diff --git a/app/Models/User.php b/app/Models/User.php
index 6106e585..3e4586a1 100644
--- a/app/Models/User.php
+++ b/app/Models/User.php
@@ -2,8 +2,9 @@
 
 namespace App\Models;
 
-// use Illuminate\Contracts\Auth\MustVerifyEmail;
 use App\Enums\DripEmailType;
+use App\Notifications\VerifyEmailNotification;
+use Illuminate\Contracts\Auth\MustVerifyEmail;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Builder;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Concerns\HasUuids;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Factories\HasFactory;
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ use Laravel\Cashier\Billable;
 use Laravel\Fortify\TwoFactorAuthenticatable;
 use Laravel\Pennant\Concerns\HasFeatures;
 
-class User extends Authenticatable
+class User extends Authenticatable implements MustVerifyEmail
 {
     /** @use HasFactory<\Database\Factories\UserFactory> */
     use Billable, HasFactory, HasFeatures, HasUuids, Notifiable, TwoFactorAuthenticatable;
@@ -133,4 +134,9 @@ class User extends Authenticatable
     {
         return $this->email === config('app.demo.email');
     }
+
+    public function sendEmailVerificationNotification(): void
+    {
+        $this->notify(new VerifyEmailNotification);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/app/Notifications/VerifyEmailNotification.php b/app/Notifications/VerifyEmailNotification.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..87aa0d50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/Notifications/VerifyEmailNotification.php
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace App\Notifications;
+
+use Illuminate\Auth\Notifications\VerifyEmail;
+use Illuminate\Notifications\Messages\MailMessage;
+
+class VerifyEmailNotification extends VerifyEmail
+{
+    public function toMail($notifiable): MailMessage
+    {
+        $verificationUrl = $this->verificationUrl($notifiable);
+
+        return (new MailMessage)
+            ->from(config('mail.from.address', 'hello@example.com'), 'Victor')
+            ->subject('Verify Your Email - Whisper Money')
+            ->markdown('mail.verify-email', [
+                'userName' => $notifiable->name,
+                'verificationUrl' => $verificationUrl,
+            ]);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/resources/views/mail/verify-email.blade.php b/resources/views/mail/verify-email.blade.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..96282349
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/views/mail/verify-email.blade.php
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+<x-mail::message>
+# Verify your email, {{ $userName }}!
+
+Hi! I'm Victor, the founder of Whisper Money. Thanks for signing up — I just need you to verify your email address to get started.
+
+Once verified, you'll be able to set up your encryption key and start tracking your finances with full privacy.
+
+<x-mail::button :url="$verificationUrl">
+Verify Email Address
+</x-mail::button>
+
+If you didn't create a Whisper Money account, you can safely ignore this email.
+
+Best,<br>
+Víctor F,<br>
+Founder of Whisper Money
+
+<x-mail::subcopy>
+If you're having trouble clicking the "Verify Email Address" button, copy and paste the URL below into your web browser: <span class="break-all">[{{ $verificationUrl }}]({{ $verificationUrl }})</span>
+</x-mail::subcopy>
+</x-mail::message>
diff --git a/storage/videos/ac0945c527f014b9cd657f18c911f496.webm b/storage/videos/ac0945c527f014b9cd657f18c911f496.webm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9601175d
Binary files /dev/null and b/storage/videos/ac0945c527f014b9cd657f18c911f496.webm differ
diff --git a/storage/videos/email-verification-page.png b/storage/videos/email-verification-page.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dad4b718
Binary files /dev/null and b/storage/videos/email-verification-page.png differ
diff --git a/tests/Browser/AuthenticationTest.php b/tests/Browser/AuthenticationTest.php
index a3515334..464db8a8 100644
--- a/tests/Browser/AuthenticationTest.php
+++ b/tests/Browser/AuthenticationTest.php
@@ -12,9 +12,7 @@ it('can register a new user', function () {
         ->fill('password_confirmation', 'password123')
         ->click('@register-user-button')
         ->wait(2)
-        ->assertSee('Welcome to')
-        ->assertSee('Whisper Money')
-        ->assertPathIs('/onboarding')
+        ->assertPathIs('/email/verify')
         ->assertNoJavascriptErrors();
 
     $this->assertDatabaseHas('users', [
diff --git a/tests/Browser/OnboardingFlowTest.php b/tests/Browser/OnboardingFlowTest.php
index 5d579cc5..bf380192 100644
--- a/tests/Browser/OnboardingFlowTest.php
+++ b/tests/Browser/OnboardingFlowTest.php
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use App\Models\User;
 // Basic Redirect Tests
 // =============================================================================
 
-it('redirects new registration to onboarding page', function () {
+it('redirects new registration to email verification', function () {
     $page = visit('/register');
 
     $page->assertSee('Create an account')
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ it('redirects new registration to onboarding page', function () {
         ->fill('password_confirmation', 'password123456')
         ->click('@register-user-button')
         ->wait(3)
-        ->assertPathIs('/onboarding')
+        ->assertPathIs('/email/verify')
         ->assertNoJavascriptErrors();
 
     $this->assertDatabaseHas('users', [
@@ -365,17 +365,15 @@ it('completes onboarding flow through account creation', function () {
     // Create a bank for the account creation step
     Bank::factory()->create(['name' => 'Chase Bank']);
 
-    $page = visit('/register');
+    $user = User::factory()->create([
+        'onboarded_at' => null,
+    ]);
 
-    // Step 1: Register
-    $page->assertSee('Create an account')
-        ->fill('name', 'E2E Test User')
-        ->fill('email', 'e2e-onboarding@example.com')
-        ->fill('password', 'SecurePassword123!')
-        ->fill('password_confirmation', 'SecurePassword123!')
-        ->click('@register-user-button')
-        ->wait(3)
-        ->assertPathIs('/onboarding')
+    $this->actingAs($user);
+
+    $page = visit('/onboarding');
+
+    $page->assertPathIs('/onboarding')
         ->assertNoJavascriptErrors();
 
     // Step 2: Welcome
@@ -428,7 +426,7 @@ it('completes onboarding flow through account creation', function () {
         ->assertNoJavascriptErrors();
 
     // Verify user's encryption was set up
-    $user = User::where('email', 'e2e-onboarding@example.com')->first();
+    $user->refresh();
     expect($user->encryption_salt)->not->toBeNull();
 
     // Verify account was created
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Auth/EmailVerificationTest.php b/tests/Feature/Auth/EmailVerificationTest.php
index 67e8ef08..81139ef6 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/Auth/EmailVerificationTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/Auth/EmailVerificationTest.php
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ test('email verification screen can be rendered', function () {
 
     $response = $this->actingAs($user)->get(route('verification.notice'));
 
-    $response->assertStatus(200);
+    $response->assertSuccessful();
 });
 
 test('email can be verified', function () {
@@ -90,3 +90,23 @@ test('already verified user visiting verification link is redirected without fir
     expect($user->fresh()->hasVerifiedEmail())->toBeTrue();
     Event::assertNotDispatched(Verified::class);
 });
+
+test('unverified user is redirected to verification notice from protected routes', function (string $route) {
+    $user = User::factory()->unverified()->onboarded()->create();
+
+    $this->actingAs($user)->get(route($route))
+        ->assertRedirect(route('verification.notice'));
+})->with([
+    'subscribe',
+    'onboarding',
+    'dashboard',
+]);
+
+test('verified user is not redirected to verification notice', function () {
+    $user = User::factory()->onboarded()->create();
+
+    $response = $this->actingAs($user)->get(route('subscribe'));
+
+    expect($response->headers->get('Location'))
+        ->not->toBe(route('verification.notice'));
+});
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Auth/RegistrationTest.php b/tests/Feature/Auth/RegistrationTest.php
index 66293ad6..7b76ba19 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/Auth/RegistrationTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/Auth/RegistrationTest.php
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 <?php
 
+use App\Models\User;
+use App\Notifications\VerifyEmailNotification;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Notification;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Queue;
 
 test('registration screen can be rendered', function () {
     $response = $this->get(route('register'));
 
-    $response->assertStatus(200);
+    $response->assertSuccessful();
 });
 
 test('new users can register', function () {
@@ -21,3 +24,33 @@ test('new users can register', function () {
     $this->assertAuthenticated();
     $response->assertRedirect(route('onboarding', absolute: false));
 });
+
+test('new users receive a verification email on registration', function () {
+    Notification::fake();
+
+    $this->post(route('register.store'), [
+        'name' => 'Test User',
+        'email' => 'test@example.com',
+        'password' => 'password',
+        'password_confirmation' => 'password',
+    ]);
+
+    $user = User::where('email', 'test@example.com')->first();
+
+    Notification::assertSentTo($user, VerifyEmailNotification::class);
+});
+
+test('new users are not verified after registration', function () {
+    Queue::fake();
+
+    $this->post(route('register.store'), [
+        'name' => 'Test User',
+        'email' => 'test@example.com',
+        'password' => 'password',
+        'password_confirmation' => 'password',
+    ]);
+
+    $user = User::where('email', 'test@example.com')->first();
+
+    expect($user->hasVerifiedEmail())->toBeFalse();
+});
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Auth/VerificationNotificationTest.php b/tests/Feature/Auth/VerificationNotificationTest.php
index 90f75af9..b664e372 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/Auth/VerificationNotificationTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/Auth/VerificationNotificationTest.php
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?php
 
 use App\Models\User;
-use Illuminate\Auth\Notifications\VerifyEmail;
+use App\Notifications\VerifyEmailNotification;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Notification;
 
 test('sends verification notification', function () {
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ test('sends verification notification', function () {
         ->post(route('verification.send'))
         ->assertRedirect(route('home'));
 
-    Notification::assertSentTo($user, VerifyEmail::class);
+    Notification::assertSentTo($user, VerifyEmailNotification::class);
 });
 
 test('does not send verification notification if email is verified', function () {