diff --git a/crates/router/src/routes/admin.rs b/crates/router/src/routes/admin.rs
index a28324ee59..5e3a9c49e8 100644
--- a/crates/router/src/routes/admin.rs
+++ b/crates/router/src/routes/admin.rs
@@ -405,11 +405,16 @@ pub async fn connector_retrieve(
         state,
         &req,
         payload,
-        |state, _, req, _| {
-            retrieve_connector(state, req.merchant_id, None, req.merchant_connector_id)
+        |state, auth, req, _| {
+            retrieve_connector(
+                state,
+                req.merchant_id,
+                auth.profile_id,
+                req.merchant_connector_id,
+            )
         },
         auth::auth_type(
-            &auth::AdminApiAuth,
+            &auth::HeaderAuth(auth::ApiKeyAuth),
             &auth::JWTAuthMerchantFromRoute {
                 merchant_id,
                 required_permission: Permission::MerchantConnectorAccountRead,
@@ -518,9 +523,9 @@ pub async fn payment_connector_list(
         state,
         &req,
         merchant_id.to_owned(),
-        |state, _, merchant_id, _| list_payment_connectors(state, merchant_id, None),
+        |state, _auth, merchant_id, _| list_payment_connectors(state, merchant_id, None),
         auth::auth_type(
-            &auth::AdminApiAuth,
+            &auth::HeaderAuth(auth::ApiKeyAuth),
             &auth::JWTAuthMerchantFromRoute {
                 merchant_id,
                 required_permission: Permission::MerchantConnectorAccountRead,
@@ -570,9 +575,17 @@ pub async fn connector_update(
         state,
         &req,
         json_payload.into_inner(),
-        |state, _, req, _| update_connector(state, &merchant_id, None, &merchant_connector_id, req),
+        |state, auth, req, _| {
+            update_connector(
+                state,
+                &merchant_id,
+                auth.profile_id,
+                &merchant_connector_id,
+                req,
+            )
+        },
         auth::auth_type(
-            &auth::AdminApiAuth,
+            &auth::HeaderAuth(auth::ApiKeyAuth),
             &auth::JWTAuthMerchantFromRoute {
                 merchant_id: merchant_id.clone(),
                 required_permission: Permission::MerchantConnectorAccountWrite,
diff --git a/cypress-tests/cypress/support/commands.js b/cypress-tests/cypress/support/commands.js
index aadf258123..db2ad63773 100644
--- a/cypress-tests/cypress/support/commands.js
+++ b/cypress-tests/cypress/support/commands.js
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ Cypress.Commands.add("connectorRetrieveCall", (globalState) => {
     headers: {
       Accept: "application/json",
       "Content-Type": "application/json",
-      "api-key": globalState.get("adminApiKey"),
+      "api-key": globalState.get("apiKey"),
     },
     failOnStatusCode: false,
   }).then((response) => {
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ Cypress.Commands.add(
       headers: {
         Accept: "application/json",
         "Content-Type": "application/json",
-        "api-key": globalState.get("adminApiKey"),
+        "api-key": globalState.get("apiKey"),
       },
       body: updateConnectorBody,
       failOnStatusCode: false,
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ Cypress.Commands.add("connectorListByMid", (globalState) => {
     url: `${globalState.get("baseUrl")}/account/${merchant_id}/connectors`,
     headers: {
       "Content-Type": "application/json",
-      "api-key": globalState.get("adminApiKey"),
+      "api-key": globalState.get("apiKey"),
     },
     failOnStatusCode: false,
   }).then((response) => {
@@ -2060,7 +2060,7 @@ Cypress.Commands.add("ListMCAbyMID", (globalState) => {
     url: `${globalState.get("baseUrl")}/account/${merchantId}/connectors`,
     headers: {
       "Content-Type": "application/json",
-      "api-key": globalState.get("adminApiKey"),
+      "api-key": globalState.get("apiKey"),
     },
     failOnStatusCode: false,
   }).then((response) => {
diff --git a/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/.meta.json b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/.meta.json
index 3f8bc360dd..198acc6d53 100644
--- a/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/.meta.json
+++ b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/.meta.json
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
   "childrenOrder": [
+    "API Key - Create",
     "Payment Connector - Create",
     "Payment Connector - Retrieve",
     "Payment Connector - Update",
diff --git a/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/API Key - Create/.event.meta.json b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/API Key - Create/.event.meta.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0731450e6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/API Key - Create/.event.meta.json	
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "eventOrder": ["event.test.js"]
+}
diff --git a/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/API Key - Create/event.test.js b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/API Key - Create/event.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4e27c5a502
--- /dev/null
+++ b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/API Key - Create/event.test.js	
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+// Validate status 2xx
+pm.test("[POST]::/api_keys/:merchant_id - Status code is 2xx", function () {
+  pm.response.to.be.success;
+});
+
+// Validate if response header has matching content-type
+pm.test(
+  "[POST]::/api_keys/:merchant_id - Content-Type is application/json",
+  function () {
+    pm.expect(pm.response.headers.get("Content-Type")).to.include(
+      "application/json",
+    );
+  },
+);
+
+// Set response object as internal variable
+let jsonData = {};
+try {
+  jsonData = pm.response.json();
+} catch (e) {}
+
+// pm.collectionVariables - Set api_key_id as variable for jsonData.key_id
+if (jsonData?.key_id) {
+  pm.collectionVariables.set("api_key_id", jsonData.key_id);
+  console.log(
+    "- use {{api_key_id}} as collection variable for value",
+    jsonData.key_id,
+  );
+} else {
+  console.log(
+    "INFO - Unable to assign variable {{api_key_id}}, as jsonData.key_id is undefined.",
+  );
+}
+
+// pm.collectionVariables - Set api_key as variable for jsonData.api_key
+if (jsonData?.api_key) {
+  pm.collectionVariables.set("api_key", jsonData.api_key);
+  console.log(
+    "- use {{api_key}} as collection variable for value",
+    jsonData.api_key,
+  );
+} else {
+  console.log(
+    "INFO - Unable to assign variable {{api_key}}, as jsonData.api_key is undefined.",
+  );
+}
diff --git a/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/API Key - Create/request.json b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/API Key - Create/request.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6ceefe5d24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/API Key - Create/request.json	
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+{
+  "auth": {
+    "type": "apikey",
+    "apikey": [
+      {
+        "key": "value",
+        "value": "{{admin_api_key}}",
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      {
+        "key": "key",
+        "value": "api-key",
+        "type": "string"
+      }
+    ]
+  },
+  "method": "POST",
+  "header": [
+    {
+      "key": "Content-Type",
+      "value": "application/json"
+    },
+    {
+      "key": "Accept",
+      "value": "application/json"
+    }
+  ],
+  "body": {
+    "mode": "raw",
+    "raw_json_formatted": {
+      "name": "API Key 1",
+      "description": null,
+      "expiration": "2069-09-23T01:02:03.000Z"
+    }
+  },
+  "url": {
+    "raw": "{{baseUrl}}/api_keys/:merchant_id",
+    "host": ["{{baseUrl}}"],
+    "path": ["api_keys", ":merchant_id"],
+    "variable": [
+      {
+        "key": "merchant_id",
+        "value": "{{merchant_id}}"
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/API Key - Create/response.json b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/API Key - Create/response.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fe51488c70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/API Key - Create/response.json	
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+[]
diff --git a/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/List Connectors by MID/request.json b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/List Connectors by MID/request.json
index 81d0ea5ef1..f731ff3a42 100644
--- a/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/List Connectors by MID/request.json	
+++ b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/List Connectors by MID/request.json	
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     "apikey": [
       {
         "key": "value",
-        "value": "{{admin_api_key}}",
+        "value": "{{api_key}}",
         "type": "string"
       },
       {
diff --git a/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/Payment Connector - Retrieve/request.json b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/Payment Connector - Retrieve/request.json
index 7536380bcf..05f84b5771 100644
--- a/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/Payment Connector - Retrieve/request.json	
+++ b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/Payment Connector - Retrieve/request.json	
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     "apikey": [
       {
         "key": "value",
-        "value": "{{admin_api_key}}",
+        "value": "{{api_key}}",
         "type": "string"
       },
       {
diff --git a/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/Payment Connector - Update/request.json b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/Payment Connector - Update/request.json
index 5e87da3d7f..bcc133ce43 100644
--- a/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/Payment Connector - Update/request.json	
+++ b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/PaymentConnectors/Payment Connector - Update/request.json	
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     "apikey": [
       {
         "key": "value",
-        "value": "{{admin_api_key}}",
+        "value": "{{api_key}}",
         "type": "string"
       },
       {
diff --git a/postman/collection-dir/stripe/QuickStart/Payment Connector - Update/request.json b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/QuickStart/Payment Connector - Update/request.json
index 3e225815f9..8b46ad180f 100644
--- a/postman/collection-dir/stripe/QuickStart/Payment Connector - Update/request.json	
+++ b/postman/collection-dir/stripe/QuickStart/Payment Connector - Update/request.json	
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     "apikey": [
       {
         "key": "value",
-        "value": "{{admin_api_key}}",
+        "value": "{{api_key}}",
         "type": "string"
       },
       {
diff --git a/postman/collection-json/stripe.postman_collection.json b/postman/collection-json/stripe.postman_collection.json
index d881692098..c3e3c6f158 100644
--- a/postman/collection-json/stripe.postman_collection.json
+++ b/postman/collection-json/stripe.postman_collection.json
@@ -1348,6 +1348,115 @@
             }
           ]
         },
+        {
+          "name": "API Key - Create",
+          "event": [
+            {
+              "listen": "test",
+              "script": {
+                "exec": [
+                  "// Validate status 2xx",
+                  "pm.test(\"[POST]::/api_keys/:merchant_id - Status code is 2xx\", function () {",
+                  "  pm.response.to.be.success;",
+                  "});",
+                  "",
+                  "// Validate if response header has matching content-type",
+                  "pm.test(",
+                  "  \"[POST]::/api_keys/:merchant_id - Content-Type is application/json\",",
+                  "  function () {",
+                  "    pm.expect(pm.response.headers.get(\"Content-Type\")).to.include(",
+                  "      \"application/json\",",
+                  "    );",
+                  "  },",
+                  ");",
+                  "",
+                  "// Set response object as internal variable",
+                  "let jsonData = {};",
+                  "try {",
+                  "  jsonData = pm.response.json();",
+                  "} catch (e) {}",
+                  "",
+                  "// pm.collectionVariables - Set api_key_id as variable for jsonData.key_id",
+                  "if (jsonData?.key_id) {",
+                  "  pm.collectionVariables.set(\"api_key_id\", jsonData.key_id);",
+                  "  console.log(",
+                  "    \"- use {{api_key_id}} as collection variable for value\",",
+                  "    jsonData.key_id,",
+                  "  );",
+                  "} else {",
+                  "  console.log(",
+                  "    \"INFO - Unable to assign variable {{api_key_id}}, as jsonData.key_id is undefined.\",",
+                  "  );",
+                  "}",
+                  "",
+                  "// pm.collectionVariables - Set api_key as variable for jsonData.api_key",
+                  "if (jsonData?.api_key) {",
+                  "  pm.collectionVariables.set(\"api_key\", jsonData.api_key);",
+                  "  console.log(",
+                  "    \"- use {{api_key}} as collection variable for value\",",
+                  "    jsonData.api_key,",
+                  "  );",
+                  "} else {",
+                  "  console.log(",
+                  "    \"INFO - Unable to assign variable {{api_key}}, as jsonData.api_key is undefined.\",",
+                  "  );",
+                  "}",
+                  ""
+                ],
+                "type": "text/javascript"
+              }
+            }
+          ],
+          "request": {
+            "auth": {
+              "type": "apikey",
+              "apikey": [
+                {
+                  "key": "value",
+                  "value": "{{admin_api_key}}",
+                  "type": "string"
+                },
+                {
+                  "key": "key",
+                  "value": "api-key",
+                  "type": "string"
+                }
+              ]
+            },
+            "method": "POST",
+            "header": [
+              {
+                "key": "Content-Type",
+                "value": "application/json"
+              },
+              {
+                "key": "Accept",
+                "value": "application/json"
+              }
+            ],
+            "body": {
+              "mode": "raw",
+              "raw": "{\"name\":\"API Key 1\",\"description\":null,\"expiration\":\"2069-09-23T01:02:03.000Z\"}"
+            },
+            "url": {
+              "raw": "{{baseUrl}}/api_keys/:merchant_id",
+              "host": [
+                "{{baseUrl}}"
+              ],
+              "path": [
+                "api_keys",
+                ":merchant_id"
+              ],
+              "variable": [
+                {
+                  "key": "merchant_id",
+                  "value": "{{merchant_id}}"
+                }
+              ]
+            }
+          },
+          "response": []
+        },
         {
           "name": "Payment Connector - Create",
           "event": [
@@ -1528,7 +1637,7 @@
               "apikey": [
                 {
                   "key": "value",
-                  "value": "{{admin_api_key}}",
+                  "value": "{{api_key}}",
                   "type": "string"
                 },
                 {
@@ -1643,7 +1752,7 @@
               "apikey": [
                 {
                   "key": "value",
-                  "value": "{{admin_api_key}}",
+                  "value": "{{api_key}}",
                   "type": "string"
                 },
                 {
@@ -1740,7 +1849,7 @@
               "apikey": [
                 {
                   "key": "value",
-                  "value": "{{admin_api_key}}",
+                  "value": "{{api_key}}",
                   "type": "string"
                 },
                 {
@@ -2575,7 +2684,7 @@
               "apikey": [
                 {
                   "key": "value",
-                  "value": "{{admin_api_key}}",
+                  "value": "{{api_key}}",
                   "type": "string"
                 },
                 {