> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.peoplevine.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.peoplevine.com/products/control-panel-overview/membership-management-hub/bulk-import-members.md).

# How to Bulk Import Members

The **Import Data** tool brings people and memberships into Peoplevine from a CSV file. Always import **people** first, then choose the membership **Imported Data Type** that matches your goal.

### Before you begin (Prerequisites)

* **Permissions**: You must be an **Administrator**, **Supervisor**, **Manager**, **Support**, or **Account Rep**. See: [How to Manage Users and Permissions](/products/control-panel-overview/admin-overview/manage-roles-permissions.md).
* **CSV File**: Prepare a CSV file with required fields. Emails and mobile numbers must be unique — if a match is found, the existing record is updated instead of creating a duplicate.
* **Membership setup** (for memberships): The membership programs must already exist, each with a **Membership SKU** that matches your CSV. See: [How to Set Up a Paid Membership](/products/control-panel-overview/membership-setup-overview/setup-paid-membership.md).

### Step 1: Import People into the CRM

1. Navigate to [**Company menu (top-left) > Data & Tagging > Import Data**](https://control.peoplevine.com/admin_data_import.aspx).
2. In the **Imported Data Type** dropdown, select **People / Customers**.
3. Click **Choose File** and select your CSV file.
4. Click **LOAD FILE**.
5. Review the field mapping: verify that each CSV column maps to the correct Peoplevine field. You must map at least **Email** or **Mobile Number**. For the fields available on a CRM import — first name, last name, birthday, address, email, phone, and more — see the [Peoplevine Data Dictionary](/products/control-panel-overview/reports-overview/data-dictionary-preview.md).
6. Optionally use **Label Import** — type any value and it tags every CRM record in this import with that attribute, for easy segmentation later.
7. Click **Process Import**.
8. You will receive an email confirmation when the import is complete.

> **Tip**: If this is your first CRM import, find the newly created records on the [**CRM > View People**](https://control.peoplevine.com/customers) page.

### Step 2: Add Memberships

Once your people exist in the CRM, choose the **Imported Data Type** that matches what you need:

| Imported Data Type                 | Use it to                                                                                                                                                                              |
| ---------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Membership Programs**            | Bulk-create **membership programs** (the plans themselves — name, type, fees, SKU).                                                                                                    |
| **Members to a Membership**        | Enroll **existing people** into a membership program.                                                                                                                                  |
| **Members to a Parent Membership** | Link a child / sub-member membership to a **parent membership** in bulk. See: [How to Add a Sub-Member](/products/control-panel-overview/membership-management-hub/add-sub-member.md). |

![Import Data Imported Data Type dropdown](/files/XkDbfpgiVpGfUIWcSB80)

> **Note**: A membership program must exist before you can import members into it. It's usually simplest to create programs directly in the Control Panel — bulk-importing programs is mainly for migrating many programs from another system.

For **Members to a Membership** and **Members to a Parent Membership**, click **IMPORT INSTRUCTIONS + SAMPLE FILES** in the Import Data tool to download the CSV template.

#### Bulk-create membership programs (Membership Programs)

Set **Imported Data Type** to **Membership Programs** and upload a CSV. The import maps these fields:

* **Membership Program Name** and **Membership Program Title**
* **Program Status** (id, temp. subscription, add-on)
* **Membership Type** (id, temp. subscription, add-on)
* **Membership Details**
* **Initiation Fee**, **Monthly**, **Annually** (pricing)
* **Membership SKU**
* **Enable Sub-Members**

![Membership Programs import field mapping](/files/liNKMMjS0U0EXsTX6RNJ)

#### Enroll existing people into a membership (Members to a Membership)

1. In **Import Data**, set **Imported Data Type** to **Members to a Membership**.
2. Upload a CSV. Key columns (see the sample CSV for the full list):
   * A customer identifier — **customer\_no** (best), **email**, or **mobile\_number** — to match existing CRM records.
   * **membership\_sku** — must match the SKU defined in the membership program's settings.
   * **card\_status** — `active`, `inactive`, or `pending`.
   * Subscription fields (**subscription\_rate**, **subscription\_frequency**, **next\_date**, **last\_date**) — **required for paid memberships**.
   * Optional: **expiration\_date**, **parent\_membership\_card\_no** / **parent\_email**, and custom **field1\_value**–**field6\_value**.
3. Click **LOAD FILE**, review the field mapping, and click **Process Import**.

> **Note**: Import ID (membership-only) members and paid members as **separate imports**. Importing does **not** process any payments — no initiation fee or dues are charged immediately; billing picks up on the **next billing date** set in the import.

> **Tip**: Enrolling members can fire the welcome email. To send it, set up an Instant Notification Template before importing **and** tick **Send Automated Emails, Webhooks, and Other Triggers** during the import — that box is **off by default**. To stay silent during the import, leave it unticked (or set the notification to Draft first).

#### Link to a parent membership (Members to a Parent Membership)

Set **Imported Data Type** to **Members to a Parent Membership** and upload a CSV with:

* **parent\_membership\_id** and **parent\_email** — the parent membership.
* **membership\_id** and **email** — the child / sub-member membership to link.

> **Note: Membership-activation triggered emails and campaigns during import.** Decide the activation state of any membership-activation triggered email or campaign (e.g., the **Membership card activated** trigger) **before** running the import:
>
> * **Migrating existing members** (e.g., bringing across already-active members from another system) → keep the membership-activation campaign or triggered email **inactive during the import** so it doesn't retroactively fire welcome / activation communications to people who are already members. Re-enable it **after** the import so future members still receive it.
> * **Importing waitlisted approved members** who *should* receive the welcome or activation communication → the membership-activation campaign or triggered email **must be active and approved before** the import runs. If the trigger event passes with no campaign attached, those members will not receive the communication and there is no automatic backfill.

### Best Practice

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Always run a sample import of 5–10 records first.** It verifies field mapping and duplicate handling before you commit the full dataset — a sample has saved many imports from going wrong. Include a **variety** of records: if your file spans multiple membership programs, put one of each in the sample rather than 10 members from the same program.
{% endhint %}

* Always import **People/Customers first** (Step 1) — **Members to a Membership** needs existing CRM records to link to.
* Use **email** or **mobile number** to create the profiles in the CRM import; once records exist, use **customer\_no** — Peoplevine's unique identifier — for the membership import. With customer\_no you don't need email or mobile.

### What Happens Next

* **On the member side**: After Step 1 only, imported people have CRM profiles but no membership or portal access. After enrolling them into a membership, they are members with active membership cards.
* **Next step**: [How to Enroll a Member](/products/control-panel-overview/membership-management-hub/enroll-member.md) (for individual enrollment) or [How to Merge Duplicate Profiles](/products/control-panel-overview/membership-management-hub/merge-profiles.md) (if duplicates were created).

*Last updated: 2026-07-09*


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