diff --git a/build/Dockerfile b/build/Dockerfile
index 432ed78..0f41e96 100644
--- a/build/Dockerfile
+++ b/build/Dockerfile
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ RUN echo "postfix postfix/mailname string localhost" | debconf-set-selections \
       opendkim-tools \
       sasl2-bin \
       libsasl2-modules \
+      db-util \
       supervisor \
       logrotate \
       ca-certificates \
diff --git a/cmd/panel/httpserver.go b/cmd/panel/httpserver.go
index 8973f05..fdf3e8c 100644
--- a/cmd/panel/httpserver.go
+++ b/cmd/panel/httpserver.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/app"
+	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/buildinfo"
 	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/domain"
 	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/postfix"
 	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/store"
@@ -28,6 +29,9 @@ func serveHTTP(ctx context.Context, cfg config, st *store.Store) error {
 		Hostname:     cfg.hostname,
 		CookieSecure: cfg.cookieSecure,
 		MailLogPath:  cfg.mailLog,
+		DataDir:      cfg.dataDir,
+		DBPath:       cfg.dbPath,
+		Version:      buildinfo.Version,
 	}, cfg.setupTokenPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/cmd/panel/main.go b/cmd/panel/main.go
index 8a34170..81e0541 100644
--- a/cmd/panel/main.go
+++ b/cmd/panel/main.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"syscall"
 
+	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/backup"
 	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/buildinfo"
 	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/logtail"
 	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/store"
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ type config struct {
 
 	dataDir        string
 	dbPath         string
+	manifestPath   string
 	setupTokenPath string
 	hostname       string
 	cookieSecure   bool
@@ -75,6 +77,7 @@ func loadConfig() config {
 
 		dataDir:        dataDir,
 		dbPath:         envDefault("SELFPOST_DB_PATH", filepath.Join(dataDir, "selfpost.db")),
+		manifestPath:   filepath.Join(dataDir, backup.ManifestName),
 		setupTokenPath: envDefault("SELFPOST_SETUP_TOKEN_FILE", filepath.Join(dataDir, "setup-token")),
 		hostname:       os.Getenv("SELFPOST_HOSTNAME"),
 		// Secure cookies by default (spec 7.6.6); PANEL_COOKIE_SECURE=false is a
@@ -140,6 +143,14 @@ func run() error {
 
 	log.Printf("starting selfpost panel %s", buildinfo.Version)
 
+	// Restore version guard (spec 7.5.A): if a backup was extracted into /data,
+	// its manifest version must match this binary before we touch the database,
+	// so schema/format skew between versions cannot corrupt the restored state.
+	// A match consumes the manifest; its absence is the normal (non-restore) case.
+	if err := backup.CheckRestore(cfg.manifestPath, buildinfo.Version); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// One database handle shared by every role. The store serialises writes
 	// (MaxOpenConns(1)), so the HTTP panel, the journal-milter and the tailer
 	// can all use it without stepping on each other under WAL.
diff --git a/cmd/selfpost-backup/main.go b/cmd/selfpost-backup/main.go
index 7dcdceb..a84434e 100644
--- a/cmd/selfpost-backup/main.go
+++ b/cmd/selfpost-backup/main.go
@@ -1,20 +1,29 @@
-// Command selfpost-backup produces (and helps restore) the full persistent-state
-// archive from inside the container, invoked via `docker exec` for scripted/cron
-// backups — the CLI equivalent of the panel's backup button (spec 7.5.A, 11.6).
+// Command selfpost-backup produces the full persistent-state archive from inside
+// the container, invoked via `docker exec` for scripted/cron backups — the CLI
+// equivalent of the panel's backup button (spec 7.5.A, 11.6).
 //
-// This is the Phase 0 skeleton: it only reports its version. The actual archive
-// logic lands in Phase 9.
+// By default the gzip-compressed tar is written to stdout, so the usual form is:
+//
+//	docker exec <container> selfpost-backup > selfpost-backup.tar.gz
+//
+// Use -o to write to a file instead. The resulting archive contains DKIM private
+// keys, the admin password hash and SASL credentials — treat it as a secret
+// (spec 7.5.A).
 package main
 
 import (
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 
+	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/backup"
 	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/buildinfo"
 )
 
 func main() {
 	showVersion := flag.Bool("version", false, "print version and exit")
+	out := flag.String("o", "", "write the archive to this file instead of stdout")
 	flag.Parse()
 
 	if *showVersion {
@@ -22,5 +31,43 @@ func main() {
 		return
 	}
 
-	fmt.Printf("selfpost-backup %s (skeleton)\n", buildinfo.Version)
+	if err := run(*out); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "selfpost-backup: %v\n", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+}
+
+func run(outPath string) error {
+	dataDir := envDefault("SELFPOST_DATA_DIR", "/data")
+	dbPath := envDefault("SELFPOST_DB_PATH", filepath.Join(dataDir, "selfpost.db"))
+
+	w := os.Stdout
+	if outPath != "" {
+		// Backups are secret; create them owner-only.
+		f, err := os.OpenFile(outPath, os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY|os.O_TRUNC, 0o600)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		defer f.Close()
+		w = f
+	}
+
+	if err := backup.Create(w, backup.Params{
+		DataDir: dataDir,
+		DBPath:  dbPath,
+		Version: buildinfo.Version,
+	}); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if outPath != "" {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "selfpost-backup: wrote %s (SelfPost %s)\n", outPath, buildinfo.Version)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func envDefault(key, def string) string {
+	if v := os.Getenv(key); v != "" {
+		return v
+	}
+	return def
 }
diff --git a/docs/progress.md b/docs/progress.md
index 2122677..44bb2eb 100644
--- a/docs/progress.md
+++ b/docs/progress.md
@@ -46,13 +46,27 @@
 
 ## Текущее состояние
 
-- **Текущая фаза:** 8 ✅ **закрыта** → следующая **Фаза 9** (бэкап/restore + экспорт/импорт домена) на **Opus** (целостность данных, версионирование).
+- **Текущая фаза:** 9 ✅ **закрыта** → следующая **Фаза 10** (деплой + документация) на **Sonnet** (compose-файлы и документация).
+- **Ключевая находка Фазы 9 (SASL-секреты обратимы, как и предвидело ТЗ 7.5.Б):** `sasldb2` (Berkeley DB, db5.3) хранит пароль приложения как **плейнтекст** в свойстве `userPassword` — подтверждено на сервере. Значит экспорт домена читает его через `db_dump` и на импорте **перезаписывает под локальный realm** через `saslpasswd2` (плейнтекст realm-независим) → креды работают на другом хосте с ДРУГИМ hostname/realm без перевыпуска. Полный бэкап копирует `sasldb2` **побитово** (keyed по исходному realm), поэтому restore обязан идти на **тот же hostname** (миграция всей машины). `db-util` (даёт `db_dump`) добавлен явной зависимостью в Dockerfile. Файл `/data/setup-token` содержит **полный URL**, а не голый токен (для e2e: `TOKEN=${FULL##*/}`).
 - **Ключевая находка Фазы 6 (исправлена):** go-milter хранит имена макросов **как их шлёт Postfix** — многосимвольные имена приходят в фигурных скобках (`{auth_authen}`, `{client_addr}`), односимвольные — голыми (`i`). Спайк Фазы 0 без SASL этого не увидел (`auth_authen` был пуст «и так»). Первый прогон в контейнере дал пустой `app_login`; фикс — brace-толерантный `macro(m,name)` (пробует голый ключ, затем `{name}`). Зафиксировано в памяти [[milter-implementation-facts]].
 - **Прежняя фаза:** 5 ✅ закрыта (код `b2692e4`, доки `ec4d4b9`/`2dbd8d0`).
 - **Финальное подтверждение доставки** (2026-07-13): реальное письмо `dtester@mixdelta.ru → selfpost@mixeme.ru` доставлено и принято `mc.mixfed.ru`, заголовок `Authentication-Results: dkim=pass (d=mixdelta.ru s=selfpost) ... spf=pass ... dmarc=none` (прочитано по IMAP). Попало в Junk из-за репутации нового IP/домена (`IP_REPUTATION_SPAM`, Bayes, `MX_INVALID` — у mixdelta.ru только A без MX) — это прогрев IP/DNS уровня деплоя (ТЗ 10), не дефект релея; аутентификация (зона ответственности SelfPost) идеальна.
 - **Тупик, который обошли (важно для будущих тестов доставки):** нельзя тестировать доставку, отправляя с домена, который хостит сам приёмник. `mc.mixfed.ru` хостит `mixeme.ru`, поэтому письма `mixeme.ru → mixeme.ru` он жёстко отбивал `554 does not meet our delivery requirements` (own-domain anti-spoofing) при валидном DKIM+SPF. Решение: отдельный домен-отправитель `mixdelta.ru` (не на `mc`), которому приёмник доверяет как обычной входящей почте. Первый контакт был `451 Greylisted` (норма) → принят после авто-ретраев Postfix.
 - **Артефакты теста на сервере:** контейнер `p5` (домены mixeme.ru id1 / mixdelta.ru id2), скрипт/лог `/tmp/p5retry.sh`+`/root/p5retry.log`, IMAP-читалка `/tmp/imapread5.py`. DNS `mixdelta.ru` (A/SPF/DKIM) можно снять после Фазы 6-тестов; в ящике `selfpost@mixeme.ru` остались bounce-письма от ранних mixeme.ru→mixeme.ru попыток (шум, можно удалить).
 
+### Сделано в Фазе 9
+- **Полный бэкап** (`internal/backup/backup.go`, ТЗ 7.5.А): `Create(w, Params)` пишет `tar.gz` всего `/data` — **консистентный снимок SQLite через `VACUUM INTO`** во временный файл (не побайтовое копирование живого WAL-файла), DKIM-ключи, `sasldb2`, карта Postfix, + `manifest.json` (`format`/`version`/`created_at`). Имена в архиве — относительно `/data`, так что распаковка в bind-mount восстанавливает состояние на месте. **Исключаются**: живой `selfpost.db`(+`-wal`/`-shm`/`-journal`, заменён снимком под тем же именем), `setup-token`, стейл-`manifest.json`, и каталог **`tls/`** — сертификаты это зона reverse-proxy (ТЗ 7.5.А); исключение держит гарантию даже если оператор положил серты в `/data/tls`. Каталоги-записи сохраняются (моды/пустые). Очередь Postfix не входит (ТЗ).
+- **Гварда версии при restore** (`CheckRestore`, вызывается в `run()` **до** `store.Open` в `cmd/panel/main.go`): если в `/data` лежит `manifest.json` (значит бэкап распакован), его версия обязана совпасть с версией бинарника, иначе панель **отказывается стартовать** с сообщением, каким тегом образа восстанавливать (`selfpost:<ver>`); при совпадении манифест **потребляется** (удаляется) — гвардит только первый старт после restore и не блокирует обычный in-place апгрейд образа; отсутствие манифеста = обычный старт. Restore — не отдельная ветка кода: состояние (Postfix/OpenDKIM) регенерируется из восстановленного SQLite тем же путём, что при любом старте.
+- **CLI `selfpost-backup`** (`cmd/selfpost-backup/main.go`, ТЗ 11.6): по умолчанию пишет `tar.gz` в **stdout** (`docker exec <c> selfpost-backup > backup.tar.gz`), флаг `-o` — в файл (0600). Читает `SELFPOST_DATA_DIR`/`SELFPOST_DB_PATH` из env, зовёт `backup.Create`. Эквивалент кнопки в панели.
+- **Кнопка бэкапа** (`POST /backup`, `internal/web/handlers_backup.go`): аутентифицированная отдача `application/gzip` вложением с `Cache-Control: no-store` (архив секретен). `web.Config` расширен `DataDir`/`DBPath`/`Version`.
+- **Экспорт/импорт домена** (ТЗ 7.5.Б): `domain.Service.Export/Import` (`internal/domain/transfer.go`) + тип `DomainExport` (JSON: `format`/`version`/`domain`/`dkim_selector`/`dkim_private_key` PKCS#1 PEM/`applications[]` с `login`/`address_mode`/`addresses`/`password`).
+  - **Секреты SASL:** `SASLDB.Secret(login)` (`internal/app/sasl.go`) читает `sasldb2` через `db_dump` (Berkeley DB, фикс-argv, без shell — 7.6.3), парсит hex-пары, достаёт `userPassword` по ключу `login\0realm\0userPassword` (плейнтекст). `db-util` в образе. `ErrSecretNotFound` при отсутствии.
+  - **Ключи DKIM:** `OpenDKIM.ExportKey`/`ImportKey` — экспорт ре-маршалит ключ (ловит битые), импорт валидирует PKCS#1 и пишет атомарно (перезапись — импорт (пере)создаёт домен именно этим ключом, чтобы **DNS-запись не менялась**).
+  - **Импорт-оркестрация** (`Import`): `assertConfigSafe(domain,selector)` → `AddDomain` (UNIQUE — арбитр дубля, `ErrDomainExists`) → `ImportKey` → resync таблиц → на каждое приложение `apps.ImportApplication` (валидирует login/адреса/пароль, вставляет строку, `sasl.Set` **под локальным realm** = ре-кей) → один `apps.Resync` (карта Postfix). Любой сбой → `importRollback` (= обычный `Delete`: чистит SASL, каскад строк, обе карты, удаляет ключ). `Applications`-интерфейс расширен `Secret`/`ImportApplication`.
+  - **Веб** (`POST /domains/{id}/export` — секретная отдача JSON вложением `no-store`; `POST /domains/import` — multipart-загрузка ≤1 MiB, `DisallowUnknownFields`, нормализация+валидация имени домена как в add-форме, дружелюбные ошибки дубля/валидации баннером на дашборде, редирект на страницу нового домена с флешем «DNS менять не надо»). Карточка «Backup & migration» (скачать бэкап + импорт домена) на дашборде; карточка «Export domain» на странице домена; обе с предупреждением «файл — секрет».
+  - **Валидация импортного пароля** (`validateImportedPassword`): непустой, ≤1024, без управляющих символов (перевод строки обрезал бы passphrase на stdin `saslpasswd2`).
+- **Проверено на сервере** (selfpost.mixfed.ru, образ `selfpost:p9`): `gofmt`/`vet`/`test` зелёные (юниты: backup create включает состояние/исключает transient+tls+wal, снимок — валидный SQLite; CheckRestore нет-манифеста/совпадение-потребляет/несовпадение-отказ+сохраняет/чужой-формат; парс `db_dump` секрета incl. realm-mismatch/not-found; import roundtrip + дубль-домена + rollback при сбое приложения; `ImportApplication` пишет строку+SASL, не трогает карту, реджект битого пароля/чужого адреса). **Контейнерный e2e:** (1) экспорт домена — JSON с PEM+паролем, пароль из `db_dump` **точно совпал** с показанным при создании; (2) импорт на **другой инстанс** (hostname `mail.dst.test` ≠ `mail.src.test`) — домен/приложение/ключ восстановлены, DKIM-ключ побитово тот же, **ре-кейнутый креденшл аутентифицировался (235) под новым realm** и письмо принято (250); (3) CLI-бэкап через `docker exec` (архив без `tls/`) и кнопка-бэкап (заголовки `no-store`/attachment); (4) restore на чистом контейнере той же версии с **тем же hostname** — стартует без setup, манифест потреблён, домен/приложение/DKIM/админ восстановлены, SMTP-auth работает; (5) **несовпадение версии** (manifest `1.3.0` vs бинарник `dev`) — панель отказывается стартовать с точным сообщением, недоступна, манифест сохранён, контейнер в итоге `Exited(0)` через crashexit. Все критерии «Готово когда» Фазы 9 выполнены.
+
 ### Сделано в Фазе 8
 - **Уровень 2 rate-limit в journal-milter** (ТЗ 7.4): milter, бывший чистым монитором, теперь **отклоняет** письмо `4xx` (`milter.RespTempFail` = 451) при превышении дифференцированного лимита. Проверка на стадии **MAIL FROM** — самой ранней, где известны и домен (из `From`), и приложение (SASL-логин), — до предложения получателей.
   - **Когда лимит применяется:** только если у домена/приложения заданы непустой список IP **и** потолок сообщений **и** окно, **и** client IP входит в этот список (`RateLimit.Active()` + `AllowsIP`). Пустая IP-привязка → уровень 2 не применяется (ТЗ 7.4: «оставить пустой → не применяется»); IP вне списка → остаётся только уровень 1 (anvil). Ключ — client IP из `Connect()` (ТЗ 7.4).
@@ -163,4 +177,5 @@
 - **Фаза 5** (2026-07-12…13, Opus) — полный исходящий релей Postfix: `smtps` 465 (wrapper TLS) как основной + опциональный `submission` 587 (STARTTLS), SASL (`cyrus`/`sasldb2`, реалм через пустой `smtpd_sasl_local_domain` + `myhostname`), привязка отправителя (`smtpd_sender_login_maps`+`reject_sender_login_mismatch`), без open relay (только по кредам, нет `permit_mynetworks`), исходящая доставка (MX-lookup, TLS may), rate-limit L1 (`anvil`), milter-цепочка с per-milter действиями (OpenDKIM tempfail / journal accept). Конфиг генерируется из env в `postfix-config.sh` (вызов из entrypoint). Два инфра-фикса на сервере: `postconf -F '*/*/chroot=n'` (chroot ломал DNS доставки) и права milter-сокетов (группа `selfpost`+setgid, `chmod 0660` на journal-сокет). **Реальная доставка подтверждена:** `mixdelta.ru → selfpost@mixeme.ru`, `dkim=pass`+`spf=pass` в `Authentication-Results` (по IMAP). Коммиты `b2692e4` (релей), `ec4d4b9`/этот (доки).
 - **Фаза 6** (2026-07-13, Opus) — journal-milter + обновление статусов Send Log (наивысший риск ТЗ 7.3): milter на go-milter v0.4.1 (запись `send_log` на пару queue-id/получатель на EOM, строго fail-open — колбэки только Continue/Accept), log-tailer с ротацией `mail.log` (парс `sent/deferred/bounced/expired` → апдейт по queue-id+получатель), retention (`SEND_LOG_RETENTION_DAYS`=90, чистка при старте+каждые 6ч), bounded milter-таймауты (15/15/30с) для fail-open при зависании. Store открывается один раз и шарится ролями. **Найден и исправлен** пустой `app_login`: имена макросов приходят в фигурных скобках (`{auth_authen}`) — brace-толерантный `macro()`. Юниты + контейнерный e2e зелёные; **fail-open проверен дважды** (недоступность и зависание), retention проверен. Новая зависимость go-milter (BSD-2).
 - **Фаза 8** (2026-07-14, Opus) — дифференцированные лимиты (rate limit уровень 2, ТЗ 7.4): journal-milter из чистого монитора стал отклонять письмо `4xx` (`RespTempFail` 451) на стадии MAIL FROM при превышении лимита домена/приложения; ключ — client IP, счёт — `COUNT(DISTINCT queue_id)` в скользящем окне по `send_log`, применяется только при непустой IP-привязке (иначе только уровень 1). Строго **fail-open** на собственных ошибках (сбой лимитера не блокирует почту, уровень-1 anvil независим). Отклонения пишутся `send_log` статусом `rejected` для UI. Store `internal/store/ratelimits.go` (таблица `rate_limits` уже была с Фазы 2 — миграции нет), панель-формы на домене и приложении с серверной валидацией IP/чисел (ТЗ 7.6.2), очистка лимитов при каскадном удалении. Юниты + контейнерный e2e (`p8`): реджект на обоих уровнях, unregistered-IP игнор, fail-open при остановке панели — зелёные. Все критерии «Готово когда» Фазы 8 выполнены.
+- **Фаза 9** (2026-07-14, Opus) — бэкап/restore + экспорт/импорт домена (ТЗ 7.5, 11.6): полный `tar.gz`-бэкап всего `/data` (консистентный снимок SQLite через `VACUUM INTO`, DKIM-ключи, `sasldb2`, `manifest.json` с версией; без TLS-сертов/`tls/` и очереди Postfix) двумя путями — кнопка `POST /backup` и CLI `selfpost-backup` через `docker exec`; гварда версии `CheckRestore` до `store.Open` (несовпадение → отказ старта с указанием тега; совпадение → манифест потребляется, restore идёт обычным стартом без отдельной ветки). Экспорт/импорт домена: `DomainExport` (DKIM-ключ PKCS#1 PEM + приложения с **рабочими паролями**), секреты SASL читаются из `sasldb2` через `db_dump` (`userPassword` — плейнтекст), на импорте **ре-кеятся под локальный realm** через `saslpasswd2` → креды работают на инстансе с другим hostname без перевыпуска, DKIM DNS-запись не меняется. `db-util` добавлен в образ. Юниты + контейнерный e2e (экспорт↔импорт кросс-realm с проверкой SMTP-auth 235; CLI+кнопка бэкап; restore той же версии; отказ при несовпадении версии) зелёные.
 - **Фаза 7** (2026-07-13, Sonnet) — UI мониторинга: три экрана (журнал отправки с серверными фильтрами домен/приложение + пагинацией, очередь Postfix `postqueue -p`, хвост `mail.log`), все с HTMX-polling каждые 5с; fragment-эндпоинты отдают HTML (ТЗ 7.1), вывод экранирован `html/template` (ТЗ 7.6.7, проверено на `<script>` в теме письма). Новое: `store.QuerySendLog/CountSendLog/ListApplicationLogins`, `postfix.Queue()`, `logtail.TailLines` (точечное обратное чтение хвоста, независимо от фонового `follow()`). Юниты/vet/gofmt зелёные; контейнерный e2e (фильтры, пагинация на 60 строках, экранирование, `postqueue -p`, реальные строки `mail.log`, существующий Reload не сломан) — зелёный.
diff --git a/internal/app/sasl.go b/internal/app/sasl.go
index 924d538..1865e12 100644
--- a/internal/app/sasl.go
+++ b/internal/app/sasl.go
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 package app
 
 import (
+	"bufio"
 	"bytes"
+	"encoding/hex"
 	"fmt"
 	"os/exec"
 	"strings"
@@ -18,13 +20,17 @@ type SASLDB struct {
 	// run executes saslpasswd2. It is a field so tests can substitute a fake;
 	// the default shells out to the real binary via runSaslpasswd2.
 	run func(args []string, stdin []byte) error
+
+	// dump reads the raw sasldb2 as db_dump key/value pairs (Berkeley DB). It is
+	// a field so tests can substitute a fake; the default runs db_dump.
+	dump func(path string) ([]byte, error)
 }
 
 // NewSASLDB builds a manager for the sasldb2 at path with the given realm. The
 // realm should match SELFPOST_HOSTNAME so the account identity lines up with
 // Postfix's SASL configuration in Phase 5.
 func NewSASLDB(path, realm string) *SASLDB {
-	return &SASLDB{path: path, realm: realm, run: runSaslpasswd2}
+	return &SASLDB{path: path, realm: realm, run: runSaslpasswd2, dump: dumpSASLDB}
 }
 
 // Set creates or updates an application's SASL account with the given password
@@ -65,6 +71,88 @@ func (s *SASLDB) Delete(login string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// ErrSecretNotFound is returned by Secret when the sasldb2 has no password entry
+// for the login under this realm.
+var ErrSecretNotFound = fmt.Errorf("sasl secret not found")
+
+// Secret returns an application's stored password so it can be carried in a
+// domain export and re-created verbatim on another instance (spec 7.5.B). This
+// is possible because sasldb2 keeps the SASL secret in a password-equivalent
+// form (the plaintext userPassword property, to serve challenge-response
+// mechanisms) — unlike the admin's one-way bcrypt hash (spec 7.6). The value is
+// realm-independent, so the importer can re-key it under its own realm.
+//
+// It reads the database with db_dump (Berkeley DB), passing only our own file
+// path as a fixed argument (no shell, no user input — spec 7.6.3), and returns
+// ErrSecretNotFound if the login has no entry.
+func (s *SASLDB) Secret(login string) (string, error) {
+	if err := validateLogin(login); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	out, err := s.dump(s.path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("read sasldb2 for %q: %w", login, err)
+	}
+	secret, ok, err := parseSASLSecret(out, login, s.realm)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("parse sasldb2 for %q: %w", login, err)
+	}
+	if !ok {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("login %q: %w", login, ErrSecretNotFound)
+	}
+	return secret, nil
+}
+
+// parseSASLSecret scans db_dump's byte-value output for the userPassword entry
+// keyed by (login, realm). sasldb2 keys are NUL-separated tuples
+// "<login>\0<realm>\0<property>"; the matching value is the stored password.
+func parseSASLSecret(dump []byte, login, realm string) (string, bool, error) {
+	sc := bufio.NewScanner(bytes.NewReader(dump))
+	// sasldb2 records are tiny, but raise the line cap so a long hex line is
+	// never silently truncated.
+	sc.Buffer(make([]byte, 0, 64*1024), 1024*1024)
+
+	inData := false
+	var keyBytes []byte
+	haveKey := false
+	for sc.Scan() {
+		line := sc.Text()
+		if !inData {
+			if line == "HEADER=END" {
+				inData = true
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		if line == "DATA=END" {
+			break
+		}
+		// Each data line is a single leading space followed by hex.
+		hexStr := strings.TrimPrefix(line, " ")
+		raw, err := hex.DecodeString(hexStr)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", false, fmt.Errorf("bad db_dump hex line: %w", err)
+		}
+		if !haveKey {
+			keyBytes = raw
+			haveKey = true
+			continue
+		}
+		// raw is the value for keyBytes.
+		haveKey = false
+		parts := bytes.Split(keyBytes, []byte{0})
+		if len(parts) != 3 {
+			continue
+		}
+		if string(parts[0]) == login && string(parts[1]) == realm && string(parts[2]) == "userPassword" {
+			return string(raw), true, nil
+		}
+	}
+	if err := sc.Err(); err != nil {
+		return "", false, err
+	}
+	return "", false, nil
+}
+
 // runSaslpasswd2 executes the real saslpasswd2 with the given arguments and
 // stdin. Arguments are passed as a fixed argv (no shell), so no user input is
 // ever interpreted as a command (spec 7.6.3).
@@ -79,3 +167,15 @@ func runSaslpasswd2(args []string, stdin []byte) error {
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+// dumpSASLDB runs db_dump to export the sasldb2 as key/value hex pairs. The path
+// is our own sasldb2 file (never user input) and is passed as a fixed argument
+// with no shell (spec 7.6.3).
+func dumpSASLDB(path string) ([]byte, error) {
+	cmd := exec.Command("db_dump", path)
+	out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("db_dump: %w: %s", err, strings.TrimSpace(string(out)))
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/app/sasl_test.go b/internal/app/sasl_test.go
index 4421649..78f7a5b 100644
--- a/internal/app/sasl_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/sasl_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 package app
 
 import (
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )
@@ -62,6 +65,78 @@ func TestSASLDeleteArgs(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// makeDump builds a db_dump byte-value document from key/value byte pairs, the
+// same shape `db_dump <sasldb2>` emits.
+func makeDump(pairs [][2][]byte) []byte {
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.WriteString("VERSION=3\nformat=bytevalue\ntype=hash\nHEADER=END\n")
+	for _, p := range pairs {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, " %s\n", hex.EncodeToString(p[0]))
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, " %s\n", hex.EncodeToString(p[1]))
+	}
+	b.WriteString("DATA=END\n")
+	return []byte(b.String())
+}
+
+func saslKey(login, realm, prop string) []byte {
+	return []byte(login + "\x00" + realm + "\x00" + prop)
+}
+
+func TestSecretExtractsPassword(t *testing.T) {
+	s := NewSASLDB("/data/sasl/sasldb2", "mail.example.com")
+	s.dump = func(path string) ([]byte, error) {
+		if path != "/data/sasl/sasldb2" {
+			t.Errorf("dump path = %q", path)
+		}
+		return makeDump([][2][]byte{
+			{saslKey("other", "mail.example.com", "userPassword"), []byte("otherpw")},
+			{saslKey("alerts", "mail.example.com", "userPassword"), []byte("hunter2-pass")},
+		}), nil
+	}
+	got, err := s.Secret("alerts")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Secret: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got != "hunter2-pass" {
+		t.Errorf("Secret = %q, want %q", got, "hunter2-pass")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSecretRealmMismatchNotFound(t *testing.T) {
+	s := NewSASLDB("/data/sasl/sasldb2", "mail.example.com")
+	s.dump = func(string) ([]byte, error) {
+		// Same login but a different realm must not match.
+		return makeDump([][2][]byte{
+			{saslKey("alerts", "other.host", "userPassword"), []byte("hunter2")},
+		}), nil
+	}
+	if _, err := s.Secret("alerts"); !errors.Is(err, ErrSecretNotFound) {
+		t.Errorf("Secret err = %v, want ErrSecretNotFound", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSecretMissingLoginNotFound(t *testing.T) {
+	s := NewSASLDB("/data/sasl/sasldb2", "mail.example.com")
+	s.dump = func(string) ([]byte, error) {
+		return makeDump(nil), nil
+	}
+	if _, err := s.Secret("ghost"); !errors.Is(err, ErrSecretNotFound) {
+		t.Errorf("Secret err = %v, want ErrSecretNotFound", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSecretRejectsInvalidLoginBeforeDump(t *testing.T) {
+	s := NewSASLDB("/data/sasl/sasldb2", "mail.example.com")
+	called := false
+	s.dump = func(string) ([]byte, error) { called = true; return nil, nil }
+	if _, err := s.Secret("bad login"); err == nil {
+		t.Error("Secret accepted invalid login")
+	}
+	if called {
+		t.Error("db_dump invoked for an invalid login")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestSASLRejectsInvalidLoginBeforeExec(t *testing.T) {
 	s, fr := newFakeSASL()
 	if err := s.Set("bad login", "pw"); err == nil {
diff --git a/internal/app/service.go b/internal/app/service.go
index 9b30878..b088eb7 100644
--- a/internal/app/service.go
+++ b/internal/app/service.go
@@ -92,6 +92,38 @@ func (s *Service) rollbackCreate(id int64, login string) {
 	_, _ = s.store.DeleteApplication(id)
 }
 
+// ImportApplication re-creates an application from a domain-export file (spec
+// 7.5.B): it validates the login and (in list mode) that every address belongs
+// to the domain, inserts the registry row and writes the SASL account with the
+// imported password verbatim, re-keyed under this instance's realm so the
+// credential keeps working without regeneration. It deliberately does not
+// rebuild the sender map — the caller (domain import) does that once after all
+// applications are in — and returns store.ErrLoginExists if the login collides.
+func (s *Service) ImportApplication(domainID int64, login, mode string, rawAddresses []string, password string) error {
+	addresses, err := s.validateForDomain(domainID, login, mode, rawAddresses)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := validateImportedPassword(password); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	a, err := s.store.AddApplication(domainID, login, mode, addresses)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err // ErrLoginExists surfaces to the caller as a friendly message
+	}
+	if err := s.sasl.Set(login, password); err != nil {
+		_, _ = s.store.DeleteApplication(a.ID)
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Secret returns an application's stored password for a domain export (spec
+// 7.5.B). See SASLDB.Secret for why this is possible and safe.
+func (s *Service) Secret(login string) (string, error) {
+	return s.sasl.Secret(login)
+}
+
 // UpdateMode switches an application's address mode / list and rebuilds the
 // sender map (spec 7.2.7). The login and password are untouched. Addresses are
 // re-validated against the application's domain.
diff --git a/internal/app/service_test.go b/internal/app/service_test.go
index 9404634..da9825d 100644
--- a/internal/app/service_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/service_test.go
@@ -221,6 +221,52 @@ func TestServiceRegeneratePassword(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestImportApplicationWritesRowAndSASL(t *testing.T) {
+	svc, st, rec, maps := newServiceHarness(t)
+	d := addDomain(t, st, "example.com")
+
+	if err := svc.ImportApplication(d.ID, "mailer", store.AddressModeList,
+		[]string{"a@example.com"}, "imported-pw"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ImportApplication: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Registry row and SASL account written with the imported password verbatim.
+	apps, _ := st.ListApplicationsByDomain(d.ID)
+	if len(apps) != 1 || apps[0].Login != "mailer" {
+		t.Fatalf("apps = %+v", apps)
+	}
+	if rec.set["mailer"] != "imported-pw" {
+		t.Errorf("SASL password = %q, want the imported one", rec.set["mailer"])
+	}
+	// Import does not rebuild the sender map itself (the caller batches that).
+	if maps.calls != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("ImportApplication rebuilt the map %d times, want 0", maps.calls)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestImportApplicationRejectsBadInput(t *testing.T) {
+	svc, st, rec, _ := newServiceHarness(t)
+	d := addDomain(t, st, "example.com")
+
+	// Empty password.
+	if err := svc.ImportApplication(d.ID, "mailer", store.AddressModeWildcard, nil, ""); err == nil {
+		t.Error("accepted empty imported password")
+	}
+	// Password with an embedded newline would truncate on the saslpasswd2 stdin.
+	if err := svc.ImportApplication(d.ID, "mailer", store.AddressModeWildcard, nil, "line1\nline2"); err == nil {
+		t.Error("accepted password with control characters")
+	}
+	// Cross-domain address.
+	if err := svc.ImportApplication(d.ID, "mailer", store.AddressModeList, []string{"x@evil.com"}, "pw"); err == nil {
+		t.Error("accepted cross-domain address")
+	}
+	if apps, _ := st.ListApplicationsByDomain(d.ID); len(apps) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("rows persisted despite validation failure: %+v", apps)
+	}
+	if len(rec.set) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("SASL accounts written despite validation failure: %v", rec.set)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestServicePurgeDomainSASL(t *testing.T) {
 	svc, st, rec, _ := newServiceHarness(t)
 	d := addDomain(t, st, "example.com")
diff --git a/internal/app/validate.go b/internal/app/validate.go
index 5ba0865..68f7d7b 100644
--- a/internal/app/validate.go
+++ b/internal/app/validate.go
@@ -35,6 +35,26 @@ func validateLogin(login string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// validateImportedPassword guards a password taken from a domain-export file
+// (spec 7.5.B) before it is written to sasldb2. Our own exports carry base64url
+// passwords, but the file is untrusted input, so we reject an empty value or one
+// containing control characters — saslpasswd2 reads the passphrase from stdin
+// and a newline would silently truncate it (spec 7.6.2).
+func validateImportedPassword(password string) error {
+	if password == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("imported application password is empty")
+	}
+	if len(password) > 1024 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("imported application password is too long")
+	}
+	for _, r := range password {
+		if r < 0x20 || r == 0x7f {
+			return fmt.Errorf("imported application password contains control characters")
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // validateAddressMode checks the submitted mode is one of the two known values.
 func validateAddressMode(mode string) error {
 	if mode != store.AddressModeWildcard && mode != store.AddressModeList {
diff --git a/internal/backup/backup.go b/internal/backup/backup.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..439835d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/backup/backup.go
@@ -0,0 +1,290 @@
+// Package backup implements SelfPost's full-server backup and the restore
+// version guard (spec 7.5.A). A full backup is a gzip-compressed tar of the
+// consolidated persistent state under /data — the SQLite database (as a
+// consistent snapshot), the per-domain DKIM keys and the SASL database — plus a
+// manifest recording the SelfPost version that produced it. TLS certificates
+// (the reverse proxy's responsibility) and the Postfix queue are deliberately
+// excluded (spec 7.5.A).
+//
+// Restore is intentionally not a separate code path: a backup is extracted into
+// the /data bind mount before first start, and the panel regenerates Postfix and
+// OpenDKIM from the restored SQLite state exactly as on any normal start. The
+// only restore-specific step is CheckRestore, which refuses to boot if the
+// manifest's version does not match the running binary, so schema/format skew
+// between versions cannot silently corrupt state (spec 7.5.A).
+package backup
+
+import (
+	"archive/tar"
+	"compress/gzip"
+	"database/sql"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	_ "modernc.org/sqlite" // pure-Go SQLite driver, for the VACUUM INTO snapshot
+)
+
+// FormatFull identifies a full-server backup manifest.
+const FormatFull = "selfpost-full-backup"
+
+// ManifestName is the manifest's filename, both inside the archive and, after a
+// restore extraction, at the root of the data directory where CheckRestore
+// looks for it.
+const ManifestName = "manifest.json"
+
+// Manifest is the small JSON document embedded in every backup archive. Its
+// Version is the single fact that makes restore safe: the panel refuses to boot
+// a data directory whose manifest version does not match its own binary (spec
+// 7.5.A).
+type Manifest struct {
+	Format    string `json:"format"`
+	Version   string `json:"version"`
+	CreatedAt string `json:"created_at"`
+}
+
+// Params configures a backup. DataDir is the consolidated state root (/data);
+// DBPath is the live SQLite file within it, snapshotted consistently rather than
+// copied byte-for-byte while it may be mid-write; Version is stamped into the
+// manifest.
+type Params struct {
+	DataDir string
+	DBPath  string
+	Version string
+}
+
+// excludedFromArchive lists the data-directory entries a backup never carries.
+// The live database files are replaced by a consistent VACUUM INTO snapshot
+// written under the canonical name; the setup token is transient bootstrap
+// state; a stale manifest from a previous restore must not be re-captured (a
+// fresh one is written instead); and a "tls" directory holds the reverse
+// proxy's certificates, which are explicitly out of scope for a SelfPost backup
+// (spec 7.5.A) — excluding it keeps that guarantee even when an operator points
+// TLS_CERT_FILE inside /data.
+var excludedFromArchive = map[string]bool{
+	"selfpost.db":         true,
+	"selfpost.db-wal":     true,
+	"selfpost.db-shm":     true,
+	"selfpost.db-journal": true,
+	"setup-token":         true,
+	"tls":                 true,
+	ManifestName:          true,
+}
+
+// Create writes a gzip-compressed tar backup to w. Archive entries are named
+// relative to DataDir, so extracting the archive into the /data bind mount
+// reconstructs the state in place (spec 7.5.A). The SQLite database is added as
+// a consistent snapshot under "selfpost.db"; everything else under DataDir is
+// copied as-is except the entries in excludedFromArchive.
+func Create(w io.Writer, p Params) error {
+	if p.DataDir == "" || p.DBPath == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("backup: DataDir and DBPath are required")
+	}
+
+	snapshot, cleanup, err := snapshotDB(p.DBPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	gz := gzip.NewWriter(w)
+	tw := tar.NewWriter(gz)
+
+	manifest := Manifest{
+		Format:    FormatFull,
+		Version:   p.Version,
+		CreatedAt: time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
+	}
+	manifestJSON, err := json.MarshalIndent(manifest, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("backup: encode manifest: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := writeTarBytes(tw, ManifestName, 0o600, manifestJSON); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// The consistent SQLite snapshot, under the canonical filename the panel
+	// opens on start (the live file and its WAL/SHM are excluded from the walk).
+	if err := writeTarFile(tw, "selfpost.db", 0o640, snapshot); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if err := addTree(tw, p.DataDir); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if err := tw.Close(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("backup: close tar: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := gz.Close(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("backup: close gzip: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// addTree walks dataDir and adds every regular file (and directory, to preserve
+// empty ones and modes) to tw under its path relative to dataDir, skipping the
+// excluded entries. Non-regular, non-directory entries (symlinks, sockets) are
+// skipped: /data holds none in normal operation, and copying them into a backup
+// would be meaningless or unsafe.
+func addTree(tw *tar.Writer, dataDir string) error {
+	return filepath.WalkDir(dataDir, func(path string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		rel, err := filepath.Rel(dataDir, path)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if rel == "." {
+			return nil // the data root itself is implicit
+		}
+		// filepath.Rel yields OS separators; tar names use forward slashes.
+		name := filepath.ToSlash(rel)
+		// Exclude by top-level name (the live DB, setup token and stale manifest
+		// all live at the data root).
+		if excludedFromArchive[name] {
+			if d.IsDir() {
+				return fs.SkipDir
+			}
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		info, err := d.Info()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		switch {
+		case d.IsDir():
+			hdr := &tar.Header{
+				Typeflag: tar.TypeDir,
+				Name:     name + "/",
+				Mode:     int64(info.Mode().Perm()),
+				ModTime:  info.ModTime(),
+			}
+			return tw.WriteHeader(hdr)
+		case info.Mode().IsRegular():
+			return writeTarFile(tw, name, info.Mode().Perm(), path)
+		default:
+			return nil // skip symlinks/sockets/devices
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+// writeTarBytes writes an in-memory file entry.
+func writeTarBytes(tw *tar.Writer, name string, mode int64, data []byte) error {
+	hdr := &tar.Header{
+		Typeflag: tar.TypeReg,
+		Name:     name,
+		Mode:     mode,
+		Size:     int64(len(data)),
+		ModTime:  time.Now().UTC(),
+	}
+	if err := tw.WriteHeader(hdr); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("backup: write header %s: %w", name, err)
+	}
+	if _, err := tw.Write(data); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("backup: write %s: %w", name, err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// writeTarFile streams a file from disk into the archive under name.
+func writeTarFile(tw *tar.Writer, name string, mode fs.FileMode, srcPath string) error {
+	f, err := os.Open(srcPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("backup: open %s: %w", srcPath, err)
+	}
+	defer f.Close()
+
+	info, err := f.Stat()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("backup: stat %s: %w", srcPath, err)
+	}
+	hdr := &tar.Header{
+		Typeflag: tar.TypeReg,
+		Name:     name,
+		Mode:     int64(mode.Perm()),
+		Size:     info.Size(),
+		ModTime:  info.ModTime(),
+	}
+	if err := tw.WriteHeader(hdr); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("backup: write header %s: %w", name, err)
+	}
+	if _, err := io.Copy(tw, f); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("backup: copy %s: %w", name, err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// snapshotDB produces a consistent copy of the SQLite database at dbPath using
+// VACUUM INTO, so the backup captures a coherent point-in-time image even while
+// the panel is writing to the live file under WAL. It returns the snapshot path
+// and a cleanup function the caller must defer.
+func snapshotDB(dbPath string) (path string, cleanup func(), err error) {
+	dir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "selfpost-backup-")
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("backup: temp dir: %w", err)
+	}
+	cleanup = func() { _ = os.RemoveAll(dir) }
+	target := filepath.Join(dir, "selfpost.db")
+
+	// A short busy timeout lets VACUUM INTO wait out a brief writer rather than
+	// failing immediately if the panel happens to be mid-write.
+	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite", "file:"+dbPath+"?_pragma=busy_timeout(5000)")
+	if err != nil {
+		cleanup()
+		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("backup: open database: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer db.Close()
+	db.SetMaxOpenConns(1)
+
+	// VACUUM INTO takes a string literal, not a bound parameter. target is a path
+	// we generated (never user input); single quotes are doubled defensively.
+	stmt := "VACUUM INTO '" + strings.ReplaceAll(target, "'", "''") + "'"
+	if _, err := db.Exec(stmt); err != nil {
+		cleanup()
+		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("backup: snapshot database: %w", err)
+	}
+	return target, cleanup, nil
+}
+
+// CheckRestore enforces the backup version guard (spec 7.5.A). If manifestPath
+// exists (a backup was extracted into the data directory), its version must
+// match binaryVersion or the panel refuses to start, telling the operator which
+// image tag to use. On a match the manifest is consumed (deleted) so it guards
+// only the first boot after a restore and never blocks a later in-place image
+// upgrade. Absence of the manifest is the normal case and returns nil.
+func CheckRestore(manifestPath, binaryVersion string) error {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(manifestPath)
+	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return nil // ordinary start, not a restore
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("backup: read restore manifest: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var m Manifest
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &m); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("backup: restore manifest %s is not valid JSON: %w", manifestPath, err)
+	}
+	if m.Format != FormatFull {
+		return fmt.Errorf("backup: %s is not a SelfPost full backup manifest (format %q)", manifestPath, m.Format)
+	}
+	if m.Version != binaryVersion {
+		return fmt.Errorf(
+			"backup: this backup was created by SelfPost %s but this image is %s — restore into the matching image (selfpost:%s)",
+			m.Version, binaryVersion, m.Version)
+	}
+	// Version matches: consume the manifest so subsequent normal starts (and
+	// in-place upgrades) are not gated by it.
+	if err := os.Remove(manifestPath); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("backup: consume restore manifest: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/backup/backup_test.go b/internal/backup/backup_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0ba5da5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/backup/backup_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+package backup
+
+import (
+	"archive/tar"
+	"bytes"
+	"compress/gzip"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/store"
+)
+
+// seedDataDir builds a realistic /data tree: a migrated SQLite database plus the
+// DKIM key, SASL and transient files a backup must include or exclude.
+func seedDataDir(t *testing.T) (dataDir, dbPath string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	dataDir = t.TempDir()
+	dbPath = filepath.Join(dataDir, "selfpost.db")
+
+	st, err := store.Open(dbPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("open store: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := st.AddDomain("example.com", "selfpost"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("add domain: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := st.Close(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("close store: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(dataDir, "opendkim", "keys", "example.com", "selfpost.private"), "PRIVATE KEY")
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(dataDir, "sasl", "sasldb2"), "SASLDB")
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(dataDir, "postfix", "sender_login_maps"), "@example.com login")
+	// Transient files that must NOT be archived.
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(dataDir, "setup-token"), "secret-token")
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(dataDir, "selfpost.db-wal"), "wal")
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(dataDir, "selfpost.db-shm"), "shm")
+	return dataDir, dbPath
+}
+
+func writeFile(t *testing.T, path, content string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(path), 0o750); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("mkdir %s: %v", path, err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(content), 0o640); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write %s: %v", path, err)
+	}
+}
+
+// readArchive returns the set of regular-file entries (name -> content) in a
+// gzip tar produced by Create.
+func readArchive(t *testing.T, data []byte) map[string]string {
+	t.Helper()
+	gz, err := gzip.NewReader(bytes.NewReader(data))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("gzip: %v", err)
+	}
+	tr := tar.NewReader(gz)
+	out := map[string]string{}
+	for {
+		hdr, err := tr.Next()
+		if err == io.EOF {
+			break
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("tar next: %v", err)
+		}
+		if hdr.Typeflag != tar.TypeReg {
+			continue
+		}
+		b, err := io.ReadAll(tr)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("tar read %s: %v", hdr.Name, err)
+		}
+		out[hdr.Name] = string(b)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func TestCreateIncludesStateExcludesTransient(t *testing.T) {
+	dataDir, dbPath := seedDataDir(t)
+
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	if err := Create(&buf, Params{DataDir: dataDir, DBPath: dbPath, Version: "1.2.3"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Create: %v", err)
+	}
+	files := readArchive(t, buf.Bytes())
+
+	// Present.
+	for _, name := range []string{
+		ManifestName,
+		"selfpost.db",
+		"opendkim/keys/example.com/selfpost.private",
+		"sasl/sasldb2",
+		"postfix/sender_login_maps",
+	} {
+		if _, ok := files[name]; !ok {
+			t.Errorf("archive missing %s", name)
+		}
+	}
+	// Excluded.
+	for _, name := range []string{"setup-token", "selfpost.db-wal", "selfpost.db-shm"} {
+		if _, ok := files[name]; ok {
+			t.Errorf("archive should not contain %s", name)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Manifest is well-formed and carries the version.
+	var m Manifest
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(files[ManifestName]), &m); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("manifest json: %v", err)
+	}
+	if m.Format != FormatFull || m.Version != "1.2.3" {
+		t.Errorf("manifest = %+v, want format=%s version=1.2.3", m, FormatFull)
+	}
+
+	// The archived selfpost.db is a real, openable SQLite snapshot with our data.
+	snapPath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "restored.db")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(snapPath, []byte(files["selfpost.db"]), 0o640); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write snapshot: %v", err)
+	}
+	st, err := store.Open(snapPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("open snapshot: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer st.Close()
+	domains, err := st.ListDomains()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("list domains from snapshot: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(domains) != 1 || domains[0].Name != "example.com" {
+		t.Errorf("snapshot domains = %+v, want one example.com", domains)
+	}
+}
+
+func writeManifest(t *testing.T, dir, format, version string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, ManifestName)
+	b, _ := json.Marshal(Manifest{Format: format, Version: version, CreatedAt: "now"})
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, b, 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write manifest: %v", err)
+	}
+	return path
+}
+
+func TestCheckRestoreNoManifestIsNormalStart(t *testing.T) {
+	if err := CheckRestore(filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "manifest.json"), "1.0.0"); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("CheckRestore with no manifest = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCheckRestoreMatchConsumesManifest(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := writeManifest(t, dir, FormatFull, "1.0.0")
+	if err := CheckRestore(path, "1.0.0"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("CheckRestore matching = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(path); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Errorf("manifest should be consumed after a matching restore, stat err = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCheckRestoreVersionMismatchRefusesAndKeeps(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := writeManifest(t, dir, FormatFull, "1.0.0")
+	err := CheckRestore(path, "2.0.0")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("CheckRestore mismatch = nil, want error")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "1.0.0") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "2.0.0") {
+		t.Errorf("error should name both versions: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, statErr := os.Stat(path); statErr != nil {
+		t.Errorf("manifest must be kept on mismatch so the operator can switch images: %v", statErr)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCheckRestoreWrongFormatRejected(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := writeManifest(t, dir, "something-else", "1.0.0")
+	if err := CheckRestore(path, "1.0.0"); err == nil {
+		t.Error("CheckRestore accepted a non-backup manifest")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/domain/opendkim.go b/internal/domain/opendkim.go
index a964814..92b3f92 100644
--- a/internal/domain/opendkim.go
+++ b/internal/domain/opendkim.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package domain
 
 import (
+	"crypto/x509"
+	"encoding/pem"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
@@ -87,6 +89,46 @@ func (o *OpenDKIM) RemoveKey(domainName string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// ExportKey returns a domain's DKIM private key as PKCS#1 PEM, for carrying in a
+// domain export so the receiving instance signs with the same key and the DNS
+// TXT record never has to change (spec 7.5.B). It re-marshals the parsed key
+// rather than returning the raw file, so a malformed on-disk key is caught here.
+func (o *OpenDKIM) ExportKey(domainName, selector string) ([]byte, error) {
+	if err := assertConfigSafe(domainName, selector); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	key, err := loadPrivateKeyPEM(o.keyPath(domainName, selector))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	block := &pem.Block{Type: "RSA PRIVATE KEY", Bytes: x509.MarshalPKCS1PrivateKey(key)}
+	return pem.EncodeToMemory(block), nil
+}
+
+// ImportKey writes an imported DKIM private key to disk for a domain (spec
+// 7.5.B). The PEM is parsed and re-marshalled through the same writer used for
+// generated keys, so only a well-formed PKCS#1 RSA key is ever stored. Unlike
+// EnsureKey it overwrites: an import (re-)creates the domain with exactly this
+// key, which is the whole point of keeping the published DNS record valid.
+func (o *OpenDKIM) ImportKey(domainName, selector string, pemKey []byte) error {
+	if err := assertConfigSafe(domainName, selector); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	block, _ := pem.Decode(pemKey)
+	if block == nil || block.Type != "RSA PRIVATE KEY" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("import dkim key for %s: not a PKCS#1 RSA private key", domainName)
+	}
+	key, err := x509.ParsePKCS1PrivateKey(block.Bytes)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("import dkim key for %s: %w", domainName, err)
+	}
+	path := o.keyPath(domainName, selector)
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(path), 0o750); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("create key dir: %w", err)
+	}
+	return writePrivateKeyPEM(path, key)
+}
+
 // Record returns the published DKIM DNS record for a domain, recomputed from the
 // private key on disk (spec 7.2.10).
 func (o *OpenDKIM) Record(domainName, selector string) (DKIMRecord, error) {
diff --git a/internal/domain/service.go b/internal/domain/service.go
index 8d59edd..4a4ff51 100644
--- a/internal/domain/service.go
+++ b/internal/domain/service.go
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ type Applications interface {
 	// Resync rebuilds smtpd_sender_login_maps from the remaining applications
 	// and reloads Postfix.
 	Resync() error
+	// Secret returns an application's stored password, for a domain export
+	// (spec 7.5.B).
+	Secret(login string) (string, error)
+	// ImportApplication re-creates an application (registry row + SASL account)
+	// from a domain-export file, without rebuilding the sender map (spec 7.5.B).
+	ImportApplication(domainID int64, login, mode string, addresses []string, password string) error
 }
 
 // Service coordinates the places a sending domain lives: the SQLite registry,
diff --git a/internal/domain/transfer.go b/internal/domain/transfer.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36809c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/domain/transfer.go
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+package domain
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/buildinfo"
+	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/store"
+)
+
+// FormatDomainExport identifies a single-domain export file (spec 7.5.B).
+const FormatDomainExport = "selfpost-domain-export"
+
+// DomainExport is the serialisable form of one sending domain, for moving it
+// between two independently running SelfPost instances (spec 7.5.B). It carries
+// the DKIM private key (so the published DNS record stays valid) and each
+// application's working password (so credentials transfer without regeneration).
+// The file is therefore as sensitive as a full backup and must be handled as a
+// secret.
+type DomainExport struct {
+	Format         string      `json:"format"`
+	Version        string      `json:"version"`
+	Domain         string      `json:"domain"`
+	DKIMSelector   string      `json:"dkim_selector"`
+	DKIMPrivateKey string      `json:"dkim_private_key"` // PKCS#1 PEM
+	Applications   []AppExport `json:"applications"`
+}
+
+// AppExport is one application within a DomainExport.
+type AppExport struct {
+	Login       string   `json:"login"`
+	AddressMode string   `json:"address_mode"`
+	Addresses   []string `json:"addresses,omitempty"` // list mode only
+	Password    string   `json:"password"`
+}
+
+// Export builds the transferable representation of a domain: its DKIM key, its
+// selector and every application with its address mode and working password
+// (spec 7.5.B). The returned struct is marshalled to JSON by the caller and
+// offered as a secret download.
+func (s *Service) Export(id int64) (DomainExport, error) {
+	d, err := s.store.GetDomain(id)
+	if err != nil {
+		return DomainExport{}, err
+	}
+	pem, err := s.odk.ExportKey(d.Name, d.DKIMSelector)
+	if err != nil {
+		return DomainExport{}, fmt.Errorf("export DKIM key for %s: %w", d.Name, err)
+	}
+	apps, err := s.store.ListApplicationsByDomain(id)
+	if err != nil {
+		return DomainExport{}, err
+	}
+	exp := DomainExport{
+		Format:         FormatDomainExport,
+		Version:        buildinfo.Version,
+		Domain:         d.Name,
+		DKIMSelector:   d.DKIMSelector,
+		DKIMPrivateKey: string(pem),
+		Applications:   make([]AppExport, 0, len(apps)),
+	}
+	for _, a := range apps {
+		password, err := s.apps.Secret(a.Login)
+		if err != nil {
+			return DomainExport{}, fmt.Errorf("export credential for %s: %w", a.Login, err)
+		}
+		exp.Applications = append(exp.Applications, AppExport{
+			Login:       a.Login,
+			AddressMode: a.AddressMode,
+			Addresses:   a.Addresses,
+			Password:    password,
+		})
+	}
+	return exp, nil
+}
+
+// Import re-creates a domain from an export file on this instance (spec 7.5.B):
+// it stores the imported DKIM key (so the published DNS record needs no change),
+// registers the domain and rebuilds the OpenDKIM tables, then re-creates each
+// application with its working password and rebuilds the Postfix sender map.
+//
+// exp.Domain must already be normalised and validated by the caller (spec
+// 7.6.2); the selector is checked for config-injection safety here. A domain or
+// login that already exists is rejected (store.ErrDomainExists /
+// store.ErrLoginExists) rather than merged. If any step fails, everything the
+// import created is rolled back, so a partial import never leaves the instance
+// in an inconsistent state.
+func (s *Service) Import(exp DomainExport) (store.Domain, error) {
+	if exp.Format != FormatDomainExport {
+		return store.Domain{}, fmt.Errorf("not a SelfPost domain export (format %q)", exp.Format)
+	}
+	if err := assertConfigSafe(exp.Domain, exp.DKIMSelector); err != nil {
+		return store.Domain{}, err
+	}
+
+	// Registry row first, so its UNIQUE constraint is the sole arbiter of a
+	// duplicate domain before we touch the filesystem.
+	d, err := s.store.AddDomain(exp.Domain, exp.DKIMSelector)
+	if err != nil {
+		return store.Domain{}, err // ErrDomainExists surfaces to the caller
+	}
+
+	if err := s.odk.ImportKey(d.Name, d.DKIMSelector, []byte(exp.DKIMPrivateKey)); err != nil {
+		s.importRollback(d.ID)
+		return store.Domain{}, err
+	}
+	if err := s.resync(); err != nil {
+		s.importRollback(d.ID)
+		return store.Domain{}, err
+	}
+
+	for _, a := range exp.Applications {
+		if err := s.apps.ImportApplication(d.ID, a.Login, a.AddressMode, a.Addresses, a.Password); err != nil {
+			s.importRollback(d.ID)
+			return store.Domain{}, fmt.Errorf("import application %q: %w", a.Login, err)
+		}
+	}
+	if err := s.apps.Resync(); err != nil {
+		s.importRollback(d.ID)
+		return store.Domain{}, err
+	}
+	return d, nil
+}
+
+// importRollback best-effort tears down a partially imported domain by running
+// the normal deletion path, which clears the SASL accounts of any applications
+// already created, removes the registry rows (cascade), rebuilds both maps and
+// removes the DKIM key. Any error here is subordinate to the original failure
+// the caller returns.
+func (s *Service) importRollback(id int64) {
+	_ = s.Delete(id)
+}
diff --git a/internal/domain/transfer_test.go b/internal/domain/transfer_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c3d159
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/domain/transfer_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+package domain
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+
+	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/store"
+)
+
+// fakeApps stands in for *app.Service in the domain-transfer tests: it records
+// the import calls and hands back canned SASL secrets.
+type fakeApps struct {
+	secrets   map[string]string
+	imported  []importedApp
+	importErr error
+}
+
+type importedApp struct {
+	domainID  int64
+	login     string
+	mode      string
+	addresses []string
+	password  string
+}
+
+func (f *fakeApps) PurgeDomainSASL(int64) error { return nil }
+func (f *fakeApps) Resync() error               { return nil }
+
+func (f *fakeApps) Secret(login string) (string, error) {
+	pw, ok := f.secrets[login]
+	if !ok {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("no secret for %q", login)
+	}
+	return pw, nil
+}
+
+func (f *fakeApps) ImportApplication(domainID int64, login, mode string, addresses []string, password string) error {
+	if f.importErr != nil {
+		return f.importErr
+	}
+	f.imported = append(f.imported, importedApp{domainID, login, mode, addresses, password})
+	return nil
+}
+
+// newTestService builds a Service over a fresh SQLite store and OpenDKIM tree in
+// a temp dir, with the OpenDKIM reload signal stubbed out.
+func newTestService(t *testing.T, apps Applications) (*Service, *OpenDKIM) {
+	t.Helper()
+	st, err := store.Open(t.TempDir() + "/selfpost.db")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("open store: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { st.Close() })
+	odk := NewOpenDKIM(t.TempDir())
+	odk.reload = func() error { return nil }
+	return NewService(st, odk, apps, "selfpost"), odk
+}
+
+func TestExportImportRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
+	// Source instance: a domain with two applications and their secrets.
+	srcApps := &fakeApps{secrets: map[string]string{"mailer": "pw-mailer", "alerts": "pw-alerts"}}
+	src, srcOdk := newTestService(t, srcApps)
+
+	d, err := src.Add("example.com")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("add domain: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := src.store.AddApplication(d.ID, "mailer", store.AddressModeWildcard, nil); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("add mailer: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := src.store.AddApplication(d.ID, "alerts", store.AddressModeList, []string{"a@example.com"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("add alerts: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	exp, err := src.Export(d.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Export: %v", err)
+	}
+	if exp.Format != FormatDomainExport || exp.Domain != "example.com" || exp.DKIMSelector != "selfpost" {
+		t.Fatalf("export header = %+v", exp)
+	}
+	if len(exp.Applications) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("exported %d apps, want 2", len(exp.Applications))
+	}
+	srcKey, err := srcOdk.ExportKey("example.com", "selfpost")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("read source key: %v", err)
+	}
+	if exp.DKIMPrivateKey != string(srcKey) {
+		t.Error("export DKIM key does not match the on-disk key")
+	}
+
+	// Target instance: import the file.
+	dstApps := &fakeApps{}
+	dst, dstOdk := newTestService(t, dstApps)
+	nd, err := dst.Import(exp)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Import: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Domain row landed with the exported selector.
+	got, err := dst.Get(nd.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("get imported domain: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.Name != "example.com" || got.DKIMSelector != "selfpost" {
+		t.Errorf("imported domain = %+v", got)
+	}
+	// The DKIM key was imported byte-for-byte, so the DNS record is unchanged.
+	dstKey, err := dstOdk.ExportKey("example.com", "selfpost")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("read imported key: %v", err)
+	}
+	if string(dstKey) != string(srcKey) {
+		t.Error("imported DKIM key differs from the source key")
+	}
+	// Applications were re-created with their working passwords.
+	if len(dstApps.imported) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("imported %d apps, want 2", len(dstApps.imported))
+	}
+	byLogin := map[string]importedApp{}
+	for _, a := range dstApps.imported {
+		byLogin[a.login] = a
+	}
+	if byLogin["mailer"].password != "pw-mailer" || byLogin["alerts"].password != "pw-alerts" {
+		t.Errorf("imported passwords = %+v", dstApps.imported)
+	}
+	if byLogin["alerts"].mode != store.AddressModeList {
+		t.Errorf("alerts mode = %q", byLogin["alerts"].mode)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestImportRejectsWrongFormat(t *testing.T) {
+	dst, _ := newTestService(t, &fakeApps{})
+	if _, err := dst.Import(DomainExport{Format: "nope", Domain: "example.com"}); err == nil {
+		t.Error("Import accepted a non-export file")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestImportRejectsDuplicateDomain(t *testing.T) {
+	dst, _ := newTestService(t, &fakeApps{})
+	if _, err := dst.Add("example.com"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("seed domain: %v", err)
+	}
+	// A minimal but well-formed export of the same domain.
+	src, srcOdk := newTestService(t, &fakeApps{})
+	d, _ := src.Add("example.com")
+	key, _ := srcOdk.ExportKey("example.com", "selfpost")
+	exp := DomainExport{
+		Format: FormatDomainExport, Domain: "example.com", DKIMSelector: "selfpost",
+		DKIMPrivateKey: string(key),
+	}
+	_ = d
+	if _, err := dst.Import(exp); !errors.Is(err, store.ErrDomainExists) {
+		t.Errorf("Import duplicate = %v, want ErrDomainExists", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestImportRollsBackOnAppFailure(t *testing.T) {
+	// Build a valid export from a source instance.
+	src, _ := newTestService(t, &fakeApps{secrets: map[string]string{"mailer": "pw"}})
+	d, _ := src.Add("example.com")
+	if _, err := src.store.AddApplication(d.ID, "mailer", store.AddressModeWildcard, nil); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("add app: %v", err)
+	}
+	exp, err := src.Export(d.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Export: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Target rejects the application import; the whole domain must roll back.
+	dstApps := &fakeApps{importErr: errors.New("boom")}
+	dst, dstOdk := newTestService(t, dstApps)
+	if _, err := dst.Import(exp); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Import succeeded despite an application failure")
+	}
+	// Domain row removed.
+	domains, err := dst.List()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("list: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(domains) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("expected rollback to remove the domain, got %+v", domains)
+	}
+	// DKIM key removed.
+	if _, err := dstOdk.ExportKey("example.com", "selfpost"); err == nil {
+		t.Error("expected rollback to remove the imported DKIM key")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/web/handlers_apps.go b/internal/web/handlers_apps.go
index 7552559..2e11208 100644
--- a/internal/web/handlers_apps.go
+++ b/internal/web/handlers_apps.go
@@ -144,6 +144,8 @@ func detailFlash(r *http.Request) string {
 		return "Application address mode updated."
 	case r.URL.Query().Get("ratelimit") != "":
 		return "Rate limit updated."
+	case r.URL.Query().Get("imported") != "":
+		return "Domain imported. Its DKIM DNS record is unchanged — no DNS update is needed."
 	default:
 		return ""
 	}
diff --git a/internal/web/handlers_backup.go b/internal/web/handlers_backup.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f0a654
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/web/handlers_backup.go
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+package web
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"time"
+
+	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/backup"
+	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/domain"
+	"codeberg.org/mix/selfpost/internal/store"
+)
+
+// maxImportBytes caps a domain-import upload. A domain export is a small JSON
+// document (a DKIM key and a handful of credentials); this leaves generous head
+// room while refusing anything large enough to be an abuse attempt.
+const maxImportBytes = 1 << 20 // 1 MiB
+
+// handleBackup streams a full-server backup as a download (spec 7.5.A). It is an
+// authenticated admin action (this handler sits behind the auth middleware). The
+// archive carries DKIM private keys, the admin password hash and SASL
+// credentials, so it is served with no-store and as an attachment to discourage
+// caching of secret material.
+func (s *Server) handleBackup(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	filename := fmt.Sprintf("selfpost-backup-%s.tar.gz", time.Now().UTC().Format("20060102-150405"))
+
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/gzip")
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Disposition", fmt.Sprintf("attachment; filename=%q", filename))
+	w.Header().Set("Cache-Control", "no-store")
+
+	if err := backup.Create(w, backup.Params{
+		DataDir: s.cfg.DataDir,
+		DBPath:  s.cfg.DBPath,
+		Version: s.cfg.Version,
+	}); err != nil {
+		// Headers (and possibly some bytes) may already be on the wire, so we
+		// cannot switch to a clean error page; log it and let the truncated
+		// download fail loudly on the client side.
+		logf("panel: full backup failed: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+}
+
+// handleExportDomain streams a single-domain export as a secret download (spec
+// 7.5.B). Like the full backup it is POST-only (state is not changed, but the
+// response contains the domain's DKIM private key and application passwords, so
+// it must not be prefetchable or cached).
+func (s *Server) handleExportDomain(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	d, ok := s.lookupDomain(w, r)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	exp, err := s.domains.Export(d.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		logf("panel: export domain %d: %v", d.ID, err)
+		http.Error(w, "export failed", http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		return
+	}
+	body, err := json.MarshalIndent(exp, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		logf("panel: export domain %d: encode: %v", d.ID, err)
+		http.Error(w, "export failed", http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		return
+	}
+
+	filename := fmt.Sprintf("selfpost-domain-%s.json", d.Name)
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Disposition", fmt.Sprintf("attachment; filename=%q", filename))
+	w.Header().Set("Cache-Control", "no-store")
+	_, _ = w.Write(body)
+}
+
+// handleImportDomain accepts an uploaded domain-export file and re-creates the
+// domain on this instance (spec 7.5.B). The domain name is normalised and
+// validated here (spec 7.6.2); the domain service validates the selector, each
+// login and address, and the DKIM key before writing anything. On success it
+// redirects to the new domain's page; on failure it re-renders the dashboard
+// with a friendly message.
+func (s *Server) handleImportDomain(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	r.Body = http.MaxBytesReader(w, r.Body, maxImportBytes)
+	if err := r.ParseMultipartForm(maxImportBytes); err != nil {
+		s.renderDashboard(w, r, http.StatusBadRequest, "", "", "Could not read the uploaded file (too large or not a valid upload).")
+		return
+	}
+	file, _, err := r.FormFile("file")
+	if err != nil {
+		s.renderDashboard(w, r, http.StatusBadRequest, "", "", "Choose a domain export file to import.")
+		return
+	}
+	defer file.Close()
+
+	var exp domain.DomainExport
+	dec := json.NewDecoder(file)
+	dec.DisallowUnknownFields()
+	if err := dec.Decode(&exp); err != nil {
+		s.renderDashboard(w, r, http.StatusBadRequest, "", "", "That file is not a valid SelfPost domain export.")
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Normalise and validate the domain name before it reaches the service, the
+	// same gate the add-domain form uses (spec 7.6.2).
+	exp.Domain = normalizeDomain(exp.Domain)
+	if err := validateDomain(exp.Domain); err != nil {
+		s.renderDashboard(w, r, http.StatusBadRequest, "", "", "Invalid domain in export file: "+err.Error())
+		return
+	}
+
+	d, err := s.domains.Import(exp)
+	if err != nil {
+		logf("panel: import domain %q: %v", exp.Domain, err)
+		status, msg := importErrorMessage(err)
+		s.renderDashboard(w, r, status, "", "", msg)
+		return
+	}
+	http.Redirect(w, r, fmt.Sprintf("/domains/%d?imported=1", d.ID), http.StatusSeeOther)
+}
+
+// importErrorMessage maps a domain-import failure (already logged by the caller)
+// to an HTTP status and a user-facing message. Duplicate domain/login are called
+// out specifically; other failures — validation errors describing what is wrong
+// with the file, or an internal write/reload problem — are surfaced verbatim to
+// this admin-only panel so the operator can act on them.
+func importErrorMessage(err error) (int, string) {
+	switch {
+	case errors.Is(err, store.ErrDomainExists):
+		return http.StatusConflict, "A domain with that name already exists here. Delete it first, or import into a fresh instance."
+	case errors.Is(err, store.ErrLoginExists):
+		return http.StatusConflict, "One of the application logins in the file is already in use on this instance. Application logins must be unique across all domains."
+	default:
+		return http.StatusBadRequest, "Could not import the domain: " + err.Error()
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/web/handlers_domains.go b/internal/web/handlers_domains.go
index 7da6d3e..432ccde 100644
--- a/internal/web/handlers_domains.go
+++ b/internal/web/handlers_domains.go
@@ -13,13 +13,14 @@ import (
 // domains with their DKIM/selector and application counts, plus the add-domain
 // form (spec 7.2.2). Applications and the send log arrive in later phases.
 func (s *Server) handleDashboard(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	s.renderDashboard(w, r, http.StatusOK, "", "")
+	s.renderDashboard(w, r, http.StatusOK, "", "", "")
 }
 
 // renderDashboard renders the domain list. formErr and formName repopulate the
-// add-domain form after a rejected submission; flash surfaces a one-shot status
-// message keyed by a redirect query flag (never reflected user input).
-func (s *Server) renderDashboard(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, status int, formErr, formName string) {
+// add-domain form after a rejected submission; importErr surfaces a failed
+// domain import (spec 7.5.B); flash surfaces a one-shot status message keyed by
+// a redirect query flag (never reflected user input).
+func (s *Server) renderDashboard(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, status int, formErr, formName, importErr string) {
 	domains, err := s.domains.List()
 	if err != nil {
 		logf("panel: dashboard: list domains: %v", err)
@@ -27,12 +28,13 @@ func (s *Server) renderDashboard(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, status
 		return
 	}
 	s.render(w, status, "dashboard", map[string]any{
-		"Title":    "SelfPost",
-		"User":     currentUser(r),
-		"Domains":  domains,
-		"Error":    formErr,
-		"FormName": formName,
-		"Flash":    dashboardFlash(r),
+		"Title":     "SelfPost",
+		"User":      currentUser(r),
+		"Domains":   domains,
+		"Error":     formErr,
+		"FormName":  formName,
+		"ImportErr": importErr,
+		"Flash":     dashboardFlash(r),
 	})
 }
 
@@ -54,25 +56,25 @@ func dashboardFlash(r *http.Request) string {
 // publish is shown (spec 7.2.3).
 func (s *Server) handleAddDomain(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	if err := r.ParseForm(); err != nil {
-		s.renderDashboard(w, r, http.StatusBadRequest, "Invalid form submission.", "")
+		s.renderDashboard(w, r, http.StatusBadRequest, "Invalid form submission.", "", "")
 		return
 	}
 	raw := r.PostFormValue("name")
 	name := normalizeDomain(raw)
 	if err := validateDomain(name); err != nil {
-		s.renderDashboard(w, r, http.StatusBadRequest, err.Error(), raw)
+		s.renderDashboard(w, r, http.StatusBadRequest, err.Error(), raw, "")
 		return
 	}
 
 	d, err := s.domains.Add(name)
 	if err != nil {
 		if errors.Is(err, store.ErrDomainExists) {
-			s.renderDashboard(w, r, http.StatusConflict, "That domain is already configured.", raw)
+			s.renderDashboard(w, r, http.StatusConflict, "That domain is already configured.", raw, "")
 			return
 		}
 		logf("panel: add domain %q: %v", name, err)
 		s.renderDashboard(w, r, http.StatusInternalServerError,
-			"Could not add the domain. Please check the logs and try again.", raw)
+			"Could not add the domain. Please check the logs and try again.", raw, "")
 		return
 	}
 	http.Redirect(w, r, fmt.Sprintf("/domains/%d", d.ID), http.StatusSeeOther)
diff --git a/internal/web/templates/dashboard.html b/internal/web/templates/dashboard.html
index e052c47..387384d 100644
--- a/internal/web/templates/dashboard.html
+++ b/internal/web/templates/dashboard.html
@@ -53,4 +53,31 @@
   <p class="muted">No domains yet. Add one above to get started.</p>
   {{end}}
 </div>
+
+<div class="card">
+  <h2>Backup &amp; migration</h2>
+  <p class="muted">Download a full backup of all persistent state — the database,
+  every domain's DKIM key and the application credentials. Use it to move the
+  whole server to a new machine: restore it into a container of the
+  <strong>same SelfPost version</strong>, with the same data mount, before first
+  start. TLS certificates and the mail queue are not included.</p>
+  <p class="muted"><strong>The backup file is a secret</strong> (it contains
+  private keys and credentials). Store and transfer it securely and delete it
+  once the restore succeeds.</p>
+  <form class="inline" method="post" action="/backup">
+    <button type="submit">Download full backup</button>
+  </form>
+
+  <h2>Import a domain</h2>
+  <p class="muted">Move a single domain here from another SelfPost instance using
+  a domain export file (from that domain's page). Its DKIM key and application
+  passwords come across, so the published DNS record needs no change. The export
+  file is a secret, like a full backup.</p>
+  {{if .ImportErr}}<p class="error">{{.ImportErr}}</p>{{end}}
+  <form method="post" action="/domains/import" enctype="multipart/form-data">
+    <label for="importfile">Domain export file</label>
+    <input id="importfile" name="file" type="file" accept=".json,application/json" required>
+    <button type="submit">Import domain</button>
+  </form>
+</div>
 {{end}}
diff --git a/internal/web/templates/domain_detail.html b/internal/web/templates/domain_detail.html
index ac32034..2836768 100644
--- a/internal/web/templates/domain_detail.html
+++ b/internal/web/templates/domain_detail.html
@@ -177,6 +177,19 @@
   be unique across all domains and may contain letters, digits, '.', '-' and '_'.</p>
 </div>
 
+<div class="card">
+  <h2>Export domain</h2>
+  <p class="muted">Download this domain to move it to another SelfPost instance:
+  its DKIM key, selector and every application with its working password. On
+  import the DNS record stays the same, so no DNS change is needed.</p>
+  <p class="muted"><strong>The export file is a secret</strong> — it contains the
+  private DKIM key and application passwords. Transfer it securely and delete it
+  after the import.</p>
+  <form class="inline" method="post" action="/domains/{{.Domain.ID}}/export">
+    <button type="submit">Export domain</button>
+  </form>
+</div>
+
 <div class="card">
   <h2>Danger zone</h2>
   <p class="muted">Deleting this domain also deletes its DKIM key and every
diff --git a/internal/web/web.go b/internal/web/web.go
index a0d4ce6..1595590 100644
--- a/internal/web/web.go
+++ b/internal/web/web.go
@@ -31,6 +31,12 @@ type Config struct {
 	// monitoring view (spec 7.2.13). It is the same path the log-tailer role
 	// follows in cmd/panel.
 	MailLogPath string
+	// DataDir and DBPath locate the persistent state a full backup archives
+	// (spec 7.5.A); Version is stamped into the backup manifest. They mirror the
+	// panel's own configuration.
+	DataDir string
+	DBPath  string
+	Version string
 }
 
 // Server is the panel HTTP application.
@@ -102,17 +108,22 @@ func (s *Server) Handler() http.Handler {
 	authed := http.NewServeMux()
 	authed.HandleFunc("GET /{$}", s.handleDashboard)
 	authed.HandleFunc("POST /domains", s.handleAddDomain)
+	authed.HandleFunc("POST /domains/import", s.handleImportDomain)
 	authed.HandleFunc("GET /domains/{id}", s.handleDomainDetail)
 	authed.HandleFunc("GET /domains/{id}/delete", s.handleDeleteConfirm)
 	authed.HandleFunc("POST /domains/{id}/delete", s.handleDeleteDomain)
 	authed.HandleFunc("POST /domains/{id}/applications", s.handleAddApplication)
 	authed.HandleFunc("POST /domains/{id}/ratelimit", s.handleDomainRateLimit)
+	authed.HandleFunc("POST /domains/{id}/export", s.handleExportDomain)
 	authed.HandleFunc("POST /applications/{aid}/mode", s.handleUpdateAppMode)
 	authed.HandleFunc("POST /applications/{aid}/password", s.handleRegenPassword)
 	authed.HandleFunc("POST /applications/{aid}/ratelimit", s.handleAppRateLimit)
 	authed.HandleFunc("POST /applications/{aid}/delete", s.handleDeleteApplication)
 	authed.HandleFunc("POST /reload", s.handleReload)
 
+	// Full-server backup download (spec 7.5.A).
+	authed.HandleFunc("POST /backup", s.handleBackup)
+
 	// Monitoring screens (spec 7.2.11-13): each page and its HTMX polling
 	// fragment (spec 7.1 — the /rows and /body endpoints return HTML, not JSON).
 	authed.HandleFunc("GET /sendlog", s.handleSendLog)