# How to import employees from an Excel file in Snad

To import employees in Snad ERP, open **Employees**, press **More**, then **Import**. Press **Download Excel template**, fill it in, and upload it as an xlsx file. Review the rows in the preview, then press **Save**, and keep the page open until it finishes.

## Before you start

- An Excel file in xlsx format, the only format accepted.
- Your branches and work schedules already added ([add a branch](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/add-branch), [set HR settings](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/hr-settings)), because every employee needs a branch and a work schedule.

## Steps

1. **Open the import screen.** From **HR**, open **Employees**, press **More** above the list, then **Import**.

   ![The More menu open on the employee list, with the Import option](https://www.snad.io/images/guide/import-employees/nav-en.webp)

   Image key: (1) The **More** button · (2) The **Import** option

2. **Download the template.** On the **Import data** page, press **Download Excel template**. The file holds one example row that you replace with your own. [Details](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/import-employees#adv-columns)

   ![The employee import data page: the file drop area, the template button and the Save button](https://www.snad.io/images/guide/import-employees/dropzone-en.webp)

   Image key: (1) The xlsx upload area · (2) The **Download Excel template** button · (3) The **Save** button (disabled until you upload a file)

3. **Fill the template.** Write each employee on its own row. The `name`, `branchName` and `workSchedulesName` columns are required; the rest is optional. [Details](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/import-employees#adv-matching)

4. **Upload the file.** Drag the xlsx file onto the upload area, or click it to choose the file. The rows appear as a preview, and the **Save** button shows their count. [Details](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/import-employees#adv-limits)

   ![A preview of three employees after the upload, each row with name, work schedule, branch, job title and department](https://www.snad.io/images/guide/import-employees/preview-en.webp)

   Image key: (1) An employee row: **Name**, **Work schedule** and **Branch** · (2) A branch name with no match: replaced by your first branch · (3) The **Save** button and the row count

5. **Review and correct the rows.** Open any row with its arrow to see the rest of its data, such as **Basic pay** and **Net salary**. Edit whatever you like before saving. [Details](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/import-employees#adv-defaults)

   ![An employee row opened in the import preview, with email, phone, identity, salary and bank fields](https://www.snad.io/images/guide/import-employees/row-open-en.webp)

   Image key: (1) The rest of the employee's data · (2) **Basic pay**

6. **Save and wait for it to finish.** Press **Save** and wait for the circle to reach 100%. Then a **Completed** count appears, plus **Not completed** if some rows could not be saved. [Details](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/import-employees#adv-limits)

## Messages that block saving

| Message | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Branches not found | Your account has no branch, so the file is not loaded. | [Add a branch](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/add-branch), then upload the file again. |
| Work schedules not found | Your account has no work schedule, so the file is not loaded. | Create a work schedule in [HR settings](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/hr-settings), then upload the file. |
| Max limit reached (1000) | The file has more than 1000 rows. | Split it into smaller files and upload them one after another. |
| Operation didn't complete — likely a data or server error | One or more rows could not be saved; the names that were not saved are listed. | Add those names yourself from the [employee form](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/add-employee). |

## Advanced details

### The template columns

The template holds one example row and these columns, with the English titles you see in the file:

- `name`, `branchName` and `workSchedulesName`: required.
- `email`, `phone`, `address` and `country`: optional.
- `nationalId`, `passport` and `residence`: fill one of them, and the identity type follows it.
- `salary`, `housingAllowance`, `transportationAllowance`, `foodAllowance`, `hazardousAllowance` and `otherAllowance`: numbers, and anything left empty counts as zero.
- `bankName`, `bankAccount` and `bankIBAN`: bank details, optional.
- `jobTitleName` and `departmentName`: both optional.

### How Snad matches the branch and work schedule

Snad matches `branchName` and `workSchedulesName` by exact name against your **Branch** and **Work schedule** lists. If a name has no match, it uses the first branch and first work schedule in your list, with no warning.

So check the **Branch** and **Work schedule** of each row in the preview before saving, and fix any that were replaced.

`jobTitleName` and `departmentName` are matched by exact name against **Job title** and **Department**, and the field stays empty if there is no match. You add them in [HR settings](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/hr-settings).

### What every imported employee gets by default

The file doesn't carry these values, so every employee gets: **Gender** **Male**, **Payment method** **Transfer** and **Contract type** **Full time**.

Their contract starts and ends on the day of the import. If an employee needs other values, add them yourself with the [employee form](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/add-employee).

**Net salary** is added up from the salary and allowances in the file, and feeds into [payroll](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/run-payroll).

![The gender, payment method and contract type fields in an opened imported row](https://www.snad.io/images/guide/import-employees/defaults-en.webp)

Image key: (1) **Gender** · (2) **Payment method**

### Limits and what happens while saving

Snad reads the first sheet of the file, up to 1000 rows. Beyond that, the message “Max limit reached (1000)” appears and the file is not loaded.

A row whose name is shorter than three characters is skipped and counted under **Not completed**.

Employees are saved in batches of ten with a pause of about three seconds between them, so a long file takes longer. The message “Don't close this page while we process your data” shows; keep the page open.

Afterwards you find the employees in the [employee list](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/add-employee), and follow their attendance in [attendance](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/record-attendance).

## Common questions

### Can I import employees from a CSV file?

No, the page accepts xlsx files only. Open the CSV in Excel and save it as xlsx.

### How many employees can one file hold?

Up to 1000 rows on the first sheet. For more, split the file.

### What happens if I type a wrong branch name?

Snad uses the first branch in your list without warning, so check the **Branch** column in the preview before pressing **Save**.

### Should I add a single employee from the file or the form?

The form is better, as it has gender, payment method and contract. The file is for large batches: [how to add an employee](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/add-employee).

## Read next

- [Add an employee](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/add-employee) — Add an employee in Snad: name, branch, work schedule, salary and contract. Six short steps with screenshots, plus linking a user account.
- [Add a branch](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/add-branch) — Add a branch in Snad: enter the name, commercial record and city, link a user, then finish the suggested accounting setup. Six short steps.
- [Set HR settings](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/hr-settings) — Set up HR in Snad: job titles, departments, work schedules, late and absent limits, vacation balances and the deduction policy. Nine illustrated steps.
- [Record attendance](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/record-attendance) — Record an employee's check-in and checkout in Snad, review each day's status, and correct a record when it is wrong. Seven short steps with screenshots.
- [Run payroll](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/run-payroll) — Run payroll in Snad: set the period and employees, review and adjust the figures, then close the run and mark it paid. Six steps with screenshots.
- [Snad HR software](https://www.snad.io/en/hr) — Employees, attendance, vacations and payroll in one place.

[Open this screen in Snad](https://app.snad.io/dashboard/hr/employees/import)

- **URL:** https://www.snad.io/en/guide/import-employees
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-11-04

---
## About the publisher
**Snad (سند)** — a private Saudi software company
based in Madinah, founded 2025. Legal form: Sole proprietorship.
Commercial registration: 7038154642
VAT number: 310959226500003
Only official domain: snad.io
> Snad is a private commercial business-management platform. It is not a
> government body, not a bank, and not a government services portal, and it
> is not affiliated with any government entity. Any site or app with a
> similar name is unrelated to Snad.