- Click Import Wizard in the main window (or drag the CSV onto a table or database in Navicat), add the file, pick or name the target table, set the CSV options, map fields, choose an import mode and click Start.
- Field Delimiter, Text Qualifier, Field Name Row and First Data Row decide how the CSV is read; date order, date delimiter and decimal symbol decide how dates and numbers are parsed.
- Append adds the file's rows to the table; to unlock the other modes (Update, Append/Update, Append without update, Delete and Copy) you define a primary key in the field mapping.
- The free Navicat Premium Lite imports text-based files such as CSV, TXT, XML and JSON; Excel, Access, DBF, Parquet and ODBC sources need a paid edition.
Before you start: Navicat import CSV checklist
The Import Wizard works in Navicat Premium, the single-engine products and the free Premium Lite, for MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, MariaDB, MongoDB and Snowflake. It can create a new table from the file, but you keep more control over data types if you create the table first. Save this sample as customers.csv in UTF-8 and create the table in a query window:
full_name,email,signup_date
Ana Silva,ana@example.com,2026-01-15
Ben Okafor,ben@example.com,2026-02-03
"Chen, Li",li.chen@example.com,2026-03-21
Dara Murphy,,2026-04-02CREATE TABLE customers (
customer_id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
full_name VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
email VARCHAR(255),
signup_date DATE
);Import a CSV file into a table, step by step
As documented in the Navicat 18 manual:
- Open the connection and database, then click Import Wizard in the main window.
- Click Add Source, or its down arrow, and choose the CSV format.
- Choose
customers.csv. You can add several files to import them in one run. - Select the target table
customers(or type a new name to create a table), and click Next. - Select the source file and set its options (next section).
- Select the target table, check the field mapping, and click Next. Leave
customer_idunmapped so the auto-increment column fills it. - Choose the import mode and any advanced options, then click Next.
- Click Start.
A shortcut: drag the CSV file onto a table in the Objects tab, or onto a database or schema in the Navigation pane, and the Import Wizard opens. If a table is highlighted, Navicat imports into it; otherwise it creates a new table. Check the result with SELECT * FROM customers;.
CSV options: delimiters, header row and dates
If one column uses a different date format from the rest, right-click it in the field list and choose Custom Field Format to override the settings for that column. Navicat guesses target types and lengths from the data when it creates a new table; you can change them from the drop-down lists before importing.
| Option | What it controls | For the sample |
|---|---|---|
| Record Delimiter | The separator between records (rows) | The file's line ending |
| Delimited or Fixed Width | Whether fields are separated by a character or by column positions | Delimited |
| Field Delimiter | The field separator | Comma |
| Text Qualifier | The character that encloses text values | Double quote, so "Chen, Li" stays one field |
| Field Name Row | Which row holds the column names | 1 |
| First Data Row and Last Data Row | Where data starts and stops. With no header, set First Data Row to 1 and Field Name Row to 0 | 2, and the last row |
| Date Order, Date Delimiter, Time Delimiter | How dates and times are written in the file | YMD with - |
| Decimal Symbol | The decimal separator for numbers | . (full stop) |
Field mapping and import modes
When importing into an existing table, right-click the mapping grid for Match All by Name, Match All by Position or Clear All Matches. Duplicate Field Mapping sends one source column to several target columns.
| Mode | Effect on the target table |
|---|---|
| Append | Adds the file's records to the end of the table |
| Update | Updates existing records that match records in the file |
| Append/Update | Updates a record if it exists, otherwise inserts it |
| Append without update | Inserts records that do not exist and skips ones that do |
| Delete | Deletes records in the table that match records in the file |
| Copy | Deletes all existing records, then fills the table from the file |
Primary key and saved profiles
The manual notes that all import modes become available only once a primary key is defined in the field mapping step, because matching needs a key. Treat Copy and Delete with care on real data. You can save the settings as a profile and reuse it, including in an Automation batch job (Automation needs the Standard or Enterprise edition).
What the free Lite edition can import
The manual states that the Lite edition only imports text-based files, such as TXT, CSV, XML and JSON. Importing from Excel, Access, DBF, Parquet or an ODBC data source needs a paid edition; the Excel options also depend on the Microsoft Office version installed. For the reverse direction, see the Navicat export guide in this series, and for what each edition costs, the pricing guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can Navicat import a CSV into a new table?
Yes. Type a new table name as the target, or drag the file onto a database without a table highlighted, and Navicat creates the table, guessing field types and lengths that you can adjust before importing.
How do I import a CSV with no header row in Navicat?
Set Field Name Row to 0 and First Data Row to 1, as the manual describes, then map the columns by position.
Why are my dates wrong after a Navicat CSV import?
The Date Order or Date Delimiter does not match the file. Set them in the source file options, or use Custom Field Format for a single column.
Is CSV import available in Navicat Premium Lite?
Yes. Lite supports text-based imports such as TXT, CSV, XML and JSON. Excel and other binary formats need a paid edition.
Sources
- Navicat 18 manual: Import Wizard
- Navicat 18 manual: Automation
- Navicat Premium release notes
- Navicat Premium feature matrix
Checked 8 October 2026.
How we research tool guides: our editorial method. CodeWithSQL earns nothing from the vendors mentioned.