diff --git a/securesystemslib/interface.py b/securesystemslib/interface.py
index 8796603e..dee9c859 100755
--- a/securesystemslib/interface.py
+++ b/securesystemslib/interface.py
@@ -727,6 +727,57 @@ def import_publickeys_from_file(filepaths, key_types=None):
   return key_dict
 
 
+
+def import_privatekey_from_file(filepath, key_type=None, password=None,
+    prompt=False):
+  """Imports private key from file.
+
+  If a password is passed or entered on the prompt, the private key is
+  decrypted, otherwise it is treated as unencrypted.
+
+  NOTE: Use 'import_rsa_privatekey_from_file' to specify any other than the
+  default signing scheme for an RSA key.
+
+  Arguments:
+    filepath: The path to read the file from.
+    key_type (optional): One of KEY_TYPE_RSA, KEY_TYPE_ED25519 or
+        KEY_TYPE_ECDSA. Default is KEY_TYPE_RSA.
+    password (optional): A password to decrypt the key.
+    prompt (optional): A boolean indicating if the user should be prompted
+        for a decryption password. If the user enters an empty password, the
+        key is not decrypted.
+
+  Raises:
+    FormatError: key_type is not supported.
+    See import_ed25519_privatekey_from_file, import_rsa_privatekey_from_file,
+    import_ecdsa_privatekey_from_file.
+
+  Returns:
+    A private key object conformant with one of 'ED25519KEY_SCHEMA',
+    'RSAKEY_SCHEMA' or 'ECDSAKEY_SCHEMA'.
+
+  """
+  if key_type is None:
+    key_type = KEY_TYPE_RSA
+
+  if key_type == KEY_TYPE_ED25519:
+    return import_ed25519_privatekey_from_file(
+        filepath, password=password, prompt=prompt)
+
+  elif key_type == KEY_TYPE_RSA:
+    return import_rsa_privatekey_from_file(
+        filepath, password=password, prompt=prompt)
+
+  elif key_type == KEY_TYPE_ECDSA:
+    return import_ecdsa_privatekey_from_file(
+        filepath, password=password, prompt=prompt)
+
+  else:
+    raise securesystemslib.exceptions.FormatError(
+        "Unsupported key type '{}'. Must be '{}', '{}' or '{}'.".format(
+        key_type, KEY_TYPE_RSA, KEY_TYPE_ED25519, KEY_TYPE_ECDSA))
+
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
   # The interactive sessions of the documentation strings can
   # be tested by running interface.py as a standalone module:
diff --git a/tests/test_interface.py b/tests/test_interface.py
index ea7d9d81..49adfd6f 100755
--- a/tests/test_interface.py
+++ b/tests/test_interface.py
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@
     generate_and_write_ecdsa_keypair,
     import_ecdsa_publickey_from_file,
     import_ecdsa_privatekey_from_file,
-    import_publickeys_from_file)
+    import_publickeys_from_file,
+    import_privatekey_from_file)
 
 
 
@@ -667,6 +668,37 @@ def test_import_publickeys_from_file(self):
           [KEY_TYPE_ED25519])
 
 
+  def test_import_privatekey_from_file(self):
+    """Test generic private key import function. """
+
+    pw = "password"
+    for idx, (path, key_type, key_schema) in enumerate([
+        (self.path_rsa, None, RSAKEY_SCHEMA), # default key type
+        (self.path_rsa, KEY_TYPE_RSA, RSAKEY_SCHEMA),
+        (self.path_ed25519, KEY_TYPE_ED25519, ED25519KEY_SCHEMA),
+        (self.path_ecdsa, KEY_TYPE_ECDSA, ECDSAKEY_SCHEMA)]):
+
+      # Successfully import key per supported type, with ...
+      # ... passed password
+      key = import_privatekey_from_file(path, key_type=key_type, password=pw)
+      self.assertTrue(key_schema.matches(key), "(row {})".format(idx))
+
+      # ... entered password on mock-prompt
+      with mock.patch("securesystemslib.interface.get_password", return_value=pw):
+        key = import_privatekey_from_file(path, key_type=key_type, prompt=True)
+      self.assertTrue(key_schema.matches(key), "(row {})".format(idx))
+
+    # Error on wrong key for default key type
+    with self.assertRaises(Error):
+      import_privatekey_from_file(self.path_ed25519, password=pw)
+
+    # Error on unsupported key type
+    with self.assertRaises(FormatError):
+      import_privatekey_from_file(
+          self.path_rsa, key_type="KEY_TYPE_UNSUPPORTED", password=pw)
+
+
+
 # Run the test cases.
 if __name__ == '__main__':
   unittest.main()