# Importing applications from CSV (https://docs.hireway.dev/docs/applications/importing-applications-from-csv)
If you've been tracking your job search in a spreadsheet, you can bring it into **Applications** in one go. Save the sheet as CSV, paste or upload it, check how the columns were matched, and import. You can also export your applications to CSV at any time.
## Import applications [#import-applications]
In **Applications**, select the import/export button (**Import or export CSV**, next to **Save job**), then **Import
from CSV…**. If you have no applications yet, select **Import from CSV** on the empty page.
Select **Upload .csv** to choose a file, or paste rows into **CSV data**. The first row must be the column headings.
Select **Use sample** to see an example.
Under **Columns**, each heading from your file points to the field it goes into. Hireway matches common headings
automatically. Change any match with its menu, or choose **Leave out** to skip a column.
The summary says how many applications are ready to import, and how many rows or contacts will be skipped.
Select **Import *n* applications**. They're added to your Applications right away.
## Prepare your spreadsheet [#prepare-your-spreadsheet]
Each row becomes one application. Only **Company** and **Role** are required; rows missing either are skipped. Select **Download them** in the summary to get the skipped rows as a CSV file, fix them, and import them again.
These are the fields you can match columns to, with the headings that match automatically (capitals and extra spaces don't matter):
| Field | Headings matched automatically | Notes |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Company** | Company, Employer, Organization | Required. |
| **Role** | Role, Title, Position, Job Title | Required. |
| **Stage** | Stage, Status | One of `saved`, `applied`, `screening`, `interview`, `offer` or `closed`. `rejected` is read as `closed`. Other values are ignored, and rows without a stage import as **Saved**. |
| **Stage date** | Applied Date, Stage Date, Stage Entered At | The date the application entered its stage, as `YYYY-MM-DD`. Other formats are ignored and today's date is used. |
| **Location** | Location | |
| **Salary** | Salary, Salary Range, Compensation | |
| **Source** | Source | Shows in the Insights sources chart. |
| **Link** | URL, Link, Job URL, Job Posting | The job posting's address. |
| **Notes** | Notes, Note | |
| **Tags** | Tags | Separate tags with commas, semicolons or vertical bars, such as `remote;unity`. |
| **Contact name**, **Contact role**, **Contact label**, **Contact email**, **Contact phone** | Contact Name, Contact Role, Contact Type, Contact Email, Contact Phone | One contact per row. |
| **Archived (closes it)** | Archived | For files exported from older versions: `true` imports the application as closed. |
A contact needs a name, and its email must be a valid address. If not, the summary counts it as skipped and the application imports without it.
Here's a small example:
```csv
Company,Role,Stage,Stage Date,Location,Source,Tags,Contact Name,Contact Email
Orchard Lane Games,Gameplay Programmer,applied,2026-09-02,Remote,LinkedIn,remote;unity,Nadia Brooks,nadia@orchardlane.example
Silverpine Interactive,AI Programmer,screening,2026-08-28,Stockholm,Referral,ai,,
```
## Import large files [#import-large-files]
Up to 500 applications import at a time. If your file has more, the summary says how many were left out. Split the file and import the rest separately.
After importing, use the List view's checkboxes to tag, move or close many applications at once. See [Tracking job
applications](/docs/applications/tracking-job-applications#acting-on-several-applications-at-once).
## Export applications to CSV [#export-applications-to-csv]
Select the import/export button, then **Export to CSV…**.
Under **Applications to export**, choose **Current filters** (the applications matching your current search, closed
ones included) or **All applications (including closed)**.
Set **Application date from** and **Application date to** to export only applications from that period. Leave them
empty to include every date.
Check the count of applications to export, then select **Download CSV**.
The file is named `applications-YYYY-MM-DD.csv` and opens in any spreadsheet app. It has these columns: Company, Role, Stage, Stage Date, Application Date, Location, Salary, Source, URL, Tags, Contacts, Notes, Closed Reason, Stage History, Timeline, Created At and Updated At.
You can import an exported file again; most columns match automatically. To download everything in your account, including documents, see [Exporting your data](/docs/account/exporting-your-data).
## Troubleshooting [#troubleshooting]
Every row needs a company and a role. Check that those columns are matched under **Columns**, then fill in the
missing values. **Download them** gives you the skipped rows.
Pick the right field from the column's menu under **Columns**, or rename the heading in your file to one from the
table above.
Use one of the stage values listed above, and write dates as `YYYY-MM-DD`, for example `2026-09-02`.
Separate tags with commas, semicolons or vertical bars. If you use commas, put the whole cell in double quotes, such
as `"remote,unity"`, so the commas aren't read as new columns.
MCP clients can import applications too. See [Managing applications with MCP](/docs/integrations/managing-applications-with-mcp).