diff --git a/BCrypt.pas b/BCrypt.pas
index 9c79014..0efd129 100644
--- a/BCrypt.pas
+++ b/BCrypt.pas
@@ -11,13 +11,16 @@
  *}
 unit BCrypt;
 {$mode objfpc}{$H+}
-{$codepage utf8}
+{$CODEPAGE UTF-8}
 
 interface
 
 uses
-  SysUtils,
-  Classes;
+  sysutils,
+  classes
+  ;
+
+
 
 const
   // bcrypt uses 128-bit (16-byte) salt
@@ -219,6 +222,7 @@ type
     BCryptSalt,
     BCryptHash : AnsiString;
   end;
+  UTF8String = type AnsiString(CP_UTF8);
 
 EHash = class(EArgumentException);
 
@@ -228,7 +232,7 @@ private
   FPBox: array[0..17] of DWord;
   function BsdBase64Encode(const RawByteData: TBytes; CharacterLength: Sizeint): AnsiString;
   function BsdBase64Decode(const EncodedString : AnsiString): TBytes;
-  function Crypt(const Password, Salt : AnsiString; Cost : Byte; HashType : THashTypes) : AnsiString;
+  function Crypt(const Password : UTF8String; const Salt : AnsiString; Cost : Byte; HashType : THashTypes) : AnsiString;
   function CryptRaw(const HashKey, Salt: TBytes; Cost : Byte): TBytes;
   procedure EKSKey(const Salt, HashKey: TBytes);
   procedure Encipher(var lr: array of DWord; const offset: SizeInt);
@@ -247,10 +251,10 @@ private
 public
   constructor Create; overload;
   destructor Destroy; override;
-  function CreateHash(const Password : AnsiString) : AnsiString; overload;
-  function CreateHash(const Password : AnsiString; HashType : THashTypes) : AnsiString; overload;
-  function CreateHash(const Password : AnsiString; HashType : THashTypes; Cost : Byte) : AnsiString; overload;
-  function VerifyHash(const Password, Hash : AnsiString) : Boolean;
+  function CreateHash(const Password : UTF8String) : AnsiString; overload;
+  function CreateHash(const Password : UTF8String; HashType : THashTypes) : AnsiString; overload;
+  function CreateHash(const Password : UTF8String; HashType : THashTypes; Cost : Byte) : AnsiString; overload;
+  function VerifyHash(const Password : UTF8STring; const Hash : AnsiString) : Boolean;
   function NeedsRehash(const BCryptHash : AnsiString) : Boolean; overload;
   function NeedsRehash(const BCryptHash : AnsiString; Cost : Byte) : Boolean; overload;
   function HashGetInfo(const Hash : AnsiString) : RTPasswordInformation;
@@ -263,6 +267,7 @@ Uses
 
 constructor TBCryptHash.Create;
    begin
+
      inherited Create;
    end;
 
@@ -687,16 +692,16 @@ begin
   Result := RandomFileBuffer;
 end; { TBCryptHash.unixRandomBytes }
 
-function TBCryptHash.CreateHash(const Password : AnsiString) : AnsiString; overload;
+function TBCryptHash.CreateHash(const Password : UTF8String) : AnsiString; overload;
 begin
   Result := CreateHash(Password, bcPHP, BCRYPT_DEFAULT_COST);
 end;
-function TBCryptHash.CreateHash(const Password : AnsiString; HashType : THashTypes) : AnsiString; overload;
+function TBCryptHash.CreateHash(const Password : UTF8String; HashType : THashTypes) : AnsiString; overload;
 begin
  Result := CreateHash(Password, HashType, BCRYPT_DEFAULT_COST);
 end; { TBCryptHash.CreateHash }
 
-function TBCryptHash.CreateHash(const Password : AnsiString; HashType : THashTypes; Cost : Byte) : AnsiString; overload;
+function TBCryptHash.CreateHash(const Password : UTF8String; HashType : THashTypes; Cost : Byte) : AnsiString; overload;
 var
   PasswordKey,
   SaltBytes,
@@ -714,7 +719,7 @@ begin
  Result := FormatPasswordHash(SaltBytes, Hash, Cost, HashType);
 end; { TBCryptHash.CreateHash }
 
-function TBCryptHash.Crypt(const Password, Salt : AnsiString; Cost : Byte; HashType : THashTypes) : AnsiString;
+function TBCryptHash.Crypt(const Password : UTF8String; const Salt : AnsiString; Cost : Byte; HashType : THashTypes) : AnsiString;
 var
   PasswordKey,
   SaltBytes,
@@ -745,7 +750,7 @@ begin
   end;
 end;
 
-function TBCryptHash.VerifyHash(const Password, Hash : AnsiString) : Boolean;
+function TBCryptHash.VerifyHash(const Password : UTF8String; const Hash : AnsiString) : Boolean;
 var
   WorkingBcryptHash, Salt : AnsiString;
   HashCounter, ResultStatus, BCryptCost : Byte;
diff --git a/tests/BCryptHashTest.pas b/tests/BCryptHashTest.pas
index be3dff0..132906b 100644
--- a/tests/BCryptHashTest.pas
+++ b/tests/BCryptHashTest.pas
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ Program BCryptHashTest;
 {$mode objfpc}{$H+}
 {$ASSERTIONS ON}
 {$UNITPATH ../}
+{$CODEPAGE UTF-8}
 
 uses BCrypt, Classes, SysUtils, Crt;
 const
@@ -21,6 +22,10 @@ var
   PassedAssertions : Word;
   Passed : Boolean;
 
+  UTF8TestString : UTF8String = 'Τη γλώσσα μου έδωσαν ελληνική';
+  UTF8TestHash : AnsiString = '$2y$12$RSxqgCt5T4qPXLM3AzKMCueMBZo6cc9o/bN4wqcX6KA6lZnOkqzTG';
+  UTF8PHPHash : AnsiString = '$2y$12$KrBUSn54WO5C/aw2H3imKurgsnrGq7PsrIZYXusaTNIO.27IGsmkG';
+
   PasswordHashes : array [1..14] of AnsiString = (
     '$2y$10$LCb3aOt8lAXSzNrEpQKDQO1zc2wCCQltrDwSEbb9JaUo4OKbphC3i',
     '$2y$11$H7TRTJZqQTzN5RCiwMOne.yjVxyKCd4GyLrBQzV91gK0T4XQeKTNa',
@@ -104,95 +109,127 @@ for i := 1 to 7 do
       WriteLn(' - Pass');
       Inc(PassedAssertions);
   end;
-WriteLn(#10#13'Testing Failures ...'#10#13);
-for i := 1 to 7 do
-  begin
-    Write('Testing : ', PasswordHashFailures[i]);
-    try
-      Assert(TBCrypt.VerifyHash(StaticPassword, PasswordHashFailures[i]) = False, 'Should Be False');
-      Inc(Assertions);
-    except
-      on e: EAssertionFailed do
-        begin
-          WriteLn(' - Fail');
-          Inc(FailedAssertions);
-          Continue;
-        end;
-    end;
-    WriteLn(' - Pass');
+WriteLn(#10#13'Testing UTF8 with ', UTF8TestString, ' ... '#10#13);
+  Write('Testing : ', UTF8TestHash);
+  try
+    Assert(TBCrypt.VerifyHash(UTF8TestString, UTF8TestHash) = True, 'Should Be True');
+    Inc(Assertions);
     Inc(PassedAssertions);
+    Writeln(' - Pass');
+  except
+    on e: EAssertionFailed do
+    begin
+      WriteLn(' - Fail');
+      Inc(FailedAssertions);
+      Dec(PassedAssertions);
+    end;
+    end;
 
+  WriteLn(#10#13'Testing UTF8 PHP Hash with ', UTF8TestString, ' ... '#10#13);
+  Write('Testing : ', UTF8PHPHash);
+  try
+    Assert(TBCrypt.VerifyHash(UTF8TestString, UTF8PHPHash) = True, 'Should Be True');
+    Inc(Assertions);
+    Inc(PassedAssertions);
+    Writeln(' - Pass');
+  except
+  on e: EAssertionFailed do
+  begin
+    WriteLn(' - Fail');
+    Inc(FailedAssertions);
+    Dec(PassedAssertions);
+  end;
   end;
 
-WriteLn(#10#13'Testing Rehash True ...'#10#13);
-for i := 1 to 7 do
-  begin
-    Write('Testing : ', PasswordHashes[i]);
-    try
-      Assert(TBCrypt.NeedsRehash(PasswordHashes[i], 17) = True, 'Should Be True');
-      Inc(Assertions);
-    except
+    WriteLn(#10#13'Testing Failures ...'#10#13);
+    for i := 1 to 7 do
+    begin
+      Write('Testing : ', PasswordHashFailures[i]);
+      try
+        Assert(TBCrypt.VerifyHash(StaticPassword, PasswordHashFailures[i]) = False, 'Should Be False');
+        Inc(Assertions);
+      except
       on e: EAssertionFailed do
-        begin
-          WriteLn(' - Fail');
-          Inc(FailedAssertions);
-          Continue;
-        end;
-    end;
-    WriteLn(' - Pass');
-    Inc(PassedAssertions);
-  end;
+      begin
+        WriteLn(' - Fail');
+        Inc(FailedAssertions);
+        Continue;
+      end;
+      end;
+      WriteLn(' - Pass');
+      Inc(PassedAssertions);
 
-  WriteLn(#10#13'Testing Rehash False ...'#10#13);
-  j := 10;
-  for i := 1 to 7 do
+    end;
+
+    WriteLn(#10#13'Testing Rehash True ...'#10#13);
+    for i := 1 to 7 do
+    begin
+      Write('Testing : ', PasswordHashes[i]);
+      try
+        Assert(TBCrypt.NeedsRehash(PasswordHashes[i], 17) = True, 'Should Be True');
+        Inc(Assertions);
+      except
+      on e: EAssertionFailed do
+      begin
+        WriteLn(' - Fail');
+        Inc(FailedAssertions);
+        Continue;
+      end;
+      end;
+      WriteLn(' - Pass');
+      Inc(PassedAssertions);
+    end;
+
+    WriteLn(#10#13'Testing Rehash False ...'#10#13);
+    j := 10;
+    for i := 1 to 7 do
     begin
       Write('Testing : ', PasswordHashes[i]);
       try
         Assert(TBCrypt.NeedsRehash(PasswordHashes[i], j) = False, 'Should Be False');
         Inc(Assertions);
       except
-        on e: EAssertionFailed do
-          begin
-            WriteLn(' - Fail');
-            Inc(FailedAssertions);
-            Inc(j);
-            Continue;
-          end;
+      on e: EAssertionFailed do
+      begin
+        WriteLn(' - Fail');
+        Inc(FailedAssertions);
+        Inc(j);
+        Continue;
+      end;
       end;
       WriteLn(' - Pass');
       Inc(PassedAssertions);
       Inc(j);
     end;
 
-  WriteLn(#10#13'Testing HashGetInfo on hash '#10#13, HashToMatch2, ' ...'#10#13);
-  PasswordInfo := TBCrypt.HashGetInfo(HashToMatch2);
-  Passed := True;
-  With PasswordInfo do
-  begin
-    Writeln('Algo : ', Algo);
-    try
-      Assert(Algo = bcPHP);
-      Inc(Assertions);
-    except
+    WriteLn(#10#13'Testing HashGetInfo on hash '#10#13, HashToMatch2, ' ...'#10#13);
+    PasswordInfo := TBCrypt.HashGetInfo(HashToMatch2);
+    Passed := True;
+    With PasswordInfo do
+    begin
+      Writeln('Algo : ', Algo);
+      try
+        Assert(Algo = bcPHP);
+        Inc(Assertions);
+      except
       on e: EAssertionFailed do
       begin
         Inc(FailedAssertions);
       end;
-    end;
-    WriteLn('AlgoName : ', AlgoName);
-    WriteLn('Cost : ', Cost);
-    Write('Salt : ', BCryptSalt);
-    try
-      Assert(Length(BCryptSalt) = 22, 'Should Be True');
-      Inc(Assertions);
-    except
+      end;
+      WriteLn('AlgoName : ', AlgoName);
+      WriteLn('Cost : ', Cost);
+      Write('Salt : ', BCryptSalt);
+      try
+        Assert(Length(BCryptSalt) = 22, 'Should Be True');
+        Inc(Assertions);
+      except
       on e: EAssertionFailed do
-        begin
-          Passed := False;
-        end;
-    end;
-    if Passed = False then
+      begin
+        Passed := False;
+      end;
+      end;
+      if Passed = False then
       begin
         Writeln(' Length - Fail');
         Inc(FailedAssertions);
@@ -207,51 +244,51 @@ for i := 1 to 7 do
         Assert(Length(BCryptHash) = 31, 'Should Be True');
         Inc(Assertions);
       except
-        on e: EAssertionFailed do
-          begin
-            Passed := False;
-          end;
+      on e: EAssertionFailed do
+      begin
+        Passed := False;
+      end;
       end;
       if Passed = False then
-        begin
-          Writeln(' Length - Fail');
-          Inc(FailedAssertions);
-        end else
-        begin
-          Writeln(' Length - Pass');
-          Inc(PassedAssertions);
-        end;
+      begin
+        Writeln(' Length - Fail');
+        Inc(FailedAssertions);
+      end else
+      begin
+        Writeln(' Length - Pass');
+        Inc(PassedAssertions);
+      end;
 
-  end;
+    end;
 
-  WriteLn(#10#13'Testing HashGetInfo on bsd hash '#10#13, BSDHashToMatch, ' ...'#10#13);
-  PasswordInfo := TBCrypt.HashGetInfo(BSDHashToMatch);
-  Passed := True;
-  With PasswordInfo do
-  begin
-    Writeln('Algo : ', Algo);
-    try
-      Assert(Algo = bcBSD);
-      Inc(Assertions);
-    except
+    WriteLn(#10#13'Testing HashGetInfo on bsd hash '#10#13, BSDHashToMatch, ' ...'#10#13);
+    PasswordInfo := TBCrypt.HashGetInfo(BSDHashToMatch);
+    Passed := True;
+    With PasswordInfo do
+    begin
+      Writeln('Algo : ', Algo);
+      try
+        Assert(Algo = bcBSD);
+        Inc(Assertions);
+      except
       on e: EAssertionFailed do
       begin
         Inc(FailedAssertions);
       end;
-    end;
-    WriteLn('AlgoName : ', AlgoName);
-    WriteLn('Cost : ', Cost);
-    Write('Salt : ', BCryptSalt);
-    try
-      Assert(Length(BCryptSalt) = 22, 'Should Be True');
-      Inc(Assertions);
-    except
+      end;
+      WriteLn('AlgoName : ', AlgoName);
+      WriteLn('Cost : ', Cost);
+      Write('Salt : ', BCryptSalt);
+      try
+        Assert(Length(BCryptSalt) = 22, 'Should Be True');
+        Inc(Assertions);
+      except
       on e: EAssertionFailed do
-        begin
-          Passed := False;
-        end;
-    end;
-    if Passed = False then
+      begin
+        Passed := False;
+      end;
+      end;
+      if Passed = False then
       begin
         Writeln(' Length - Fail');
         Inc(FailedAssertions);
@@ -266,36 +303,36 @@ for i := 1 to 7 do
         Assert(Length(BCryptHash) = 31, 'Should Be True');
         Inc(Assertions);
       except
-        on e: EAssertionFailed do
-          begin
-            Passed := False;
-          end;
+      on e: EAssertionFailed do
+      begin
+        Passed := False;
+      end;
       end;
       if Passed = False then
-        begin
-          Writeln(' Length - Fail');
-          Inc(FailedAssertions);
-        end else
-        begin
-          Writeln(' Length - Pass');
-          Inc(PassedAssertions);
-        end;
+      begin
+        Writeln(' Length - Fail');
+        Inc(FailedAssertions);
+      end else
+      begin
+        Writeln(' Length - Pass');
+        Inc(PassedAssertions);
+      end;
 
-  end;
+    end;
 
-  Writeln(#10#13'Testing PasswordInfo with bad Hashes.'#10#13);
-  Passed := False;
-  try
-    Write('Short Hash : ', ShortHash);
-    PasswordInfo := TBCrypt.HashGetInfo(ShortHash);
-    Inc(Assertions);
-  except
+    Writeln(#10#13'Testing PasswordInfo with bad Hashes.'#10#13);
+    Passed := False;
+    try
+      Write('Short Hash : ', ShortHash);
+      PasswordInfo := TBCrypt.HashGetInfo(ShortHash);
+      Inc(Assertions);
+    except
     on e: EHash do
     begin
       Passed := True;
     end;
-  end;
-  if Passed = True then
+    end;
+    if Passed = True then
     begin
       Writeln(' - Pass');
       Inc(PassedAssertions);
@@ -304,18 +341,18 @@ for i := 1 to 7 do
       Writeln(' - Fail');
       Inc(FailedAssertions);
     end;
-  Passed := False;
-  try
-    Write('Long Hash  : ', LongHash);
-    PasswordInfo := TBCrypt.HashGetInfo(LongHash);
-    Inc(Assertions);
-  except
+    Passed := False;
+    try
+      Write('Long Hash  : ', LongHash);
+      PasswordInfo := TBCrypt.HashGetInfo(LongHash);
+      Inc(Assertions);
+    except
     on e: EHash do
     begin
       Passed := True;
     end;
-  end;
-  if Passed = True then
+    end;
+    if Passed = True then
     begin
       Writeln(' - Pass');
       Inc(PassedAssertions);
@@ -325,20 +362,19 @@ for i := 1 to 7 do
       Inc(FailedAssertions);
     end;
 
+    Writeln(#10#13'Testing hashing ...'#10#13);
+    Writeln(TBCrypt.CreateHash(StaticPassword));
+    Writeln(TBCrypt.CreateHash(StaticPassword, bcBSD));
+    Writeln(TBCrypt.CreateHash(StaticPassword, bcDefault));
+    Writeln(TBCrypt.CreateHash(StaticPassword, bcPHP));
+    Writeln(TBCrypt.CreateHash(StaticPassword, bcBSD, 14));
+    Writeln(TBCrypt.CreateHash(StaticPassword, bcDefault, 14));
+    Writeln(TBCrypt.CreateHash(StaticPassword, bcPHP, 14));
+    Writeln(#10#13);
 
-  Writeln(#10#13'Testing hashing ...'#10#13);
-  Writeln(TBCrypt.CreateHash(StaticPassword));
-  Writeln(TBCrypt.CreateHash(StaticPassword, bcBSD));
-  Writeln(TBCrypt.CreateHash(StaticPassword, bcDefault));
-  Writeln(TBCrypt.CreateHash(StaticPassword, bcPHP));
-  Writeln(TBCrypt.CreateHash(StaticPassword, bcBSD, 14));
-  Writeln(TBCrypt.CreateHash(StaticPassword, bcDefault, 14));
-  Writeln(TBCrypt.CreateHash(StaticPassword, bcPHP, 14));
-  Writeln(#10#13);
-
-TBCrypt.Free;
-  Writeln('Assertions        : ', Assertions);
-  Writeln('Passed Assertions : ', PassedAssertions);
-  Writeln('Failed Assertions : ', FailedAssertions);
-  Writeln;
-end.
+    TBCrypt.Free;
+    Writeln('Assertions        : ', Assertions);
+    Writeln('Passed Assertions : ', PassedAssertions);
+    Writeln('Failed Assertions : ', FailedAssertions);
+    Writeln;
+  end.
diff --git a/tests/PHPBCryptTest.php b/tests/PHPBCryptTest.php
index 1c6828c..d86363c 100644
--- a/tests/PHPBCryptTest.php
+++ b/tests/PHPBCryptTest.php
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ assert_options(ASSERT_CALLBACK, 'bcrypt_assert_handler');
 
 $bsdPascalHash = '$2a$12$9NWTTEbRtjLNd4KdW.VtUekFA6pJ3DF23FqdvwwvMtoMD9zqdaZg2';
 $bsdPascalHashFail = '$2a$12$9NWTTEbRtjLNd4KdW.VtUekFA6pJ3DF23FqdvwwvMtoMD9zqdaZg1';
+$utf8String = 'Τη γλώσσα μου έδωσαν ελληνική';
+$utf8PascalHash = '$2y$12$RSxqgCt5T4qPXLM3AzKMCueMBZo6cc9o/bN4wqcX6KA6lZnOkqzTG';
 
 $pascalHashesMT = [
   '$2y$10$kJgRFQ993paFLArmPE3gn.8yuUB/SRpaEw7lkJJ1oVqhWVIecI5nO',
@@ -35,6 +37,13 @@ $pascalHashesURandom = [
   '$2y$16$Y0QNc8vaJJY5mQO0IkN6oeAxEVjtnHYqk0WeWLPm7bRjxA7fWHRBG',
 ];
 
+print PHP_EOL . 'Testing UTF8Hashe ... ' . str_repeat(PHP_EOL, 2);
+print 'Testing : ' . $utf8PascalHash;
+print PHP_EOL . ' with   : ' . $utf8String;
+if(true === assert(password_verify($utf8String, $utf8PascalHash), ' - Fail')) {
+  print ' - Pass' . PHP_EOL;
+}
+
 print PHP_EOL . 'Testing bsdPascalHash ... ' . str_repeat(PHP_EOL, 2);
 print 'Testing : ' . $bsdPascalHash;
 if (true === assert(password_verify('password', $bsdPascalHash), ' - Fail')) {