diff --git a/auth/auth.go b/auth/auth.go
index e5bb4c4..6264f13 100644
--- a/auth/auth.go
+++ b/auth/auth.go
@@ -73,6 +73,11 @@ type TokenInfo struct {
 	// Username is the MCIAS username (the "sub" claim).
 	Username string
 
+	// AccountType is the MCIAS account type: "human" or "system".
+	// Used by policy engines that need to distinguish interactive users
+	// from service accounts.
+	AccountType string
+
 	// Roles is the set of MCIAS roles assigned to the account.
 	Roles []string
 
@@ -193,10 +198,11 @@ func (a *Authenticator) ValidateToken(token string) (*TokenInfo, error) {
 	}
 
 	var resp struct {
-		Valid    bool     `json:"valid"`
-		Sub      string   `json:"sub"`
-		Username string   `json:"username"`
-		Roles    []string `json:"roles"`
+		Valid       bool     `json:"valid"`
+		Sub         string   `json:"sub"`
+		Username    string   `json:"username"`
+		AccountType string   `json:"account_type"`
+		Roles       []string `json:"roles"`
 	}
 	status, err := a.doJSON(http.MethodPost, "/v1/token/validate",
 		map[string]string{"token": token}, &resp)
@@ -209,9 +215,10 @@ func (a *Authenticator) ValidateToken(token string) (*TokenInfo, error) {
 	}
 
 	info := &TokenInfo{
-		Username: resp.Username,
-		Roles:    resp.Roles,
-		IsAdmin:  hasRole(resp.Roles, "admin"),
+		Username:    resp.Username,
+		AccountType: resp.AccountType,
+		Roles:       resp.Roles,
+		IsAdmin:     hasRole(resp.Roles, "admin"),
 	}
 	if info.Username == "" {
 		info.Username = resp.Sub
diff --git a/auth/auth_test.go b/auth/auth_test.go
index b6efaee..a113c46 100644
--- a/auth/auth_test.go
+++ b/auth/auth_test.go
@@ -54,18 +54,20 @@ func mockMCIAS(t *testing.T) *httptest.Server {
 		case "tok-admin-123":
 			w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
 			_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(map[string]interface{}{
-				"valid":    true,
-				"sub":      "uuid-admin",
-				"username": "admin",
-				"roles":    []string{"admin", "user"},
+				"valid":        true,
+				"sub":          "uuid-admin",
+				"username":     "admin",
+				"account_type": "human",
+				"roles":        []string{"admin", "user"},
 			})
 		case "tok-user-456":
 			w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
 			_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(map[string]interface{}{
-				"valid":    true,
-				"sub":      "uuid-user",
-				"username": "alice",
-				"roles":    []string{"user"},
+				"valid":        true,
+				"sub":          "uuid-user",
+				"username":     "alice",
+				"account_type": "human",
+				"roles":        []string{"user"},
 			})
 		case "tok-expired":
 			w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
@@ -154,6 +156,9 @@ func TestValidateToken(t *testing.T) {
 	if info.Username != "admin" {
 		t.Fatalf("Username = %q, want %q", info.Username, "admin")
 	}
+	if info.AccountType != "human" {
+		t.Fatalf("AccountType = %q, want %q", info.AccountType, "human")
+	}
 	if !info.IsAdmin {
 		t.Fatal("IsAdmin = false, want true")
 	}