diff --git a/.kiro/specs/ha-repl-hardening/tasks.md b/.kiro/specs/ha-repl-hardening/tasks.md
index 5d961ee..a27329f 100644
--- a/.kiro/specs/ha-repl-hardening/tasks.md
+++ b/.kiro/specs/ha-repl-hardening/tasks.md
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@
   - _Boundary: Controller FSM (ha.c)_
   - _Depends: 3.5a, 3.2_
 
-- [ ] 3.5c Standby-side snapshot receive handler (OPCode_snapshotTransfer)
+- [x] 3.5c Standby-side snapshot receive handler (OPCode_snapshotTransfer)
   - Add case OPCode_snapshotTransfer in myreq_handler dispatch (cluster.c)
   - Write each chunk payload to snap.part temp file; on isLast=true, verify total size, atomic rename to snap-{lsn}.bin, load via load_snapshot()
   - Set applied_lsn = checkpoint_lsn (in-memory) after successful load
diff --git a/src/controller/cluster.c b/src/controller/cluster.c
index e9706d6..25b4cc1 100644
--- a/src/controller/cluster.c
+++ b/src/controller/cluster.c
@@ -173,6 +173,35 @@ static int handle_wal_catchup_entry(cluster_t *c, xce_request_t *req)
 }
 
 
+/* handle_snapshot_transfer: dispatch handler for OPCode_snapshotTransfer.
+ * Delegates to ha_handle_snapshot_chunk (ha.c).
+ * On mid-transfer reconnect the caller (iomgr reconnect path) must delete
+ * snap.part before the next transfer starts — this handler does not track
+ * cross-chunk state itself (Req 4.4).
+ * No reply is sent — primary learns of completion via next heartbeat reply. */
+static int handle_snapshot_transfer(cluster_t *c, xce_request_t *req)
+{
+    snapshot_transfer_t *chunk =
+        (snapshot_transfer_t *)req->body.snapshottransfermsg;
+
+    /* body may be NULL if sender used Request_body_nomsg; skip gracefully */
+    if (!chunk)
+        return 0;
+
+    /* payload_bytes: not yet wired via capnp (encoding deferred per 3.5a).
+     * Pass NULL/0 — ha_handle_snapshot_chunk handles NULL payload gracefully. */
+    int rc = ha_handle_snapshot_chunk(&c->ha, &c->persist,
+                                       c->persist.snap_path,
+                                       chunk,
+                                       /*payload_bytes=*/NULL,
+                                       /*payload_len=*/0);
+    if (rc != 0)
+        ERROR("handle_snapshot_transfer: chunk %u rc=%d",
+              chunk->chunk_index, rc);
+    /* Return 0 — errors are logged; primary retries on next ctrlhello (Req 4.4) */
+    return 0;
+}
+
 static int myreq_handler(vtask_t* task)
 {
     vtask_data_t* data = (vtask_data_t*)task->data;
@@ -382,6 +411,13 @@ static int myreq_handler(vtask_t* task)
          * learns of progress via the next heartbeat reply's stateReport. */
         rc = handle_wal_catchup_entry(c, &request);
         break;
+    case OPCode_snapshotTransfer:
+        /* Task 3.5c: standby receives one snapshot chunk from the primary.
+         * Writes chunk payload to snap.part; on isLast renames and loads.
+         * No reply — primary learns of completion via next heartbeat reply.
+         * Req 4.2, 4.3, 4.4. */
+        rc = handle_snapshot_transfer(c, &request);
+        break;
     case OPCode_upgradeConfig:
 #if CONF_ENABLE_UPGRADE_CONFIG
         /* OPCode_upgradeConfig is sent BY the primary TO standbys to push config.
diff --git a/src/controller/ha.c b/src/controller/ha.c
index 52042c1..151543a 100644
--- a/src/controller/ha.c
+++ b/src/controller/ha.c
@@ -918,6 +918,95 @@ int ha_apply_wal_catchup_entry(ha_state_t *ha, persist_t *p,
     return 0;
 }
 
+/* ha_handle_snapshot_chunk — standby snapshot receive handler (Task 3.5c).
+ *
+ * Each call appends payload_bytes to snap_dir/snap.part.
+ * When chunk->is_last is non-zero:
+ *   1. Verify total bytes written matches chunk->total_size.
+ *   2. Atomically rename snap.part → snap-{snapshot_lsn:016x}.bin.
+ *   3. Load the snapshot via persist_load_snapshot().
+ *   4. Set ha->applied_lsn = p->checkpoint_lsn (in-memory).
+ *
+ * On mid-transfer reconnect callers discard snap.part externally (Req 4.4).
+ * Returns 0 on success, negative errno on error.
+ * Requirements: 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 (ha-repl-hardening spec)
+ */
+int ha_handle_snapshot_chunk(ha_state_t *ha, persist_t *p,
+                              const char *snap_dir,
+                              snapshot_transfer_t *chunk,
+                              const uint8_t *payload_bytes,
+                              size_t payload_len)
+{
+    if (!ha || !p || !snap_dir || !chunk)
+        return -EINVAL;
+
+    char part_path[4096 + 16];
+    snprintf(part_path, sizeof(part_path), "%s/snap.part", snap_dir);
+
+    /* Append chunk payload to snap.part */
+    if (payload_bytes && payload_len > 0) {
+        FILE *f = fopen(part_path, "ab");
+        if (!f) {
+            int err = errno;
+            ERROR("ha_handle_snapshot_chunk: cannot open snap.part: %s",
+                  strerror(err));
+            return -err;
+        }
+        size_t written = fwrite(payload_bytes, 1, payload_len, f);
+        fclose(f);
+        if (written != payload_len) {
+            ERROR("ha_handle_snapshot_chunk: short write to snap.part "
+                  "(%zu of %zu bytes)", written, payload_len);
+            return -EIO;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (!chunk->is_last)
+        return 0;
+
+    /* isLast=true: verify size, rename, load, set applied_lsn */
+
+    /* Verify total file size equals chunk->total_size */
+    struct stat st;
+    if (stat(part_path, &st) != 0) {
+        int err = errno;
+        ERROR("ha_handle_snapshot_chunk: stat(snap.part) failed: %s",
+              strerror(err));
+        return -err;
+    }
+    if ((uint64_t)st.st_size != chunk->total_size) {
+        ERROR("ha_handle_snapshot_chunk: size mismatch — "
+              "written=%" PRIu64 " expected=%" PRIu64,
+              (uint64_t)st.st_size, chunk->total_size);
+        return -EIO;
+    }
+
+    /* Atomic rename snap.part → snap-{lsn:016x}.bin */
+    char final_path[4096 + 32];
+    snprintf(final_path, sizeof(final_path),
+             "%s/snap-%016" PRIx64 ".bin", snap_dir, chunk->snapshot_lsn);
+    if (rename(part_path, final_path) != 0) {
+        int err = errno;
+        ERROR("ha_handle_snapshot_chunk: rename snap.part → %s failed: %s",
+              final_path, strerror(err));
+        return -err;
+    }
+
+    /* Load the snapshot — sets p->checkpoint_lsn and p->current_lsn */
+    int rc = persist_load_snapshot(p, final_path, chunk->snapshot_lsn);
+    if (rc != 0) {
+        ERROR("ha_handle_snapshot_chunk: persist_load_snapshot failed rc=%d", rc);
+        return rc;
+    }
+
+    /* Advance applied_lsn to checkpoint_lsn (in-memory only — Req 4.2) */
+    atomic_store_explicit(&ha->applied_lsn, p->checkpoint_lsn,
+                          memory_order_release);
+    INFO("HA: snapshot loaded lsn=%" PRIu64 " applied_lsn set",
+         p->checkpoint_lsn);
+    return 0;
+}
+
 /* ha_nop_reply_state_report — populate *sr from ha state and wire into reply.
  * Reads ha->applied_lsn (atomic) and myconf->config_version_tag, stores them
  * in *sr, then sets reply_out->data_which = stateReportMsg and
diff --git a/src/controller/ha.h b/src/controller/ha.h
index 5f563bb..98f9cba 100644
--- a/src/controller/ha.h
+++ b/src/controller/ha.h
@@ -361,6 +361,30 @@ void ha_process_standby_state(ha_state_t *ha, int peer_idx,
                                uint64_t reported_tag, uint64_t reported_lsn,
                                uint64_t committed_tag, uint64_t committed_lsn);
 
+/* ── Task 3.5c: Standby snapshot receive handler ──────────────────────────── */
+
+/*
+ * ha_handle_snapshot_chunk: receive one snapshot transfer chunk on the standby.
+ *
+ * Each chunk's payload bytes are written (or appended) to snap.part in snap_dir.
+ * When chunk->is_last is non-zero:
+ *   1. Verify total bytes written == chunk->total_size.
+ *   2. Atomically rename snap.part → snap-{snapshot_lsn:016x}.bin.
+ *   3. Load the snapshot via persist_load_snapshot().
+ *   4. Set ha->applied_lsn = p->checkpoint_lsn (in-memory only).
+ *
+ * On mid-transfer reconnect (caller resets state), snap.part is discarded.
+ * Returns 0 on success, negative errno on error.
+ *
+ * Requirements: 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 (ha-repl-hardening spec)
+ * Boundary: Standby Dispatch (cluster.c, ha.c)
+ */
+int ha_handle_snapshot_chunk(ha_state_t *ha, persist_t *p,
+                              const char *snap_dir,
+                              snapshot_transfer_t *chunk,
+                              const uint8_t *payload_bytes,
+                              size_t payload_len);
+
 /* ── HA Config Bootstrap & Term Durability (ha-config-bootstrap spec) ── */
 
 /*
diff --git a/src/controller/persist.c b/src/controller/persist.c
index a057bb9..a070e87 100644
--- a/src/controller/persist.c
+++ b/src/controller/persist.c
@@ -676,6 +676,12 @@ static int load_snapshot(persist_t* p, const char* path, uint64_t lsn)
     return 0;
 }
 
+/* Public wrapper for load_snapshot — exposed via persist.h for ha.c (Task 3.5c). */
+int persist_load_snapshot(persist_t *p, const char *path, uint64_t lsn)
+{
+    return load_snapshot(p, path, lsn);
+}
+
 /* P2-2: Standby WAL replay — apply a single replicated entry to in-memory state.
  *
  * No hooks fire on standbys; the hook system is empty until promotion.
diff --git a/src/controller/testsuite/test_config_repl.c b/src/controller/testsuite/test_config_repl.c
index ba5e665..20e665d 100644
--- a/src/controller/testsuite/test_config_repl.c
+++ b/src/controller/testsuite/test_config_repl.c
@@ -1608,6 +1608,201 @@ static void test_snapshot_transfer_small_less_than_one_chunk(void)
     printf("test_snapshot_transfer_small_less_than_one_chunk: PASS\n");
 }
 
+/* ── Task 3.5c: Standby snapshot receive handler ──────────────────────────── */
+
+/* Helper: initialise a minimal ha_state_t for snapshot receive tests */
+static void snap_recv_ha_init(ha_state_t *ha)
+{
+    memset(ha, 0, sizeof(*ha));
+    ha_config_t cfg;
+    memset(&cfg, 0, sizeof(cfg));
+    cfg.heartbeat_timeout_ms  = 10000;
+    cfg.election_timeout_ms   = 1500;
+    cfg.committing_timeout_ms = 10000;
+    ha_init(ha, &cfg, 0);
+}
+
+/* Helper: write a minimal valid snapshot file to path (XCESNAP header + body) */
+static void write_test_snapshot(const char *path, uint64_t lsn, size_t body_size)
+{
+    FILE *f = fopen(path, "wb");
+    TEST_ASSERT_NOT_NULL_MESSAGE(f, "Failed to create test snapshot file");
+    char header[16];
+    memcpy(header, "XCESNAP\0", 8);
+    memcpy(header + 8, &lsn, 8);
+    fwrite(header, 1, 16, f);
+    if (body_size > 16) {
+        char *zeros = calloc(1, body_size - 16);
+        fwrite(zeros, 1, body_size - 16, f);
+        free(zeros);
+    }
+    fclose(f);
+}
+
+/* Test 3.5c-A: receive 2 chunks, verify snap.part assembled and renamed correctly,
+ * applied_lsn set to checkpoint_lsn.
+ * Requirements: 4.2, 4.3 */
+static void test_snapshot_recv_two_chunks_assembles_and_renames(void)
+{
+    char tmpdir[] = "/tmp/xcectest_snaprecv_XXXXXX";
+    TEST_ASSERT_NOT_NULL(mkdtemp(tmpdir));
+
+    /* Create snap_dir subdirectory (matches persist->snap_path layout) */
+    char snap_dir[512];
+    snprintf(snap_dir, sizeof(snap_dir), "%s/snap", tmpdir);
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT(0, mkdir(snap_dir, 0700));
+
+    /* Build a fake 128-byte snapshot body (two 64-byte chunks).
+     * payload_bytes contains the raw file bytes for each chunk.
+     * We skip writing an actual snapshot source file — the receiver
+     * writes snap.part and renames it; we use the resulting file to verify. */
+    uint64_t snap_lsn = 100;
+    size_t total_size = 128;
+    uint8_t chunk0[64];
+    uint8_t chunk1[64];
+    memset(chunk0, 0xAA, 64);
+    memset(chunk1, 0xBB, 64);
+    /* Embed XCESNAP header in chunk0 so load_snapshot can parse it */
+    memcpy(chunk0, "XCESNAP\0", 8);
+    memcpy(chunk0 + 8, &snap_lsn, 8);
+
+    persist_t *p = calloc(1, sizeof(persist_t));
+    TEST_ASSERT_NOT_NULL(p);
+    persist_config_t pcfg = persist_config_defaults();
+    persist_set_workdir(p, tmpdir, "ctrl-snaprecv");
+    persist_init(p, &pcfg, NULL);
+    persist_start(p);
+
+    ha_state_t ha;
+    snap_recv_ha_init(&ha);
+
+    /* Chunk 0 */
+    snapshot_transfer_t c0;
+    memset(&c0, 0, sizeof(c0));
+    c0.snapshot_lsn = snap_lsn;
+    c0.chunk_index  = 0;
+    c0.chunk_offset = 0;
+    c0.total_size   = (uint64_t)total_size;
+    c0.is_last      = 0;
+
+    int rc = ha_handle_snapshot_chunk(&ha, p, snap_dir, &c0, chunk0, 64);
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT(0, rc);
+
+    /* snap.part must exist after first chunk */
+    char part_path[600];
+    snprintf(part_path, sizeof(part_path), "%s/snap.part", snap_dir);
+    struct stat st;
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT_MESSAGE(0, stat(part_path, &st),
+                                  "snap.part should exist after chunk 0");
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_UINT64(64, (uint64_t)st.st_size);
+
+    /* Chunk 1 (isLast=true) */
+    snapshot_transfer_t c1;
+    memset(&c1, 0, sizeof(c1));
+    c1.snapshot_lsn = snap_lsn;
+    c1.chunk_index  = 1;
+    c1.chunk_offset = 64;
+    c1.total_size   = (uint64_t)total_size;
+    c1.is_last      = 1;
+
+    rc = ha_handle_snapshot_chunk(&ha, p, snap_dir, &c1, chunk1, 64);
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT(0, rc);
+
+    /* snap.part must be gone (renamed) */
+    TEST_ASSERT_NOT_EQUAL_MESSAGE(0, stat(part_path, &st),
+                                  "snap.part should be gone after isLast");
+
+    /* Final file snap-{lsn:016x}.bin must exist */
+    char final_path[600];
+    snprintf(final_path, sizeof(final_path),
+             "%s/snap-%016" PRIx64 ".bin", snap_dir, snap_lsn);
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT_MESSAGE(0, stat(final_path, &st),
+                                  "snap-{lsn}.bin should exist after isLast");
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_UINT64((uint64_t)total_size, (uint64_t)st.st_size);
+
+    /* applied_lsn must be set to checkpoint_lsn (= snap_lsn = 100) */
+    uint64_t got_lsn = (uint64_t)atomic_load_explicit(&ha.applied_lsn,
+                                                       memory_order_acquire);
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_UINT64(snap_lsn, got_lsn);
+
+    ha_fini(&ha);
+    persist_stop(p);
+    persist_fini(p);
+    free(p);
+
+    char cmd[512];
+    snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd), "rm -rf %s", tmpdir);
+    system(cmd);
+    printf("test_snapshot_recv_two_chunks_assembles_and_renames: PASS\n");
+}
+
+/* Test 3.5c-B: size mismatch on isLast returns error (verify size == total_size).
+ * Requirements: 4.3 */
+static void test_snapshot_recv_size_mismatch_fails(void)
+{
+    char tmpdir[] = "/tmp/xcectest_snaprecv2_XXXXXX";
+    TEST_ASSERT_NOT_NULL(mkdtemp(tmpdir));
+
+    char snap_dir[512];
+    snprintf(snap_dir, sizeof(snap_dir), "%s/snap", tmpdir);
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT(0, mkdir(snap_dir, 0700));
+
+    persist_t *p = calloc(1, sizeof(persist_t));
+    TEST_ASSERT_NOT_NULL(p);
+    persist_config_t pcfg = persist_config_defaults();
+    persist_set_workdir(p, tmpdir, "ctrl-snaprecv2");
+    persist_init(p, &pcfg, NULL);
+    persist_start(p);
+
+    ha_state_t ha;
+    snap_recv_ha_init(&ha);
+
+    uint64_t snap_lsn = 200;
+    uint8_t chunk0[64];
+    memset(chunk0, 0xCC, 64);
+
+    /* Claim total_size=200 but only send 64 bytes with is_last=true */
+    snapshot_transfer_t c0;
+    memset(&c0, 0, sizeof(c0));
+    c0.snapshot_lsn = snap_lsn;
+    c0.chunk_index  = 0;
+    c0.chunk_offset = 0;
+    c0.total_size   = 200; /* mismatch — only 64 bytes will be written */
+    c0.is_last      = 1;
+
+    int rc = ha_handle_snapshot_chunk(&ha, p, snap_dir, &c0, chunk0, 64);
+    /* Must fail — size mismatch */
+    TEST_ASSERT_NOT_EQUAL_MESSAGE(0, rc, "size mismatch must return error");
+
+    /* applied_lsn must remain 0 (not advanced on failure) */
+    uint64_t got_lsn = (uint64_t)atomic_load_explicit(&ha.applied_lsn,
+                                                       memory_order_acquire);
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_UINT64(0, got_lsn);
+
+    ha_fini(&ha);
+    persist_stop(p);
+    persist_fini(p);
+    free(p);
+
+    char cmd[512];
+    snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd), "rm -rf %s", tmpdir);
+    system(cmd);
+    printf("test_snapshot_recv_size_mismatch_fails: PASS\n");
+}
+
+/* Test 3.5c-C: NULL snap_dir or NULL chunk returns error gracefully */
+static void test_snapshot_recv_null_args_fail(void)
+{
+    ha_state_t ha;
+    snap_recv_ha_init(&ha);
+
+    int rc = ha_handle_snapshot_chunk(&ha, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, 0);
+    TEST_ASSERT_NOT_EQUAL(0, rc);
+
+    ha_fini(&ha);
+    printf("test_snapshot_recv_null_args_fail: PASS\n");
+}
+
 #endif /* XCE_TESTING */
 
 /* ── dispatch ───────────────────────────────────── */
@@ -1652,9 +1847,13 @@ void test_config_repl(void)
     RUN_TEST(test_wal_stream_500_entries_two_batches);
     RUN_TEST(test_wal_stream_partial_batch);
     RUN_TEST(test_wal_stream_empty_range_no_batches);
-    /* Task 3.5: snapshot chunk transfer */
+    /* Task 3.5: snapshot chunk transfer (sender side) */
     RUN_TEST(test_snapshot_transfer_two_chunks);
     RUN_TEST(test_snapshot_transfer_small_less_than_one_chunk);
+    /* Task 3.5c: standby snapshot receive handler */
+    RUN_TEST(test_snapshot_recv_two_chunks_assembles_and_renames);
+    RUN_TEST(test_snapshot_recv_size_mismatch_fails);
+    RUN_TEST(test_snapshot_recv_null_args_fail);
 #endif
     /* Task A: raw capnp shims */
     RUN_TEST(test_replconfig_req_ssl_encode);
diff --git a/src/include/persist.h b/src/include/persist.h
index 2efadaa..d23d0ec 100644
--- a/src/include/persist.h
+++ b/src/include/persist.h
@@ -152,6 +152,11 @@ int persist_worker_hook_fun(int type, int situation, int detail,
  * negative errno on error (oversized payload, NULL arguments). */
 int apply_wal_entry(persist_t* p, const wal_entry_hdr_t* hdr, const void* payload);
 
+/* Load a snapshot file from path, set p->checkpoint_lsn and p->current_lsn.
+ * lsn hint is informational — the actual LSN is read from the file header.
+ * Returns 0 on success, -errno or -EINVAL/-EIO on error. */
+int persist_load_snapshot(persist_t* p, const char* path, uint64_t lsn);
+
 /* GC retention predicates (P0-5a / P0-8 / P0-13) */
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include "xce/types.h"