diff --git a/backend/alembic/versions/050_add_import_metadata_to_trees.py b/backend/alembic/versions/050_add_import_metadata_to_trees.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6c75390e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/alembic/versions/050_add_import_metadata_to_trees.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+"""Add import_metadata JSONB column to trees table.
+
+Revision ID: 050
+Revises: 049
+Create Date: 2026-03-05
+"""
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from sqlalchemy.dialects.postgresql import JSONB
+
+# revision identifiers
+revision = '050'
+down_revision = '049'
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    op.add_column('trees', sa.Column('import_metadata', JSONB, nullable=True))
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    op.drop_column('trees', 'import_metadata')
diff --git a/backend/app/api/endpoints/tree_transfer.py b/backend/app/api/endpoints/tree_transfer.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4d335173
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/api/endpoints/tree_transfer.py
@@ -0,0 +1,333 @@
+"""Flow export/import endpoints (.rfflow files)."""
+import json
+import logging
+import re
+import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Annotated, Optional
+from uuid import UUID
+
+from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException, Query, status
+from fastapi.responses import Response
+from sqlalchemy import select, or_
+from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
+from sqlalchemy.orm import selectinload
+
+from app.api.deps import get_current_active_user, require_engineer_or_admin
+from app.core.audit import log_audit
+from app.core.database import get_db
+from app.core.permissions import can_access_tree
+from app.core.subscriptions import check_tree_limit
+from app.core.tree_validation import can_publish_tree
+from app.models.category import TreeCategory
+from app.models.tag import TreeTag, tree_tag_assignments
+from app.models.tree import Tree
+from app.models.user import User
+from app.schemas.tree_export import (
+    FlowExportCategory,
+    FlowExportData,
+    FlowExportEnvelope,
+    FlowImportRequest,
+    FlowImportResponse,
+)
+from app.services.rag_service import index_tree as rag_index_tree
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+router = APIRouter(prefix="/trees", tags=["tree-transfer"])
+
+
+def _slugify(name: str) -> str:
+    """Create a filename-safe slug from a name."""
+    slug = re.sub(r'[^\w\s-]', '', name.lower().strip())
+    return re.sub(r'[-\s]+', '-', slug)
+
+
+def _build_xml(envelope: FlowExportEnvelope) -> str:
+    """Build XML representation of an .rfflow export."""
+    root = ET.Element("rfflow")
+    root.set("version", envelope.rfflow_version)
+
+    ET.SubElement(root, "exported_at").text = envelope.exported_at.isoformat()
+    ET.SubElement(root, "source_app").text = envelope.source_app
+    ET.SubElement(root, "format").text = "xml"
+
+    flow_el = ET.SubElement(root, "flow")
+    flow = envelope.flow
+
+    ET.SubElement(flow_el, "name").text = flow.name
+    ET.SubElement(flow_el, "description").text = flow.description or ""
+    ET.SubElement(flow_el, "tree_type").text = flow.tree_type
+    ET.SubElement(flow_el, "version").text = str(flow.version)
+    ET.SubElement(flow_el, "author_name").text = flow.author_name or ""
+
+    if flow.category:
+        cat_el = ET.SubElement(flow_el, "category")
+        ET.SubElement(cat_el, "name").text = flow.category.name
+        ET.SubElement(cat_el, "slug").text = flow.category.slug
+
+    tags_el = ET.SubElement(flow_el, "tags")
+    for tag in flow.tags:
+        ET.SubElement(tags_el, "tag").text = tag
+
+    # Store tree_structure as JSON string in CDATA-safe text
+    ts_el = ET.SubElement(flow_el, "tree_structure")
+    ts_el.text = json.dumps(flow.tree_structure)
+
+    if flow.intake_form:
+        if_el = ET.SubElement(flow_el, "intake_form")
+        if_el.text = json.dumps(flow.intake_form)
+
+    ET.indent(root)
+    return ET.tostring(root, encoding="unicode", xml_declaration=True)
+
+
+# --- Export ---
+
+@router.get("/{tree_id}/export")
+async def export_tree(
+    tree_id: UUID,
+    db: Annotated[AsyncSession, Depends(get_db)],
+    current_user: Annotated[User, Depends(get_current_active_user)],
+    format: str = Query("json", regex="^(json|xml)$"),
+):
+    """Export a tree as a downloadable .rfflow file (JSON or XML)."""
+    # Load tree with relationships + author name
+    result = await db.execute(
+        select(Tree)
+        .options(
+            selectinload(Tree.category_rel),
+            selectinload(Tree.tags),
+            selectinload(Tree.author),
+        )
+        .where(Tree.id == tree_id)
+    )
+    tree = result.scalar_one_or_none()
+
+    if not tree:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Tree not found")
+
+    if not tree.is_active or not can_access_tree(current_user, tree):
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=403, detail="You don't have access to this tree")
+
+    # Build export category
+    export_category = None
+    if tree.category_rel:
+        export_category = FlowExportCategory(
+            name=tree.category_rel.name,
+            slug=tree.category_rel.slug,
+        )
+
+    # Build export data
+    author_name = None
+    if tree.author:
+        author_name = tree.author.name or tree.author.email
+
+    flow_data = FlowExportData(
+        name=tree.name,
+        description=tree.description,
+        tree_type=tree.tree_type,
+        version=tree.version,
+        author_name=author_name,
+        category=export_category,
+        tags=tree.tag_names,
+        tree_structure=tree.tree_structure,
+        intake_form=tree.intake_form,
+    )
+
+    envelope = FlowExportEnvelope(
+        rfflow_version="1.0",
+        exported_at=datetime.now(timezone.utc),
+        source_app="ResolutionFlow",
+        format=format,
+        flow=flow_data,
+    )
+
+    slug = _slugify(tree.name)
+
+    # Audit log
+    await log_audit(db, current_user.id, "tree.export", "tree", tree.id, {"format": format})
+    await db.commit()
+
+    if format == "xml":
+        content = _build_xml(envelope)
+        return Response(
+            content=content,
+            media_type="application/xml",
+            headers={"Content-Disposition": f'attachment; filename="{slug}.rfflow"'},
+        )
+
+    # JSON
+    content = envelope.model_dump_json(indent=2)
+    return Response(
+        content=content,
+        media_type="application/json",
+        headers={"Content-Disposition": f'attachment; filename="{slug}.rfflow"'},
+    )
+
+
+# --- Import ---
+
+@router.post("/import", response_model=FlowImportResponse, status_code=status.HTTP_201_CREATED)
+async def import_tree(
+    data: FlowImportRequest,
+    db: Annotated[AsyncSession, Depends(get_db)],
+    current_user: Annotated[User, Depends(require_engineer_or_admin)],
+    name_override: Optional[str] = Query(None, max_length=255),
+):
+    """Import a flow from a parsed .rfflow file. Creates as draft."""
+    # Validate version
+    if data.rfflow_version != "1.0":
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_422_UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY,
+            detail=f"Unsupported rfflow version: {data.rfflow_version}. Only '1.0' is supported.",
+        )
+
+    flow = data.flow
+
+    # Check subscription tree limit
+    if current_user.account_id:
+        can_create, limit, count = await check_tree_limit(current_user.account_id, db)
+        if not can_create:
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=status.HTTP_402_PAYMENT_REQUIRED,
+                detail=f"Tree limit reached ({count}/{limit}). Upgrade your plan to create more trees.",
+            )
+
+    # --- Category resolution ---
+    category_id = None
+    category_created = False
+    if flow.category:
+        # Try to match by slug within user's account
+        cat_result = await db.execute(
+            select(TreeCategory).where(
+                TreeCategory.slug == flow.category.slug,
+                or_(
+                    TreeCategory.account_id.is_(None),
+                    TreeCategory.account_id == current_user.account_id,
+                ),
+            )
+        )
+        category = cat_result.scalar_one_or_none()
+
+        if category:
+            category_id = category.id
+        else:
+            # Create new category
+            new_cat = TreeCategory(
+                name=flow.category.name,
+                slug=flow.category.slug,
+                account_id=current_user.account_id,
+            )
+            db.add(new_cat)
+            await db.flush()
+            category_id = new_cat.id
+            category_created = True
+
+    # --- Tag resolution ---
+    tags_created: list[str] = []
+    tags_to_add: list[TreeTag] = []
+    tree_account_id = current_user.account_id
+
+    for tag_name in flow.tags:
+        slug = TreeTag.slugify(tag_name)
+
+        tag_result = await db.execute(
+            select(TreeTag).where(
+                TreeTag.slug == slug,
+                or_(
+                    TreeTag.account_id.is_(None),
+                    TreeTag.account_id == tree_account_id,
+                ),
+            )
+        )
+        tag = tag_result.scalar_one_or_none()
+
+        if not tag:
+            tag = TreeTag(
+                name=tag_name,
+                slug=slug,
+                account_id=tree_account_id,
+                created_by=current_user.id,
+            )
+            db.add(tag)
+            await db.flush()
+            tags_created.append(tag_name)
+
+        tags_to_add.append(tag)
+        tag.usage_count += 1
+
+    # --- Validation warnings (non-blocking since status=draft) ---
+    warnings: list[str] = []
+    intake_form_dicts = flow.intake_form
+    can_pub, validation_errors = can_publish_tree(
+        flow.tree_structure,
+        flow.name,
+        flow.description,
+        tree_type=flow.tree_type,
+        intake_form=intake_form_dicts,
+    )
+    if not can_pub:
+        for err in validation_errors:
+            msg = err.get("message", str(err)) if isinstance(err, dict) else str(err)
+            warnings.append(msg)
+
+    # --- Create tree ---
+    tree_name = name_override or flow.name
+    import_metadata = {
+        "original_author_name": flow.author_name,
+        "exported_at": data.exported_at.isoformat(),
+        "imported_at": datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat(),
+        "source_app": data.source_app,
+    }
+
+    new_tree = Tree(
+        name=tree_name,
+        description=flow.description,
+        tree_type=flow.tree_type,
+        tree_structure=flow.tree_structure,
+        intake_form=intake_form_dicts,
+        category_id=category_id,
+        author_id=current_user.id,
+        account_id=current_user.account_id,
+        status="draft",
+        version=1,
+        import_metadata=import_metadata,
+    )
+    db.add(new_tree)
+    await db.flush()
+
+    # Tag junction table inserts
+    for tag in tags_to_add:
+        await db.execute(
+            tree_tag_assignments.insert().values(
+                tree_id=new_tree.id,
+                tag_id=tag.id,
+                assigned_by=current_user.id,
+            )
+        )
+
+    # Audit log
+    await log_audit(db, current_user.id, "tree.import", "tree", new_tree.id, {
+        "source_app": data.source_app,
+        "original_author": flow.author_name,
+    })
+
+    await db.commit()
+
+    # RAG index (best-effort)
+    try:
+        await rag_index_tree(new_tree.id, db)
+        await db.commit()
+    except Exception:
+        logger.warning("RAG indexing failed for imported tree %s", new_tree.id)
+
+    return FlowImportResponse(
+        tree_id=str(new_tree.id),
+        name=tree_name,
+        tree_type=flow.tree_type,
+        status="draft",
+        category_created=category_created,
+        tags_created=tags_created,
+        validation_warnings=warnings,
+    )
diff --git a/backend/app/api/endpoints/trees.py b/backend/app/api/endpoints/trees.py
index 4ec8717d..c9fe3027 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/endpoints/trees.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/endpoints/trees.py
@@ -116,7 +116,8 @@ def build_full_tree_response(tree: Tree, parent_tree: Tree = None) -> TreeRespon
         version=tree.version,
         usage_count=tree.usage_count,
         created_at=tree.created_at,
-        updated_at=tree.updated_at
+        updated_at=tree.updated_at,
+        import_metadata=tree.import_metadata
     )
 
 
diff --git a/backend/app/api/router.py b/backend/app/api/router.py
index 256d0de9..503357eb 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/router.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/router.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from app.api.endpoints import copilot
 from app.api.endpoints import assistant_chat
 from app.api.endpoints import survey
 from app.api.endpoints import admin_survey
+from app.api.endpoints import tree_transfer
 
 api_router = APIRouter()
 
@@ -48,3 +49,4 @@ api_router.include_router(copilot.router)
 api_router.include_router(assistant_chat.router)
 api_router.include_router(survey.router)
 api_router.include_router(admin_survey.router)
+api_router.include_router(tree_transfer.router)
diff --git a/backend/app/models/tree.py b/backend/app/models/tree.py
index 825e1d6c..eb05576c 100644
--- a/backend/app/models/tree.py
+++ b/backend/app/models/tree.py
@@ -154,6 +154,13 @@ class Tree(Base):
         comment="Fork depth: 0 = original, 1 = direct fork, 2 = fork of fork, etc."
     )
 
+    # Import provenance
+    import_metadata: Mapped[Optional[dict[str, Any]]] = mapped_column(
+        JSONB,
+        nullable=True,
+        comment="Provenance metadata from .rfflow file import"
+    )
+
     # Relationships
     author: Mapped[Optional["User"]] = relationship("User", foreign_keys=[author_id], back_populates="trees")
     team: Mapped[Optional["Team"]] = relationship("Team", back_populates="trees")
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/tree.py b/backend/app/schemas/tree.py
index dc9cf116..c9c8546b 100644
--- a/backend/app/schemas/tree.py
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/tree.py
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ class TreeResponse(TreeBase):
     created_at: datetime
     updated_at: datetime
     usage_count: int
+    import_metadata: Optional[dict[str, Any]] = None
 
     class Config:
         from_attributes = True
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/tree_export.py b/backend/app/schemas/tree_export.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dbdbef76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/tree_export.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+"""Schemas for .rfflow file export and import."""
+from datetime import datetime
+from typing import Optional, Any, Literal
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
+
+from app.schemas.tree import TreeType
+
+
+class FlowExportCategory(BaseModel):
+    """Category info embedded in export file."""
+    name: str
+    slug: str
+
+
+class FlowExportData(BaseModel):
+    """The flow payload inside an .rfflow file."""
+    name: str
+    description: Optional[str] = None
+    tree_type: TreeType
+    version: int = 1
+    author_name: Optional[str] = None
+    category: Optional[FlowExportCategory] = None
+    tags: list[str] = []
+    tree_structure: dict[str, Any]
+    intake_form: Optional[list[dict[str, Any]]] = None
+
+
+class FlowExportEnvelope(BaseModel):
+    """Top-level .rfflow file structure."""
+    rfflow_version: str = "1.0"
+    exported_at: datetime
+    source_app: str = "ResolutionFlow"
+    format: Literal["json", "xml"] = "json"
+    flow: FlowExportData
+
+
+class FlowImportRequest(BaseModel):
+    """What the frontend sends after parsing a .rfflow file."""
+    rfflow_version: str = Field(..., description="Must be '1.0'")
+    exported_at: datetime
+    source_app: str = "ResolutionFlow"
+    format: Literal["json", "xml"] = "json"
+    flow: FlowExportData
+
+
+class FlowImportResponse(BaseModel):
+    """Response after importing a flow."""
+    tree_id: str
+    name: str
+    tree_type: str
+    status: str = "draft"
+    category_created: bool = False
+    tags_created: list[str] = []
+    validation_warnings: list[str] = []