diff --git a/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/Common/Interfaces/IImapEmailService.cs b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/Common/Interfaces/IImapEmailService.cs
index ad27997..0fd507f 100644
--- a/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/Common/Interfaces/IImapEmailService.cs
+++ b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/Common/Interfaces/IImapEmailService.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using DigitalData.MessagingService.Abstraction;
+using DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.Common.Models.MailSearch;
 
 namespace DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.Common.Interfaces;
 
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ public interface IImapEmailService
     /// <param name="cancellationToken">Cancellation token.</param>
     Task<IEnumerable<ReceivedEmailContext>> FetchEmailsAsync(
         EmailAccountDto account,
-        FetchEmailsQuery.SearchFilter filter,
+        MailSearchFilter filter,
         CancellationToken cancellationToken = default);
 
     /// <summary>
diff --git a/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/Common/Models/MailSearch/DateFilter.cs b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/Common/Models/MailSearch/DateFilter.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4d57386
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/Common/Models/MailSearch/DateFilter.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+namespace DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.Common.Models.MailSearch;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Constrains the search to messages within an arrival-date range.
+/// </summary>
+/// <remarks>
+/// At least one of <see cref="After"/> or <see cref="Before"/> must be provided.
+/// When both are set <see cref="After"/> must be earlier than <see cref="Before"/>.
+/// Both bounds are <b>inclusive</b>.
+/// </remarks>
+/// <param name="After">Earliest date to include (inclusive). Maps to IMAP <c>SINCE</c>.</param>
+/// <param name="Before">Latest date to include (inclusive). Maps to IMAP <c>BEFORE</c> (next day is used internally).</param>
+public record DateFilter(DateTime? After = null, DateTime? Before = null);
diff --git a/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/Common/Models/MailSearch/MailSearchFilter.cs b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/Common/Models/MailSearch/MailSearchFilter.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f37b3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/Common/Models/MailSearch/MailSearchFilter.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+namespace DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.Common.Models.MailSearch;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Describes all criteria and options used when searching an IMAP mailbox.
+/// </summary>
+/// <remarks>
+/// All text-match properties are <b>case-insensitive</b> substring searches performed server-side via IMAP SEARCH.
+/// Combine multiple criteria freely; an implicit AND is applied across all non-null fields.
+/// </remarks>
+public record MailSearchFilter
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Mailbox folder to search. Defaults to <c>"INBOX"</c>.
+    /// </summary>
+    public string Folder { get; init; } = "INBOX";
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// When <see langword="true"/>, only unread (UNSEEN) messages are returned.
+    /// </summary>
+    public bool UnseenOnly { get; init; } = false;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// When <see langword="true"/>, only messages that carry at least one attachment are returned.
+    /// Filtered client-side after fetching the message envelope; does not affect the IMAP SEARCH query.
+    /// </summary>
+    public bool HasAttachments { get; init; } = false;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Maximum number of messages to retrieve. <c>0</c> means unlimited.
+    /// Applied after sorting; defaults to <c>50</c>.
+    /// </summary>
+    public int MaxCount { get; init; } = 50;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Controls the order of the returned messages. Defaults to <see cref="MailSortOrder.NewestFirst"/>.
+    /// </summary>
+    public MailSortOrder SortOrder { get; init; } = MailSortOrder.NewestFirst;
+
+    // ── Text filters ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Case-insensitive substring the message subject must contain.
+    /// Maps to IMAP <c>SUBJECT</c>.
+    /// </summary>
+    public string? SubjectContains { get; init; } = null;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Case-insensitive substring that must appear in the <c>From</c> header.
+    /// Maps to IMAP <c>FROM</c>.
+    /// </summary>
+    public string? SenderContains { get; init; } = null;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Case-insensitive substring that must appear in <c>To</c> or <c>Cc</c>.
+    /// Maps to IMAP <c>TO</c>.
+    /// </summary>
+    public string? RecipientContains { get; init; } = null;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Case-insensitive substring that must appear anywhere in the message body (text or HTML part).
+    /// Maps to IMAP <c>BODY</c>.
+    /// </summary>
+    public string? BodyContains { get; init; } = null;
+
+    // ── Structured filters ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Constrains results to a specific UID or a UID range.
+    /// See <see cref="UidFilter"/> for mutual-exclusion rules between its fields.
+    /// </summary>
+    public UidFilter? Uid { get; init; } = null;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Constrains results to messages received within a date range.
+    /// See <see cref="DateFilter"/> for rules between its fields.
+    /// </summary>
+    public DateFilter? Date { get; init; } = null;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/Common/Models/MailSearch/MailSortOrder.cs b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/Common/Models/MailSearch/MailSortOrder.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c18970d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/Common/Models/MailSearch/MailSortOrder.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+namespace DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.Common.Models.MailSearch;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Controls the order in which fetched messages are returned.
+/// </summary>
+public enum MailSortOrder
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Newest messages first (default).
+    /// </summary>
+    NewestFirst,
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Oldest messages first.
+    /// </summary>
+    OldestFirst
+}
diff --git a/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/Common/Models/MailSearch/UidFilter.cs b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/Common/Models/MailSearch/UidFilter.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3981850
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/Common/Models/MailSearch/UidFilter.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+namespace DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.Common.Models.MailSearch;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Constrains the search to a specific UID or a UID range.
+/// </summary>
+/// <remarks>
+/// Use <see cref="Absolute"/> for an exact single-message lookup.
+/// Use <see cref="Min"/> and/or <see cref="Max"/> for an open or closed range.
+/// Mixing <see cref="Absolute"/> with <see cref="Min"/> or <see cref="Max"/> is not allowed.
+/// </remarks>
+/// <param name="Min">Lower bound of the UID range (inclusive). Ignored when <see cref="Absolute"/> is set.</param>
+/// <param name="Max">Upper bound of the UID range (inclusive). Ignored when <see cref="Absolute"/> is set.</param>
+/// <param name="Absolute">Exact UID to match. When set, <see cref="Min"/> and <see cref="Max"/> must be <see langword="null"/>.</param>
+public record UidFilter(long? Min = null, long? Max = null, long? Absolute = null);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/EmailReceiving/Queries/FetchEmailsQuery.cs b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/EmailReceiving/Queries/FetchEmailsQuery.cs
index 7d8796e..9b1a6bb 100644
--- a/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/EmailReceiving/Queries/FetchEmailsQuery.cs
+++ b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/EmailReceiving/Queries/FetchEmailsQuery.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-using DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.Common.Interfaces;
-using DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.EmailAccount.Queries;
 using DigitalData.MessagingService.Abstraction;
+using DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.Common.Interfaces;
+using DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.Common.Models.MailSearch;
+using DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.EmailAccount.Queries;
 using DigitalData.MessagingService.Domain.Exceptions;
 using MediatR;
 
@@ -19,25 +20,7 @@ public record FetchEmailsQuery : IRequest<IEnumerable<ReceivedEmailContext>>
     /// <summary>
     /// Mail query used to filter and limit the emails retrieved.
     /// </summary>
-    public SearchFilter Mail { get; init; } = new();
-
-    public record SearchFilter
-    {
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Mailbox folder to read from (default: "INBOX").
-        /// </summary>
-        public string Folder { get; init; } = "INBOX";
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// When <see langword="true"/> returns only unread messages.
-        /// </summary>
-        public bool UnseenOnly { get; init; } = false;
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Maximum number of messages to retrieve (most-recent first). 0 = unlimited.
-        /// </summary>
-        public int MaxCount { get; init; } = 50;
-    }
+    public MailSearchFilter Mail { get; init; } = new();
 }
 
 public class FetchEmailsQueryHandler(
diff --git a/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/EmailReceiving/Validators/DateFilterValidator.cs b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/EmailReceiving/Validators/DateFilterValidator.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..03b7e36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/EmailReceiving/Validators/DateFilterValidator.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+using DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.Common.Models.MailSearch;
+using FluentValidation;
+
+namespace DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.EmailReceiving.Validators;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Validates a <see cref="DateFilter"/> value object.
+/// </summary>
+public class DateFilterValidator : AbstractValidator<DateFilter>
+{
+    public DateFilterValidator()
+    {
+        // At least one field must be provided
+        RuleFor(x => x)
+            .Must(d => d.After is not null || d.Before is not null)
+            .WithName("Date")
+            .WithMessage("DateFilter must specify at least one of: After or Before.");
+
+        // Dates must not be in the future
+        RuleFor(x => x.After)
+            .LessThanOrEqualTo(DateTime.UtcNow)
+            .WithMessage("Date.After must not be in the future.")
+            .When(x => x.After is not null);
+
+        RuleFor(x => x.Before)
+            .LessThanOrEqualTo(DateTime.UtcNow)
+            .WithMessage("Date.Before must not be in the future.")
+            .When(x => x.Before is not null);
+
+        // Range coherence: After must be earlier than Before
+        RuleFor(x => x)
+            .Must(d => d.After!.Value < d.Before!.Value)
+            .WithName("Date.Range")
+            .WithMessage("Date.After must be earlier than Date.Before.")
+            .When(x => x.After is not null && x.Before is not null);
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/EmailReceiving/Validators/FetchEmailsQueryValidator.cs b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/EmailReceiving/Validators/FetchEmailsQueryValidator.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f19a49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/EmailReceiving/Validators/FetchEmailsQueryValidator.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+using DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.EmailReceiving.Queries;
+using FluentValidation;
+
+namespace DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.EmailReceiving.Validators;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Validates a <see cref="FetchEmailsQuery"/> before it is handled by <see cref="FetchEmailsQueryHandler"/>.
+/// </summary>
+public class FetchEmailsQueryValidator : AbstractValidator<FetchEmailsQuery>
+{
+    public FetchEmailsQueryValidator()
+    {
+        RuleFor(x => x.Account)
+            .NotNull()
+            .WithMessage("Account query must not be null.");
+
+        RuleFor(x => x.Mail)
+            .NotNull()
+            .WithMessage("Mail search filter must not be null.")
+            .SetValidator(new MailSearchFilterValidator());
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/EmailReceiving/Validators/MailSearchFilterValidator.cs b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/EmailReceiving/Validators/MailSearchFilterValidator.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..51696cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/EmailReceiving/Validators/MailSearchFilterValidator.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+using DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.Common.Models.MailSearch;
+using FluentValidation;
+
+namespace DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.EmailReceiving.Validators;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Validates a <see cref="MailSearchFilter"/> instance before it is dispatched to the IMAP service.
+/// </summary>
+public class MailSearchFilterValidator : AbstractValidator<MailSearchFilter>
+{
+    public MailSearchFilterValidator()
+    {
+        RuleFor(x => x.Folder)
+            .NotEmpty()
+            .WithMessage("Folder must not be empty.")
+            .MaximumLength(255)
+            .WithMessage("Folder name must not exceed 255 characters.");
+
+        RuleFor(x => x.MaxCount)
+            .GreaterThanOrEqualTo(0)
+            .WithMessage("MaxCount must be 0 (unlimited) or a positive number.");
+
+        RuleFor(x => x.SubjectContains)
+            .MaximumLength(500)
+            .WithMessage("SubjectContains must not exceed 500 characters.")
+            .When(x => x.SubjectContains is not null);
+
+        RuleFor(x => x.SenderContains)
+            .MaximumLength(320)
+            .WithMessage("SenderContains must not exceed 320 characters.")
+            .When(x => x.SenderContains is not null);
+
+        RuleFor(x => x.RecipientContains)
+            .MaximumLength(320)
+            .WithMessage("RecipientContains must not exceed 320 characters.")
+            .When(x => x.RecipientContains is not null);
+
+        RuleFor(x => x.BodyContains)
+            .MaximumLength(1000)
+            .WithMessage("BodyContains must not exceed 1000 characters.")
+            .When(x => x.BodyContains is not null);
+
+        RuleFor(x => x.Uid)
+            .SetValidator(new UidFilterValidator()!)
+            .When(x => x.Uid is not null);
+
+        RuleFor(x => x.Date)
+            .SetValidator(new DateFilterValidator()!)
+            .When(x => x.Date is not null);
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/EmailReceiving/Validators/UidFilterValidator.cs b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/EmailReceiving/Validators/UidFilterValidator.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b1e0b0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/DigitalData.MessagingService.Application/EmailReceiving/Validators/UidFilterValidator.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+using DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.Common.Models.MailSearch;
+using FluentValidation;
+
+namespace DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.EmailReceiving.Validators;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Validates a <see cref="UidFilter"/> value object.
+/// </summary>
+public class UidFilterValidator : AbstractValidator<UidFilter>
+{
+    public UidFilterValidator()
+    {
+        // Absolute and range are mutually exclusive
+        RuleFor(x => x)
+            .Must(u => u.Absolute is null || (u.Min is null && u.Max is null))
+            .WithName("Uid.Absolute")
+            .WithMessage("Uid.Absolute cannot be combined with Uid.Min or Uid.Max. Use either an exact UID or a range.");
+
+        // At least one field must be provided
+        RuleFor(x => x)
+            .Must(u => u.Absolute is not null || u.Min is not null || u.Max is not null)
+            .WithName("Uid")
+            .WithMessage("UidFilter must specify at least one of: Absolute, Min, or Max.");
+
+        // All UID values must be positive
+        RuleFor(x => x.Absolute)
+            .GreaterThan(0)
+            .WithMessage("Uid.Absolute must be a positive number.")
+            .When(x => x.Absolute is not null);
+
+        RuleFor(x => x.Min)
+            .GreaterThan(0)
+            .WithMessage("Uid.Min must be a positive number.")
+            .When(x => x.Min is not null);
+
+        RuleFor(x => x.Max)
+            .GreaterThan(0)
+            .WithMessage("Uid.Max must be a positive number.")
+            .When(x => x.Max is not null);
+
+        // Range coherence: Min must be less than or equal to Max
+        RuleFor(x => x)
+            .Must(u => u.Min!.Value <= u.Max!.Value)
+            .WithName("Uid.Range")
+            .WithMessage("Uid.Min must be less than or equal to Uid.Max.")
+            .When(x => x.Min is not null && x.Max is not null);
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/infrastructure/DigitalData.MessagingService.Infrastructure/Services/LimilabsImapEmailService.cs b/src/infrastructure/DigitalData.MessagingService.Infrastructure/Services/LimilabsImapEmailService.cs
index f55f51a..da57906 100644
--- a/src/infrastructure/DigitalData.MessagingService.Infrastructure/Services/LimilabsImapEmailService.cs
+++ b/src/infrastructure/DigitalData.MessagingService.Infrastructure/Services/LimilabsImapEmailService.cs
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
-using System.Text;
-using DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.Common.Interfaces;
 using DigitalData.MessagingService.Abstraction;
+using DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.Common.Interfaces;
+using DigitalData.MessagingService.Application.Common.Models.MailSearch;
 using DigitalData.MessagingService.Domain.Exceptions;
 using DigitalData.MessagingService.Infrastructure.Services.Extensions;
 using Limilabs.Client.IMAP;
 using Limilabs.Mail;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+using System.Text;
 
 namespace DigitalData.MessagingService.Infrastructure.Services;
 
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ public class LimilabsImapEmailService(
     // Public API
     public async Task<IEnumerable<ReceivedEmailContext>> FetchEmailsAsync(
         EmailAccountDto account,
-        FetchEmailsQuery.SearchFilter filter,
+        MailSearchFilter filter,
         CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
     {
         using var imap = new Imap();
@@ -34,17 +35,59 @@ public class LimilabsImapEmailService(
             await ConnectAndAuthenticateAsync(imap, account);
             await SelectFolderAsync(imap, filter.Folder);
 
-            // Get UIDs to fetch
-            List<long> uids = filter.UnseenOnly
-                ? [.. await imap.SearchAsync(Flag.Unseen, cancellationToken)]
-                : [.. await imap.GetAllAsync(cancellationToken)];
+            List<ICriterion> criterions = [];
 
-            // Most-recent first; honour maxCount
-            uids.Reverse();
-            if (filter.MaxCount > 0 && uids.Count() > filter.MaxCount)
+            if (filter.UnseenOnly)
+                criterions.Add((ICriterion)Flag.Unseen);
+
+            if (filter.SubjectContains is not null)
+                criterions.Add(Expression.Subject(filter.SubjectContains));
+
+            if (filter.SenderContains is not null)
+                criterions.Add(Expression.From(filter.SenderContains));
+
+            if (filter.RecipientContains is not null)
+                criterions.Add(Expression.To(filter.RecipientContains));
+
+            if (filter.BodyContains is not null)
+                criterions.Add(Expression.Body(filter.BodyContains));
+
+            if (filter.Uid is UidFilter uidF)
+            {
+                if (uidF.Absolute is long exactUid)
+                {
+                    criterions.Add(Expression.UID(new Limilabs.Client.IMAP.Range(exactUid, exactUid)));
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    // Open-ended ranges: fall back to 1 / null when one side is omitted
+                    long lo = uidF.Min ?? 1L;
+                    long? hi = uidF.Max;
+                    criterions.Add(Expression.UID(new Limilabs.Client.IMAP.Range(lo, hi)));
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (filter.Date is DateFilter dateF)
+            {
+                if (dateF.After is DateTime after)
+                    criterions.Add(Expression.SentSince(after.Date));
+
+                // IMAP BEFORE is exclusive, so add one day to make the bound inclusive
+                if (dateF.Before is DateTime before)
+                    criterions.Add(Expression.SentBefore(before.Date.AddDays(1)));
+            }
+
+            // Get UIDs to fetch
+            List<long> uids = [.. await imap.SearchAsync(Expression.And([.. criterions]), cancellationToken)];
+
+            // Apply requested sort order
+            if (filter.SortOrder == MailSortOrder.NewestFirst)
+                uids.Reverse();
+
+            if (filter.MaxCount > 0 && uids.Count > filter.MaxCount)
                 uids = [.. uids.Take(filter.MaxCount)];
 
-            var results = new List<ReceivedEmailContext>(uids.Count());
+            var results = new List<ReceivedEmailContext>(uids.Count);
 
             foreach (var uid in uids)
             {
@@ -52,10 +95,14 @@ public class LimilabsImapEmailService(
 
                 try
                 {
-                    var eml  = await imap.PeekMessageByUIDAsync(uid, cancellationToken);
-                    var mail = new MailBuilder().CreateFromEml(eml);
+                    var eml   = await imap.PeekMessageByUIDAsync(uid, cancellationToken);
+                    var mail  = new MailBuilder().CreateFromEml(eml);
                     var flags = await imap.GetFlagsByUIDAsync(uid, cancellationToken);
 
+                    // Client-side attachment filter — IMAP has no native criterion for this
+                    if (filter.HasAttachments && mail.Attachments.Count == 0 && mail.Visuals.Count == 0)
+                        continue;
+
                     results.Add(MapToContext(uid, mail, flags));
                 }
                 catch (Exception ex)