diff --git a/backend/sftp/sftp.go b/backend/sftp/sftp.go
index e47e47db2..c3c60aade 100644
--- a/backend/sftp/sftp.go
+++ b/backend/sftp/sftp.go
@@ -99,6 +99,11 @@ Only PEM encrypted key files (old OpenSSH format) are supported. Encrypted keys
 in the new OpenSSH format can't be used.`,
 			IsPassword: true,
 			Sensitive:  true,
+		}, {
+			Name: "pubkey",
+			Help: `SSH public certificate for public certificate based authentication.
+Set this if you have a signed certificate you want to use for authentication.
+If specified will override pubkey_file.`,
 		}, {
 			Name: "pubkey_file",
 			Help: `Optional path to public key file.
@@ -511,6 +516,7 @@ type Options struct {
 	KeyPem                  string          `config:"key_pem"`
 	KeyFile                 string          `config:"key_file"`
 	KeyFilePass             string          `config:"key_file_pass"`
+	PubKey                  string          `config:"pubkey"`
 	PubKeyFile              string          `config:"pubkey_file"`
 	KnownHostsFile          string          `config:"known_hosts_file"`
 	KeyUseAgent             bool            `config:"key_use_agent"`
@@ -997,13 +1003,21 @@ func NewFs(ctx context.Context, name, root string, m configmap.Mapper) (fs.Fs, e
 		}
 
 		// If a public key has been specified then use that
-		if pubkeyFile != "" {
-			certfile, err := os.ReadFile(pubkeyFile)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to read cert file: %w", err)
+		if pubkeyFile != "" || opt.PubKey != "" {
+			pubKeyRaw := []byte(opt.PubKey)
+			// Use this error if public key is provided inline and is not a certificate
+			// if public key file is provided instead, use the err in the if block
+			notACertError := errors.New("public key provided is not a certificate: " + opt.PubKey)
+			if opt.PubKey == "" {
+				notACertError = errors.New("public key file is not a certificate file: " + pubkeyFile)
+				err := error(nil)
+				pubKeyRaw, err = os.ReadFile(pubkeyFile)
+				if err != nil {
+					return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to read cert file: %w", err)
+				}
 			}
 
-			pk, _, _, _, err := ssh.ParseAuthorizedKey(certfile)
+			pk, _, _, _, err := ssh.ParseAuthorizedKey(pubKeyRaw)
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to parse cert file: %w", err)
 			}
@@ -1017,7 +1031,7 @@ func NewFs(ctx context.Context, name, root string, m configmap.Mapper) (fs.Fs, e
 			// knows everything it needs.
 			cert, ok := pk.(*ssh.Certificate)
 			if !ok {
-				return nil, errors.New("public key file is not a certificate file: " + pubkeyFile)
+				return nil, notACertError
 			}
 			pubsigner, err := ssh.NewCertSigner(cert, signer)
 			if err != nil {
diff --git a/docs/content/sftp.md b/docs/content/sftp.md
index 2ba4a48a7..56f4d98dc 100644
--- a/docs/content/sftp.md
+++ b/docs/content/sftp.md
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ and the public key built into it will be used during the authentication process.
 If you have a certificate you may use it to sign your public key, creating a
 separate SSH user certificate that should be used instead of the plain public key
 extracted from the private key. Then you must provide the path to the
-user certificate public key file in `pubkey_file`.
+user certificate public key file in `pubkey_file` or the content of the file in `pubkey`.
 
 Note: This is not the traditional public key paired with your private key,
 typically saved as `/home/$USER/.ssh/id_rsa.pub`. Setting this path in
@@ -494,6 +494,19 @@ Properties:
 - Type:        string
 - Required:    false
 
+#### --sftp-pubkey
+
+SSH public certificate for public certificate based authentication.
+Set this if you have a signed certificate you want to use for authentication.
+If specified will override pubkey_file.
+
+Properties:
+
+- Config:      pubkey
+- Env Var:     RCLONE_SFTP_PUBKEY
+- Type:        string
+- Required:    false
+
 #### --sftp-pubkey-file
 
 Optional path to public key file.