diff --git a/config/crd/bases/gateway-operator.konghq.com_konnectextensions.yaml b/config/crd/bases/gateway-operator.konghq.com_konnectextensions.yaml
index 56835344..d137a0e3 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/gateway-operator.konghq.com_konnectextensions.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/gateway-operator.konghq.com_konnectextensions.yaml
@@ -79,41 +79,48 @@ spec:
                     - name
                     type: object
                   type:
+                    default: kic
                     description: |-
-                      Type can be one of:
+                      Type indicates the type of the control plane being referenced. Allowed values:
                       - konnectID
                       - konnectNamespacedRef
                       - kic
+
+                      The default is kic, which implies that the Control Plane is KIC.
                     enum:
                     - konnectID
                     - konnectNamespacedRef
                     - kic
                     type: string
-                required:
-                - type
                 type: object
                 x-kubernetes-validations:
                 - message: Only konnectID type currently supported as controlPlaneRef.
                   rule: self.type == 'konnectID'
                 - message: when type is konnectNamespacedRef, konnectNamespacedRef
                     must be set
-                  rule: 'self.type == ''konnectNamespacedRef'' ? has(self.konnectNamespacedRef)
-                    : true'
+                  rule: '(has(self.type) && self.type == ''konnectNamespacedRef'')
+                    ? has(self.konnectNamespacedRef) : true'
                 - message: when type is konnectNamespacedRef, konnectID must not be
                     set
-                  rule: 'self.type == ''konnectNamespacedRef'' ? !has(self.konnectID)
-                    : true'
+                  rule: '(has(self.type) && self.type == ''konnectNamespacedRef'')
+                    ? !has(self.konnectID) : true'
                 - message: when type is konnectID, konnectID must be set
-                  rule: 'self.type == ''konnectID'' ? has(self.konnectID) : true'
+                  rule: '(has(self.type) && self.type == ''konnectID'') ? has(self.konnectID)
+                    : true'
                 - message: when type is konnectID, konnectNamespacedRef must not be
                     set
-                  rule: 'self.type == ''konnectID'' ? !has(self.konnectNamespacedRef)
+                  rule: '(has(self.type) && self.type == ''konnectID'') ? !has(self.konnectNamespacedRef)
                     : true'
                 - message: when type is kic, konnectID must not be set
-                  rule: 'self.type == ''kic'' ? !has(self.konnectID) : true'
+                  rule: '(has(self.type) && self.type == ''kic'') ? !has(self.konnectID)
+                    : true'
                 - message: when type is kic, konnectNamespacedRef must not be set
-                  rule: 'self.type == ''kic'' ? !has(self.konnectNamespacedRef) :
-                    true'
+                  rule: '(has(self.type) && self.type == ''kic'') ? !has(self.konnectNamespacedRef)
+                    : true'
+                - message: when type is unset, konnectID must not be set
+                  rule: '!has(self.type) ? !has(self.konnectID) : true'
+                - message: when type is unset, konnectNamespacedRef must not be set
+                  rule: '!has(self.type) ? !has(self.konnectNamespacedRef) : true'
               controlPlaneRegion:
                 description: ControlPlaneRegion is the region of the Konnect Control
                   Plane.
diff --git a/docs/api-reference.md b/docs/api-reference.md
index 05bd58e3..9e8e9691 100644
--- a/docs/api-reference.md
+++ b/docs/api-reference.md
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ It is used to reference a Control Plane entity.
 
 | Field | Description |
 | --- | --- |
-| `type` _string_ | Type can be one of: - konnectID - konnectNamespacedRef - kic |
+| `type` _string_ | Type indicates the type of the control plane being referenced. Allowed values: - konnectID - konnectNamespacedRef - kic<br /><br /> The default is kic, which implies that the Control Plane is KIC. |
 | `konnectID` _string_ | KonnectID is the schema for the KonnectID type. This field is required when the Type is konnectID. |
 | `konnectNamespacedRef` _[KonnectNamespacedRef](#konnectnamespacedref)_ | KonnectNamespacedRef is a reference to a Konnect Control Plane entity inside the cluster. It contains the name of the Konnect Control Plane. This field is required when the Type is konnectNamespacedRef. |