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---
type: howto
stage: Manage
group: Import
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#designated-technical-writers
---
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# Import multiple repositories by uploading a manifest file
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> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-foss/-/issues/28811) in GitLab 11.2.
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GitLab allows you to import all the required Git repositories
based on a manifest file like the one used by the
[Android repository ](https://android.googlesource.com/platform/manifest/+/2d6f081a3b05d8ef7a2b1b52b0d536b2b74feab4/default.xml ).
This feature can be very handy when you need to import a project with many
repositories like the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).
## Requirements
GitLab must be using PostgreSQL for its database, since
[subgroups ](../../group/subgroups/index.md ) are needed for the manifest import
to work.
Read more about the [database requirements ](../../../install/requirements.md#database ).
## Manifest format
A manifest must be an XML file. There must be one `remote` tag with a `review`
attribute that contains a URL to a Git server, and each `project` tag must have
a `name` and `path` attribute. GitLab will then build the URL to the repository
by combining the URL from the `remote` tag with a project name.
A path attribute will be used to represent the project path in GitLab.
Below is a valid example of a manifest file:
```xml
< manifest >
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< remote review = "https://android.googlesource.com/" / >
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< project path = "build/make" name = "platform/build" / >
< project path = "build/blueprint" name = "platform/build/blueprint" / >
< / manifest >
```
As a result, the following projects will be created:
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| GitLab | Import URL |
|:------------------------------------------------|:------------------------------------------------------------|
| `https://gitlab.com/YOUR_GROUP/build/make` | < https: // android . googlesource . com / platform / build > |
| `https://gitlab.com/YOUR_GROUP/build/blueprint` | < https: // android . googlesource . com / platform / build / blueprint > |
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## Importing the repositories
You can start the import with:
1. From your GitLab dashboard click **New project**
1. Switch to the **Import project** tab
1. Click on the **Manifest file** button
1. Provide GitLab with a manifest xml file
1. Select a group you want to import to (you need to create a group first if you don't have one)
1. Click **List available repositories** . At this point, you will be redirected
to the import status page with projects list based on the manifest file.
1. Check the list and click **Import all repositories** to start the import.
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