---
layout: docs
page_title: operator import - Command
description: >-
  The "operator import" command imports secrets from external systems
  in to Vault.
---

# operator import

@include 'alerts/enterprise-only.mdx'

@include 'alerts/alpha.mdx'

The `operator import` command imports secrets from external systems in to Vault.
Secrets with the same name at the same storage path will be overwritten upon import.

<Note title="Imports can be long-running processes">

You can write import plans that read from as many sources as you want. The
amount of data migrated from each source depends on the filters applied and the
dataset available. Be mindful of the time needed to read from each source,
apply any filters, and store the data in Vault.

</Note>

## Examples

Read the config file `import.hcl` to generate a new import plan:

```shell-session
$ vault operator import -config import.hcl plan
```

Output:

<CodeBlockConfig hideClipboard>

	-----------
	Import plan
	-----------
	The following namespaces are missing:
	* ns-1/

	The following mounts are missing:
	* ns-1/mount-1

	Secrets to be imported to the destination "my-dest-1":
	* secret-1
	* secret-2

</CodeBlockConfig>

## Configuration

The `operator import` command uses a dedicated configuration file to specify the source,
destination, and mapping rules. To learn more about these types and secrets importing in 
general, refer to the [Secrets Import documentation](/vault/docs/import).

```hcl
source_gcp {
  name        = "my-gcp-source-1"
  credentials = "@/path/to/service-account-key.json"
}

destination_vault {
  name      = "my-dest-1"
  address   = "http://127.0.0.1:8200/"
  token     = "root"
  namespace = "ns-1"
  mount     = "mount-1"
}

mapping_passthrough {
  name        = "my-map-1"
  source      = "my-gcp-1"
  destination = "my-dest-1"
  priority    = 1
}
```

## Usage

### Arguments

- `plan` - Executes a read-only operation to let operators preview the secrets to import based on the configuration file.

- `apply` - Executes the import operations to read the specified secrets from the source and write them into Vault.
  Apply first executes a plan, then asks the user to approve the results before performing the actual import.

### Flags

The `operator import` command accepts the following flags:

- `-config` `(string: "import.hcl")` - Path to the import configuration HCL file. The default path is `import.hcl`.

- `-auto-approve` `(bool: <false>)` - Automatically responds "yes" to all user-input prompts for the `apply` command.

- `-auto-create` `(bool: <false>)` - Automatically creates any missing namespaces and KVv2 mounts when
  running the `apply` command.

- `-log-level` ((#\_log_level)) `(string: "info")` - Log verbosity level. Supported values (in
  order of descending detail) are `trace`, `debug`, `info`, `warn`, and `error`. You can also set log-level with the `VAULT_LOG_LEVEL` environment variable.