diff --git a/backend/src/index.ts b/backend/src/index.ts
index e6830b3..0c43144 100644
--- a/backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/index.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ import {initMailer} from "./utils/mailer"
 import {initS3} from "./utils/s3";
 import { runBootstrap } from "./modules/bootstrap.service";
 import { startMatrixPushWorker } from "./modules/matrix-push-worker.service";
+import { startCentralServicesHeartbeat } from "./modules/central-services-heartbeat.service";
 
 
 //Services
@@ -87,6 +88,7 @@ async function main() {
     await app.register(servicesPlugin);
     await runBootstrap(app);
     startMatrixPushWorker(app);
+    startCentralServicesHeartbeat(app);
 
     app.addHook('preHandler', (req, reply, done) => {
         console.log(req.method)
diff --git a/backend/src/modules/central-services-heartbeat.service.ts b/backend/src/modules/central-services-heartbeat.service.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..096278b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/modules/central-services-heartbeat.service.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+import type { FastifyInstance } from "fastify"
+
+import { centralServicesClient } from "./push-server.client"
+import { secrets } from "../utils/secrets"
+
+const DEFAULT_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_MS = 5 * 60 * 1000
+
+function instanceBaseUrl() {
+    if (!secrets.API_BASE_URL) return undefined
+    try {
+        return new URL(secrets.API_BASE_URL).origin
+    } catch {
+        console.warn("⚠️ Central Services Heartbeat: API_BASE_URL ist keine gültige URL")
+        return undefined
+    }
+}
+
+export function startCentralServicesHeartbeat(server: FastifyInstance) {
+    if (!centralServicesClient.configured()) {
+        console.log("ℹ️ Central Services Heartbeat deaktiviert: Instanzzugangsdaten fehlen")
+        return
+    }
+
+    const configuredInterval = Number(secrets.FEDEO_CENTRAL_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_MS)
+    const intervalMs = Number.isFinite(configuredInterval) && configuredInterval >= 30_000
+        ? configuredInterval
+        : DEFAULT_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_MS
+    let timer: NodeJS.Timeout | undefined
+    let stopped = false
+
+    const sendHeartbeat = async () => {
+        try {
+            const response = await centralServicesClient.heartbeat({
+                fedeoVersion: secrets.FEDEO_VERSION || "selfhost",
+                baseUrl: instanceBaseUrl(),
+            })
+            console.log(`✅ Central Services Heartbeat: ${response.instanceId} (${response.status})`)
+        } catch (error: any) {
+            console.error(`❌ Central Services Heartbeat fehlgeschlagen: ${error?.message || error}`)
+        } finally {
+            if (!stopped) {
+                timer = setTimeout(() => void sendHeartbeat(), intervalMs)
+                timer.unref()
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    server.addHook("onClose", async () => {
+        stopped = true
+        if (timer) clearTimeout(timer)
+    })
+
+    console.log(`ℹ️ Central Services Heartbeat gestartet (${Math.round(intervalMs / 1000)} Sekunden)`)
+    void sendHeartbeat()
+}
diff --git a/backend/src/modules/push-server.client.ts b/backend/src/modules/push-server.client.ts
index a552150..1a0fc61 100644
--- a/backend/src/modules/push-server.client.ts
+++ b/backend/src/modules/push-server.client.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,12 @@ export type SendPushServerMessageInput = {
     data?: Record<string, unknown>
 }
 
+export type CentralServicesHeartbeatInput = {
+    fedeoVersion?: string
+    baseUrl?: string
+    capabilities?: string[]
+}
+
 function configured() {
     return Boolean(secrets.PUSH_SERVER_URL && secrets.PUSH_SERVER_INSTANCE_ID && secrets.PUSH_SERVER_SECRET)
 }
@@ -105,6 +111,15 @@ export const pushServerClient = {
 export const centralServicesClient = {
     configured,
 
+    heartbeat(input: CentralServicesHeartbeatInput) {
+        return requestPushServer<{
+            status: string
+            instanceId: string
+            payloadMode: string
+            capabilities: string[]
+        }>("POST", "/v1/instances/heartbeat", input)
+    },
+
     aiChatCompletions(payload: Record<string, unknown>) {
         return requestPushServer<any>("POST", "/v1/services/ai/chat-completions", payload)
     },
diff --git a/backend/src/utils/secrets.ts b/backend/src/utils/secrets.ts
index aa4b4f4..aea020c 100644
--- a/backend/src/utils/secrets.ts
+++ b/backend/src/utils/secrets.ts
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ export let secrets = {
     PUSH_SERVER_INSTANCE_ID?: string
     PUSH_SERVER_SECRET?: string
     FEDEO_CENTRAL_SERVICES_ENABLED?: boolean
+    FEDEO_CENTRAL_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_MS?: number
+    FEDEO_VERSION?: string
 }
 
 const secretKeys = [
@@ -102,9 +104,11 @@ const secretKeys = [
     "PUSH_SERVER_INSTANCE_ID",
     "PUSH_SERVER_SECRET",
     "FEDEO_CENTRAL_SERVICES_ENABLED",
+    "FEDEO_CENTRAL_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_MS",
+    "FEDEO_VERSION",
 ] as const
 
-const numberKeys = new Set(["PORT", "MAILER_SMTP_PORT", "DOKUBOX_IMAP_PORT"])
+const numberKeys = new Set(["PORT", "MAILER_SMTP_PORT", "DOKUBOX_IMAP_PORT", "FEDEO_CENTRAL_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_MS"])
 const booleanKeys = new Set(["DOKUBOX_IMAP_SECURE", "FEDEO_CENTRAL_SERVICES_ENABLED"])
 
 function normalizeEnvValue(key: string, value: string) {
diff --git a/docker-compose.selfhost.yml b/docker-compose.selfhost.yml
index 19fdb36..5987436 100644
--- a/docker-compose.selfhost.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.selfhost.yml
@@ -133,6 +133,8 @@ services:
       PUSH_SERVER_URL: ${PUSH_SERVER_URL:-}
       PUSH_SERVER_INSTANCE_ID: ${PUSH_SERVER_INSTANCE_ID:-}
       PUSH_SERVER_SECRET: ${PUSH_SERVER_SECRET:-}
+      FEDEO_CENTRAL_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_MS: ${FEDEO_CENTRAL_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_MS:-300000}
+      FEDEO_VERSION: ${FEDEO_VERSION:-selfhost-dev}
       STIRLING_API_KEY: ${STIRLING_API_KEY}
       FEDEO_BOOTSTRAP_ADMIN_EMAIL: ${FEDEO_BOOTSTRAP_ADMIN_EMAIL:-}
       FEDEO_BOOTSTRAP_ADMIN_PASSWORD: ${FEDEO_BOOTSTRAP_ADMIN_PASSWORD:-}
diff --git a/push-server/docs/instance-client.md b/push-server/docs/instance-client.md
index d40c78f..5eb90f2 100644
--- a/push-server/docs/instance-client.md
+++ b/push-server/docs/instance-client.md
@@ -13,8 +13,11 @@ FEDEO_CENTRAL_SERVICES_ENABLED=true
 PUSH_SERVER_URL=https://services.fedeo.de
 PUSH_SERVER_INSTANCE_ID=inst_...
 PUSH_SERVER_SECRET=fps_...
+FEDEO_CENTRAL_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_MS=300000
 ```
 
+Das Selfhost-Backend sendet direkt beim Start und anschließend standardmäßig alle fünf Minuten einen signierten Heartbeat. Im Backend-Log erscheinen erfolgreiche Meldungen als `Central Services Heartbeat: inst_... (active)`; Verbindungs-, Signatur- oder Freischaltungsfehler werden mit ihrer zentralen Fehlermeldung protokolliert. Werte unter 30 Sekunden werden aus Sicherheitsgründen ignoriert.
+
 Wenn `FEDEO_CENTRAL_SERVICES_ENABLED=false` bleibt, verwendet FEDEO wie bisher direkt konfigurierte OpenAI- und GoCardless-Zugangsdaten. Damit bleibt ein vollständig unabhängiger Betrieb möglich.
 
 ## Minimaler Push-Auftrag