdata(ssl_ctx));
+    BIO_free(in);
+
+#else /* defined(HAVE_OPENSSL_STORE_API) */
+
+    OSSL_STORE_CTX *store_ctx = NULL;
+    OSSL_STORE_INFO *info = NULL;
+
+    UI_METHOD *ui_method = UI_create_method("openvpn");
+    if (!ui_method)
+    {
+        msg(M_WARN, "OpenSSL UI creation failed");
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    UI_method_set_reader(ui_method, ui_reader);
+
+    store_ctx = OSSL_STORE_open_ex(uri, tls_libctx, NULL, ui_method, ssl_ctx,
+                                   NULL, NULL, NULL);
+    if (!store_ctx)
+    {
+        goto end;
+    }
+    if (OSSL_STORE_expect(store_ctx, OSSL_STORE_INFO_PKEY) != 1)
+    {
+        goto end;
+    }
+    info = OSSL_STORE_load(store_ctx);
+    if (!info)
+    {
+        goto end;
+    }
+    pkey = OSSL_STORE_INFO_get1_PKEY(info);
+    OSSL_STORE_INFO_free(info);
+    msg(D_TLS_DEBUG_MED, "Found pkey in store using URI: %s", uri);
+
+end:
+    OSSL_STORE_close(store_ctx);
+    UI_destroy_method(ui_method);
+
+#endif /* defined(HAVE_OPENSSL_STORE_API) */
+
+    return pkey;
+}
+
 int
 tls_ctx_load_pkcs12(struct tls_root_ctx *ctx, const char *pkcs12_file,
                     bool pkcs12_file_inline, bool load_ca_file)
@@ -945,9 +1056,103 @@ tls_ctx_add_extra_certs(struct tls_root_ctx *ctx, BIO *bio, bool optional)
     }
 }
 
-void
-tls_ctx_load_cert_file(struct tls_root_ctx *ctx, const char *cert_file,
-                       bool cert_file_inline)
+static bool
+cert_uri_supported(void)
+{
+#if defined(HAVE_OPENSSL_STORE_API)
+    return 1;
+#else
+    return 0;
+#endif
+}
+
+static void
+tls_ctx_load_cert_uri(struct tls_root_ctx *tls_ctx, const char *uri)
+{
+#if defined(HAVE_OPENSSL_STORE_API)
+    X509 *x = NULL;
+    int ret = 0;
+    OSSL_STORE_CTX *store_ctx = NULL;
+    OSSL_STORE_INFO *info = NULL;
+
+    ASSERT(NULL != tls_ctx);
+
+    UI_METHOD *ui_method = UI_create_method("openvpn");
+    if (!ui_method)
+    {
+        msg(M_WARN, "OpenSSL UI method creation failed");
+        goto end;
+    }
+    UI_method_set_reader(ui_method, ui_reader);
+
+    store_ctx = OSSL_STORE_open_ex(uri, tls_libctx, NULL, ui_method, tls_ctx->ctx,
+                                   NULL, NULL, NULL);
+    if (!store_ctx)
+    {
+        goto end;
+    }
+    if (OSSL_STORE_expect(store_ctx, OSSL_STORE_INFO_CERT) != 1)
+    {
+        goto end;
+    }
+
+    info = OSSL_STORE_load(store_ctx);
+    if (!info)
+    {
+        goto end;
+    }
+
+    x = OSSL_STORE_INFO_get0_CERT(info);
+    if (x == NULL)
+    {
+        goto end;
+    }
+    msg(D_TLS_DEBUG_MED, "Found cert in store using URI: %s", uri);
+
+    ret = SSL_CTX_use_certificate(tls_ctx->ctx, x);
+    if (!ret)
+    {
+        goto end;
+    }
+    OSSL_STORE_INFO_free(info);
+
+    /* iterate through the store and add extra certificates if any to the chain */
+    info = OSSL_STORE_load(store_ctx);
+    while (info && !OSSL_STORE_eof(store_ctx))
+    {
+        x = OSSL_STORE_INFO_get1_CERT(info);
+        if (x && SSL_CTX_add_extra_chain_cert(tls_ctx->ctx, x) != 1)
+        {
+            X509_free(x);
+            crypto_msg(M_FATAL, "Error adding extra certificate");
+            break;
+        }
+        OSSL_STORE_INFO_free(info);
+        info = OSSL_STORE_load(store_ctx);
+    }
+
+end:
+    if (!ret)
+    {
+        crypto_print_openssl_errors(M_WARN);
+        crypto_msg(M_FATAL, "Cannot load certificate from URI <%s>", uri);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        crypto_print_openssl_errors(M_DEBUG);
+    }
+
+    UI_destroy_method(ui_method);
+    OSSL_STORE_INFO_free(info);
+    OSSL_STORE_close(store_ctx);
+#else /* defined(HAVE_OPENSSL_STORE_API */
+    ASSERT(0);
+#endif /* defined(HAVE_OPENSSL_STORE_API */
+}
+
+static void
+tls_ctx_load_cert_pem_file(struct tls_root_ctx *ctx, const char *cert_file,
+                           bool cert_file_inline)
 {
     BIO *in = NULL;
     X509 *x = NULL;
@@ -961,7 +1166,7 @@ tls_ctx_load_cert_file(struct tls_root_ctx *ctx, const char *cert_file,
     }
     else
     {
-        in = BIO_new_file(cert_file, "r");
+        in = BIO_new_file((char *) cert_file, "r");
     }
 
     if (in == NULL)
@@ -1007,6 +1212,20 @@ end:
     X509_free(x);
 }
 
+void
+tls_ctx_load_cert_file(struct tls_root_ctx *ctx, const char *cert_file,
+                       bool cert_file_inline)
+{
+    if (cert_uri_supported() && !cert_file_inline)
+    {
+        tls_ctx_load_cert_uri(ctx, cert_file);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        tls_ctx_load_cert_pem_file(ctx, cert_file, cert_file_inline);
+    }
+}
+
 int
 tls_ctx_load_priv_file(struct tls_root_ctx *ctx, const char *priv_key_file,
                        bool priv_key_file_inline)
@@ -1023,21 +1242,19 @@ tls_ctx_load_priv_file(struct tls_root_ctx *ctx, const char *priv_key_file,
     if (priv_key_file_inline)
     {
         in = BIO_new_mem_buf((char *) priv_key_file, -1);
+        if (in == NULL)
+        {
+            goto end;
+        }
+        pkey = PEM_read_bio_PrivateKey(in, NULL,
+                                       SSL_CTX_get_default_passwd_cb(ctx->ctx),
+                                       SSL_CTX_get_default_passwd_cb_userdata(ctx->ctx));
     }
     else
     {
-        in = BIO_new_file(priv_key_file, "r");
+        pkey = load_pkey_from_uri(priv_key_file, ssl_ctx);
     }
 
-    if (!in)
-    {
-        goto end;
-    }
-
-    pkey = PEM_read_bio_PrivateKey(in, NULL,
-                                   SSL_CTX_get_default_passwd_cb(ctx->ctx),
-                                   SSL_CTX_get_default_passwd_cb_userdata(ctx->ctx));
-
     if (!pkey || !SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey(ssl_ctx, pkey))
     {
 #ifdef ENABLE_MANAGEMENT
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/openvpn/test_ssl.c b/tests/unit_tests/openvpn/test_ssl.c
index a4b21018..da50e55f 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/openvpn/test_ssl.c
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/openvpn/test_ssl.c
@@ -66,6 +66,18 @@ throw_signal(const int signum)
 }
 #endif
 
+/* stubs for some unused functions instead of pulling in too many dependencies */
+bool
+get_user_pass_cr(struct user_pass *up, const char *auth_file, const char *prefix,
+                 const unsigned int flags, const char *auth_challenge)
+{
+    return false;
+}
+void
+purge_user_pass(struct user_pass *up, bool force)
+{
+    return;
+}
 
 const char *unittest_cert = "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\n"
                             "MIIBuTCCAUCgAwIBAgIUTLtjSBzx53qZRvZ6Ur7D9kgoOHkwCgYIKoZIzj0EAwIw\n"