diff --git a/parser_option.go b/parser_option.go
index 1b5af97..88a780f 100644
--- a/parser_option.go
+++ b/parser_option.go
@@ -58,6 +58,14 @@ func WithIssuedAt() ParserOption {
 	}
 }
 
+// WithExpirationRequired returns the ParserOption to make exp claim required.
+// By default exp claim is optional.
+func WithExpirationRequired() ParserOption {
+	return func(p *Parser) {
+		p.validator.requireExp = true
+	}
+}
+
 // WithAudience configures the validator to require the specified audience in
 // the `aud` claim. Validation will fail if the audience is not listed in the
 // token or the `aud` claim is missing.
diff --git a/parser_test.go b/parser_test.go
index 1825dfc..c0f8171 100644
--- a/parser_test.go
+++ b/parser_test.go
@@ -423,6 +423,16 @@ var jwtTestData = []struct {
 		jwt.NewParser(jwt.WithLeeway(2 * time.Minute)),
 		jwt.SigningMethodRS256,
 	},
+	{
+		"rejects if exp is required but missing",
+		"", // autogen
+		defaultKeyFunc,
+		&jwt.RegisteredClaims{},
+		false,
+		[]error{jwt.ErrTokenInvalidClaims},
+		jwt.NewParser(jwt.WithExpirationRequired()),
+		jwt.SigningMethodRS256,
+	},
 }
 
 // signToken creates and returns a signed JWT token using signingMethod.
diff --git a/validator.go b/validator.go
index 3850438..3082c8c 100644
--- a/validator.go
+++ b/validator.go
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ type validator struct {
 	// validation. If unspecified, this defaults to time.Now.
 	timeFunc func() time.Time
 
+	// requireExp specifies whether the exp claim is required
+	requireExp bool
+
 	// verifyIat specifies whether the iat (Issued At) claim will be verified.
 	// According to https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc7519#section-4.1.6 this
 	// only specifies the age of the token, but no validation check is
@@ -86,8 +89,9 @@ func (v *validator) Validate(claims Claims) error {
 	}
 
 	// We always need to check the expiration time, but usage of the claim
-	// itself is OPTIONAL.
-	if err = v.verifyExpiresAt(claims, now, false); err != nil {
+	// itself is OPTIONAL by default. requireExp overrides this behavior
+	// and makes the exp claim mandatory.
+	if err = v.verifyExpiresAt(claims, now, v.requireExp); err != nil {
 		errs = append(errs, err)
 	}