diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 386c3487bf171691175984fec3796dca55a271d7..77b5602562843477766d8f7264e15a36e71ef76b 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ stages:          # List of stages for jobs, and their order of execution
   - test-package
 
 variables:
-  VERAPDF_VERSION: "1.24.1"
+  VERAPDF_VERSION: "1.28.1"
   DOCKERFILE_DEB: "${CI_PROJECT_DIR}/gitlab-ci/Dockerfile_DEB"
   IMAGE_BASE_DEB: "sdvharbor.slub-dresden.de/replication/debian:bookworm-slim"
   IMAGE_TARGET_DEB: "${CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE}/debian12_verapdf_build_env"