diff --git a/migrations.py b/migrations.py
index 6461d57..c4a55ae 100644
--- a/migrations.py
+++ b/migrations.py
@@ -275,5 +275,18 @@ async def m012_chat_schedules_seen_and_notification_jobs(db):
             created_at TIMESTAMP NOT NULL DEFAULT {db.timestamp_now},
             updated_at TIMESTAMP NOT NULL DEFAULT {db.timestamp_now}
         );
+    """
+    )
+
+
+async def m013_categories_nostr_dm_type(db):
+    """
+    Add the Nostr direct-message type to category notifications.
+    """
+
+    await db.execute(
+        """
+        ALTER TABLE chat.categories
+        ADD COLUMN notify_nostr_dm_type TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'nip04';
         """
     )
diff --git a/models.py b/models.py
index 8646bcc..7b98eca 100644
--- a/models.py
+++ b/models.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from enum import Enum
 
 from lnbits.db import FilterModel
 from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
@@ -6,6 +7,12 @@
 DEFAULT_PUBLIC_NOTE = "we aim to reply as soon as possible but it may take up to 24hrs for a reply"
 
 
+class NostrDmType(str, Enum):
+    nip04 = "nip04"
+    nip17 = "nip17"
+    nip17b = "nip17b"
+
+
 class CreateCategories(BaseModel):
     name: str
     wallet: str | None = None
@@ -20,6 +27,7 @@ class CreateCategories(BaseModel):
     public_note: str | None = DEFAULT_PUBLIC_NOTE
     notify_telegram: str | None = None
     notify_nostr: str | None = None
+    notify_nostr_dm_type: NostrDmType = NostrDmType.nip04
     notify_email: str | None = None
     schedule_enabled: bool | None = False
     schedule_timezone: str | None = "Europe/London"
@@ -48,6 +56,7 @@ class Categories(BaseModel):
     public_note: str | None = DEFAULT_PUBLIC_NOTE
     notify_telegram: str | None = None
     notify_nostr: str | None = None
+    notify_nostr_dm_type: NostrDmType = NostrDmType.nip04
     notify_email: str | None = None
     schedule_enabled: bool | None = False
     schedule_timezone: str | None = "Europe/London"
diff --git a/services.py b/services.py
index f139c28..b3764d0 100644
--- a/services.py
+++ b/services.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import json
 import math
 from datetime import datetime, time, timedelta, timezone
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, cast
 from zoneinfo import ZoneInfo, ZoneInfoNotFoundError
 
 from lnbits.core.crud.users import get_user
@@ -43,6 +44,9 @@
     CreateChatMessage,
 )
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from lnbits.core.services.notifications import NostrDmType as CoreNostrDmType
+
 MAX_PARTICIPANTS = 10
 USER_EMAIL_DELAY_MINUTES = 5
 TELEGRAM_REMINDER_DELAY_MINUTES = 2
@@ -288,6 +292,7 @@ async def _notify_new_chat(
         _parse_notify_emails(category.notify_email),
         message,
         "chat.new",
+        nostr_dm_types=[cast("CoreNostrDmType", category.notify_nostr_dm_type.value)],
     )
 
 
diff --git a/static/index.js b/static/index.js
index 1c003b4..e0c952b 100644
--- a/static/index.js
+++ b/static/index.js
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ window.PageChat = {
   data: function () {
     return {
       currencyOptions: ['sat'],
+      nostrDmTypeOptions: [
+        {label: 'NIP-04', value: 'nip04'},
+        {label: 'NIP-17', value: 'nip17'},
+        {label: 'NIP-17B', value: 'nip17b'}
+      ],
       categoriesFormDialog: {
         show: false,
         data: {
@@ -21,6 +26,7 @@ window.PageChat = {
             'we aim to reply as soon as possible but it may take up to 24hrs for a reply',
           notify_telegram: null,
           notify_nostr: null,
+          notify_nostr_dm_type: 'nip04',
           notify_email: null,
           schedule_enabled: false,
           schedule_timezone: 'Europe/London',
@@ -266,6 +272,7 @@ window.PageChat = {
           'we aim to reply as soon as possible but it may take up to 24hrs for a reply',
         notify_telegram: null,
         notify_nostr: null,
+        notify_nostr_dm_type: 'nip04',
         notify_email: null,
         schedule_enabled: false,
         schedule_timezone: 'Europe/London',
@@ -284,6 +291,7 @@ window.PageChat = {
     async showEditCategoriesForm(data) {
       this.categoriesFormDialog.data = {
         ...data,
+        notify_nostr_dm_type: data.notify_nostr_dm_type || 'nip04',
         schedule_enabled:
           data.schedule_enabled === true || data.schedule_enabled === 'true',
         schedule_days: (data.schedule_days || '0,1,2,3,4')
diff --git a/static/index.vue b/static/index.vue
index 3318b41..25e154f 100644
--- a/static/index.vue
+++ b/static/index.vue
@@ -537,6 +537,17 @@
             hint="Optional notification target"
           ></q-input>
 
+          <q-select
+            class="q-mb-md"
+            filled
+            dense
+            emit-value
+            map-options
+            v-model="categoriesFormDialog.data.notify_nostr_dm_type"
+            :options="nostrDmTypeOptions"
+            label="Nostr direct message type"
+          ></q-select>
+
           <q-input
             filled
             dense
diff --git a/tests/test_crud.py b/tests/test_crud.py
index ed1ff4a..e43c32c 100644
--- a/tests/test_crud.py
+++ b/tests/test_crud.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ async def test_create_and_get_categories():
         chars=39,
         price_chars=78.00288769676463,
         denomination="sat",
+        notify_nostr_dm_type="nip17b",
     )
     categories_one = await create_categories(user_id, data)
     assert categories_one.id is not None
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ async def test_create_and_get_categories():
     assert categories_one.chars == data.chars
     assert categories_one.price_chars == data.price_chars
     assert categories_one.denomination == data.denomination
+    assert categories_one.notify_nostr_dm_type == "nip17b"
 
     data = CreateCategories(
         name="name_AwqF6ginw2mCnHfLCbEk7D",
diff --git a/tests/test_schedule_notifications.py b/tests/test_schedule_notifications.py
index da2f3ba..643bb8b 100644
--- a/tests/test_schedule_notifications.py
+++ b/tests/test_schedule_notifications.py
@@ -11,12 +11,14 @@
     get_notification_job,
 )
 from chat.models import (  # type: ignore[import]
+    Categories,
     ChatNotificationJob,
     ChatSession,
     CreateCategories,
 )
 from chat.services import (  # type: ignore[import]
     CHAT_TEMPLATE_DEFAULTS,
+    _notify_new_chat,
     _render_template,
     get_category_schedule_metadata,
     is_chat_available_from_config,
@@ -78,6 +80,33 @@ def test_template_rendering_keeps_unknown_placeholders():
     assert rendered == "Hello Alice, keep {unknown}"
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_new_chat_uses_selected_nostr_dm_type(monkeypatch):
+    sent = []
+
+    async def fake_send_notification(*args, **kwargs):
+        sent.append((args, kwargs))
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("chat.services.send_notification", fake_send_notification)
+    category = Categories(
+        id=urlsafe_short_hash(),
+        user_id=uuid4().hex,
+        name="support",
+        notify_nostr="support@example.com",
+        notify_nostr_dm_type="nip17",
+    )
+    chat = ChatSession(
+        id=urlsafe_short_hash(),
+        categories_id=category.id,
+    )
+
+    await _notify_new_chat(category, chat, first_message="Hello")
+
+    assert len(sent) == 1
+    assert sent[0][0][1] == ["support@example.com"]
+    assert sent[0][1] == {"nostr_dm_types": ["nip17"]}
+
+
 async def _create_chat_with_admin_message(seen: bool) -> tuple[str, str, str]:
     category = await create_categories(
         uuid4().hex,