diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/routes/gateway_whatsapp_baileys_routes.py b/surfsense_backend/app/routes/gateway_whatsapp_baileys_routes.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6a7680c0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/routes/gateway_whatsapp_baileys_routes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+"""Routes for the self-hosted WhatsApp Baileys bridge."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from datetime import UTC, datetime
+from typing import Any
+
+from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException
+from pydantic import BaseModel
+from sqlalchemy import select
+from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
+
+from app.config import config
+from app.db import (
+    ExternalChatAccount,
+    ExternalChatAccountMode,
+    ExternalChatHealthStatus,
+    ExternalChatPlatform,
+    User,
+    get_async_session,
+)
+from app.gateway.whatsapp.adapter_baileys import WhatsAppBaileysAdapter
+from app.users import current_active_user
+
+router = APIRouter(prefix="/gateway/whatsapp/baileys", tags=["gateway"])
+
+
+class BaileysPairRequest(BaseModel):
+    search_space_id: int
+    phone_number: str
+
+
+def _ensure_baileys_enabled() -> None:
+    if config.GATEWAY_WHATSAPP_INTAKE_MODE != "baileys":
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="WhatsApp Baileys gateway is disabled")
+    if config.is_cloud():
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=403,
+            detail="Baileys is only available for self-hosted SurfSense installs",
+        )
+
+
+async def _get_user_whatsapp_account(
+    session: AsyncSession,
+    user: User,
+) -> ExternalChatAccount | None:
+    result = await session.execute(
+        select(ExternalChatAccount).where(
+            ExternalChatAccount.owner_user_id == user.id,
+            ExternalChatAccount.platform == ExternalChatPlatform.WHATSAPP,
+            ExternalChatAccount.is_system_account.is_(False),
+        )
+    )
+    return result.scalars().first()
+
+
+@router.post("/pair")
+async def request_pairing_code(
+    body: BaileysPairRequest,
+    user: User = Depends(current_active_user),
+    session: AsyncSession = Depends(get_async_session),
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    _ensure_baileys_enabled()
+    adapter = WhatsAppBaileysAdapter()
+    try:
+        pairing = await adapter.request_pairing_code(phone_number=body.phone_number)
+    except Exception as exc:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=502, detail=str(exc)) from exc
+
+    account = await _get_user_whatsapp_account(session, user)
+    if account is None:
+        account = ExternalChatAccount(
+            platform=ExternalChatPlatform.WHATSAPP,
+            mode=ExternalChatAccountMode.SELF_HOST_BYO,
+            owner_user_id=user.id,
+            owner_search_space_id=body.search_space_id,
+            is_system_account=False,
+            cursor_state={},
+            health_status=ExternalChatHealthStatus.UNKNOWN,
+        )
+        session.add(account)
+    else:
+        account.mode = ExternalChatAccountMode.SELF_HOST_BYO
+        account.owner_search_space_id = body.search_space_id
+        account.health_status = ExternalChatHealthStatus.UNKNOWN
+    account.last_health_check_at = datetime.now(UTC)
+    await session.commit()
+    await session.refresh(account)
+    return {"account_id": account.id, **pairing}
+
+
+@router.get("/health")
+async def bridge_health() -> dict[str, Any]:
+    _ensure_baileys_enabled()
+    adapter = WhatsAppBaileysAdapter()
+    try:
+        return await adapter.validate_credentials()
+    except Exception as exc:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=502, detail=str(exc)) from exc