diff --git a/backend/tests/test_auth_es256.py b/backend/tests/test_auth_es256.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5132d38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_auth_es256.py
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+"""
+TDD scaffold for Phase 7.3: ES256 algorithm upgrade, startup token rotation,
+and remember_me session TTL — all stubs xfail strict=True until promoted.
+"""
+import base64
+import hashlib
+import json
+import time
+import uuid
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
+
+import pytest
+import pytest_asyncio
+from cryptography.hazmat.primitives import serialization
+from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.asymmetric import ec
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def es256_keys(monkeypatch):
+    """Patch settings with a freshly generated P-256 key pair for each test."""
+    k = ec.generate_private_key(ec.SECP256R1())
+    priv = base64.b64encode(
+        k.private_bytes(
+            serialization.Encoding.PEM,
+            serialization.PrivateFormat.PKCS8,
+            serialization.NoEncryption(),
+        )
+    ).decode()
+    pub = base64.b64encode(
+        k.public_key().public_bytes(
+            serialization.Encoding.PEM,
+            serialization.PublicFormat.SubjectPublicKeyInfo,
+        )
+    ).decode()
+    monkeypatch.setattr("config.settings.jwt_private_key", priv, raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("config.settings.jwt_public_key", pub, raising=False)
+
+
+# ── ES256 algorithm stubs ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+@pytest.mark.xfail(strict=True, reason="ES256-01: not yet implemented")
+def test_access_token_uses_es256():
+    pytest.xfail("not yet implemented")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.xfail(strict=True, reason="ES256-02: not yet implemented")
+def test_hs256_token_rejected():
+    pytest.xfail("not yet implemented")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.xfail(strict=True, reason="ES256-03: not yet implemented")
+def test_reset_token_uses_es256():
+    pytest.xfail("not yet implemented")
+
+
+# ── Startup token rotation stubs ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+@pytest.mark.xfail(strict=True, reason="ES256-04: not yet implemented")
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_startup_rotation_revokes_tokens(db_session):
+    pytest.xfail("not yet implemented")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.xfail(strict=True, reason="ES256-05: not yet implemented")
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_startup_rotation_idempotent(db_session):
+    pytest.xfail("not yet implemented")
+
+
+# ── Remember-me TTL stubs ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+@pytest.mark.xfail(strict=True, reason="RM-01: not yet implemented")
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_default_ttl_16_hours(async_client, db_session, auth_user):
+    pytest.xfail("not yet implemented")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.xfail(strict=True, reason="RM-02: not yet implemented")
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_remember_me_ttl_30_days(async_client, db_session, auth_user):
+    pytest.xfail("not yet implemented")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.xfail(strict=True, reason="RM-03: not yet implemented")
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_remember_me_cookie_max_age(async_client, auth_user):
+    pytest.xfail("not yet implemented")
+
+
+# ── Config field stubs ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+@pytest.mark.xfail(strict=True, reason="CFG-01: not yet implemented")
+def test_settings_has_jwt_keys():
+    pytest.xfail("not yet implemented")