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Sub-tasks not imported with External System Import

Saskia van _t Hoff October 21, 2025

I know there are many issues about this already and I read through SO MANY of them, and it still won't work.

BUT, whatever I try, I cannot get a csv file with Epics, Tasks, Stories, Bugs, and Subtasks to import the Subtasks.

I am an Admin and we are on the Standard plan.

  • The csv was downloaded from JIRA, from a Team Managed software space
  • I reordered the work items to have all the epics first, then the Tasks/StoriesBugs, and then the Subtasks
  • I used the Spaces + Import Data functionality to upload the csv file
    • Creating a new Space first and then importing doesn't work, because there is no option to map the Status from the csv to a field
  • I set it up as a Company Managed Software Scrum space
  • I mapped all relevant fields from the csv, including the Parent and Issue ID fields
    • There was NO option to map Parent ID
  • On the Work Item Type screen, all +1 and 0 level types were automatically mapped, but not the -1 level (Subtask), I mapped that manually
  • The import was successful for all Work Item Types BUT Subtasks

Questions:

  1. Should I have grouped Work Items together in their hierarchy, immediately below each other? Ie row 1 = epic, row 2 = task, row 3 = subtask, then row 4 = new epic, row 5 = task, row 6 = subtask, etc.?
  2. Is the Parent field enough to link a Task and a Subtask? It seems to work for level +1 to level 0 items, but not one down.
  3. Can I import subtasks separately and link them to their parents that already exist in the Space now?
  4. If I create the Space first and then import (accepting I will lose the Status value), will that work?

Thank you so much - what a faff these Subtasks are!

2 answers

1 vote
Marc - Devoteam
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October 21, 2025

Hi @Saskia van _t Hoff 

To import parent/child relation for sub-taks you need to have to extra column in your csv.

See, this KB artivcle, https://support.atlassian.com/jira/kb/keep-issue-parent-child-mapping-during-csv-import-to-jira-cloud/ 

extra columns are added, in the KB they are "issue id" and "parent"

Saskia van _t Hoff October 21, 2025

Both of these are already in the csv and have data in it. They are also mapped to the fields in the new Space. It still won't work.

Marc - Devoteam
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Rising Stars are recognized for providing high-quality answers to other users. Rising Stars receive a certificate of achievement and are on the path to becoming Community Leaders.
October 21, 2025

Hi @Saskia van _t Hoff 

Then your mapping might be incorrect.

Also please show a part of your CSV. 

Also issue id and parent should not contain issue key codes.

0 votes
John Funk
Community Champion
October 21, 2025

Hi Saskia,

You can create the parent and the child at the same time. Or you can create the child and reference the key of the parent when you import the child. 

In my example below I have using Epic and Story, but Task and Sub-task would be the same process. 

The last example is if you are just creating new Sub-task and linking it to an existing parent. 

Screenshot 2025-06-05 154501.png

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