diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 6f599c2..b47cfca 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ add_library(${TARGET_APP} STATIC
   model/commands/edititemcommand.h model/commands/edititemcommand.cpp
   data/filehandler.h data/filehandler.cpp
   model/metadata.h
+  formats/csvparser.h formats/csvparser.cpp
+  # 3rd party libraries
+  ../3rdParty/rapidcsv/src/rapidcsv.h
 )
 
 include_directories(${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR})
diff --git a/data/filehandler.cpp b/data/filehandler.cpp
index 5cd9bba..f7c3e13 100644
--- a/data/filehandler.cpp
+++ b/data/filehandler.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 #include <QJsonDocument>
 #include <QStandardPaths>
 
+#include "../formats/csvparser.h"
+
 bool FileHandler::saveToFile(const QJsonDocument& doc, const QString& fileName) {
   qDebug() << "saving file...";
   QString path = QStandardPaths::standardLocations(QStandardPaths::AppDataLocation).at(0);
@@ -29,25 +31,55 @@ bool FileHandler::saveToFile(const QJsonDocument& doc, const QString& fileName)
 }
 
 QByteArray FileHandler::loadJSONDataFromFile(const QString fileName) {
-  QByteArray jsonData;
   QFile file;
   QString path = QStandardPaths::standardLocations(QStandardPaths::AppDataLocation).at(0);
   file.setFileName(path + "/" + fileName);
+
+  QPair<QString, QByteArray> fileContent = getFileContent(path + "/" + fileName);
+
+  return fileContent.second;
+}
+
+QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> FileHandler::getItemValuesFromCSVFile(const QString& filePath) {
+  QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> result;
+  QFile file;
+  file.setFileName(filePath);
+  if (file.exists()) {
+    result = CsvParser::getItemsFromCSVFile(filePath);
+  }
+  return result;
+}
+
+FileHandler::FileHandler() {}
+
+/** Tries to open the file specified by the file path & returns the content
+ * @brief FileHandler::getFileContent
+ * @param filePath
+ * @return Returns an error string (empty if successful) and the file content
+ */
+QPair<QString, QByteArray> FileHandler::getFileContent(const QString& filePath) {
+  QString errorString = "";
+
+  QByteArray fileContent;
+  QFile file;
+  file.setFileName(filePath);
   if (file.exists()) {
     qDebug() << "File found, reading content...";
     const bool successfulOpened = file.open(QIODevice::ReadOnly | QIODevice::Text);
     if (successfulOpened) {
       // TODO learn and decide on the differences between "readAll" and using
       // streams
-      jsonData = file.readAll();
+      fileContent = file.readAll();
       file.close();
     } else {
-      qWarning() << "File could not be opened!";
+      errorString = "File could not be opened!";
+      qWarning() << errorString;
     }
   } else {
-    qInfo() << "File not found. Returning empty result...";
+    errorString = "File not found. Returning empty result...";
+    qInfo() << errorString;
   }
-  return jsonData;
-}
 
-FileHandler::FileHandler() {}
+  const QPair<QString, QByteArray> result(errorString, fileContent);
+  return result;
+}
diff --git a/data/filehandler.h b/data/filehandler.h
index aecf072..9165def 100644
--- a/data/filehandler.h
+++ b/data/filehandler.h
@@ -1,17 +1,25 @@
 #ifndef FILEHANDLER_H
 #define FILEHANDLER_H
 
+#include <QVariant>
+
 class QJsonDocument;
 class QString;
 class QByteArray;
 
 class FileHandler {
  public:
+  /// JSON
   static bool saveToFile(const QJsonDocument& doc, const QString& fileName);
   static QByteArray loadJSONDataFromFile(const QString fileName);
 
+  /// CSV
+  static QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> getItemValuesFromCSVFile(const QString& filePath);
+
  private:
   explicit FileHandler();
+
+  static QPair<QString, QByteArray> getFileContent(const QString& filePath);
 };
 
 #endif  // FILEHANDLER_H
diff --git a/formats/csvparser.cpp b/formats/csvparser.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..814d151
--- /dev/null
+++ b/formats/csvparser.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+#include "csvparser.h"
+
+#include <QHash>
+#include <QLocale>
+#include <QVariant>
+
+#include "../../3rdParty/rapidcsv/src/rapidcsv.h"
+#include "../model/metadata.h"
+
+using namespace rapidcsv;
+
+QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> CsvParser::getItemsFromCSVFile(const QString& fileName) {
+  Document doc(fileName.toStdString());
+
+  const bool isCompatible = isCsvCompatible(doc);
+  if (isCompatible) {
+    const QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> result = createListItemsFromCsvEntries(doc);
+    return result;
+  } else {
+    return QList<QHash<int, QVariant>>();
+  }
+}
+
+CsvParser::CsvParser() {}
+
+/** A CSV file is compatible if the following is true:
+ *  - there is a CSV column for every column in the table model
+ *  (except there are optional columns defined in the model)
+ * @brief CsvParser::isCsvCompatible
+ * @param doc
+ * @return
+ */
+bool CsvParser::isCsvCompatible(const rapidcsv::Document& doc) {
+  qInfo() << "Checking CSV document for compatiblity...";
+  const std::vector<std::string> columnNames = doc.GetColumnNames();
+  for (const QString& headerName : GET_HEADER_NAMES()) {
+    bool isHeaderNameFound = false;
+    if (std::find(columnNames.begin(), columnNames.end(), headerName) != columnNames.end()) {
+      qDebug() << QString("Header found in column names: %1").arg(headerName);
+    } else {
+      const QString errorString =
+          QString("Couldn't find header name '%1' in CSV file. Aborting...").arg(headerName);
+      qWarning() << errorString;
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> CsvParser::createListItemsFromCsvEntries(
+    const rapidcsv::Document& doc) {
+  QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> result;
+  const int rowCount               = doc.GetRowCount();
+  const QList<QString> headerNames = GET_HEADER_NAMES();
+
+  /// get the values for all columns
+  QHash<QString, std::vector<std::string>> columnValueMap = extractColumnValues(headerNames, doc);
+
+  /// get item values for each row
+  for (int row = 0; row < rowCount; ++row) {
+    const QHash<int, QVariant> itemValues = getItemValuesForRow(headerNames, columnValueMap, row);
+    result.append(itemValues);
+  }
+  return result;
+}
+
+QHash<QString, std::vector<std::string>> CsvParser::extractColumnValues(
+    const QList<QString> headerNames,
+    const rapidcsv::Document& doc) {
+  QHash<QString, std::vector<std::string>> columnValueMap;
+  for (const QString& columnName : headerNames) {
+    // NEXT add support for optional columns
+    // if (optionalCsvHeaderNames.contains(columnName)) {
+    //   const std::vector<std::string> columnNames = doc.GetColumnNames();
+    //   int columnIdx                              = doc.GetColumnIdx(columnName.toStdString());
+    //   if (columnIdx == -1) {
+    //     continue;
+    //   }
+    // }
+    const std::vector<std::string> columnValues =
+        doc.GetColumn<std::string>(columnName.toStdString());
+    columnValueMap.insert(columnName, columnValues);
+  }
+
+  return columnValueMap;
+}
+
+QHash<int, QVariant> CsvParser::getItemValuesForRow(
+    const QList<QString>& headerNames,
+    const QHash<QString, std::vector<std::string>>& columnValueMap,
+    const int row) {
+  QHash<int, QVariant> result;
+  for (const QString& columnName : headerNames) {
+    if (!columnValueMap.contains(columnName)) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    int role                = ROLE_NAMES.key(columnName.toLatin1());
+    std::string valueString = columnValueMap.value(columnName).at(row);
+
+    QVariant value = parseItemValue(role, valueString);
+    if (value.isValid()) {
+      result[role] = value;
+    }
+  }
+  return result;
+}
+
+QVariant CsvParser::parseItemValue(const int role, const std::string& valueString) {
+  QVariant result;
+  if (STRING_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+    /// string values
+    result = QString::fromStdString(valueString);
+  } else if (INT_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+    /// int values
+
+    /// GetColumn<int> crashed (probably because of the empty values)
+    /// so the strings will be processed later
+    const QString intAsString = QString::fromStdString(valueString);
+    result                    = intAsString.toInt();
+  } else if (DOUBLE_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+    /// double values
+    const QString doubleAsString = QString::fromStdString(valueString);
+    double doubleValue;
+    if (doubleAsString.contains(',')) {
+      QLocale german(QLocale::German);
+      doubleValue = german.toDouble(doubleAsString);
+    } else {
+      doubleValue = doubleAsString.toDouble();
+    }
+    result = doubleValue;
+
+    // } else if (typeColumns.contains(columnName)) {
+    //   // NEXT validate string is allowed
+    //   values[role] = QString::fromStdString(columnValueMap.value(columnName).at(row));
+  } else {
+    /// no type recognized for column
+    QString errorString = QString("Couldn't find value type for role '%1'").arg(role);
+    qCritical() << errorString;
+  }
+  return result;
+}
diff --git a/formats/csvparser.h b/formats/csvparser.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e4bb06f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/formats/csvparser.h
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#ifndef CSVPARSER_H
+#define CSVPARSER_H
+
+#include <QString>
+
+namespace rapidcsv {
+class Document;
+}
+
+class CsvParser {
+ public:
+  static QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> getItemsFromCSVFile(const QString& fileName);
+
+ private:
+  explicit CsvParser();
+
+  static bool isCsvCompatible(const rapidcsv::Document& doc);
+  static QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> createListItemsFromCsvEntries(const rapidcsv::Document& doc);
+  static QHash<QString, std::vector<std::string>> extractColumnValues(
+      const QList<QString> headerNames,
+      const rapidcsv::Document& doc);
+  static QHash<int, QVariant> getItemValuesForRow(
+      const QList<QString>& headerNames,
+      const QHash<QString, std::vector<std::string>>& columnValueMap,
+      const int row);
+  static QVariant parseItemValue(const int role, const std::string& valueString);
+};
+
+#endif  // CSVPARSER_H
diff --git a/genericcore.cpp b/genericcore.cpp
index 86459f5..9b86bfb 100644
--- a/genericcore.cpp
+++ b/genericcore.cpp
@@ -101,8 +101,6 @@ void GenericCore::saveItems() {
   const QJsonDocument doc   = m_mainModel->getAllItemsAsJsonDoc();
   const bool successfulSave = FileHandler::saveToFile(doc, ITEM_FILE_NAME);
   if (successfulSave) {
-    //    QStringList completedTaskStrings = m_model->completedTasks();
-    //    appendCompletedTasksToFile(completedTaskStrings, "completed.txt");
     m_modelUndoStack->setClean();
     emit displayStatusMessage(QString("Items saved."));
   } else {
@@ -110,6 +108,20 @@ void GenericCore::saveItems() {
   }
 }
 
+void GenericCore::importCSVFile(const QString& filePath) {
+  qInfo() << "importing items from CSV...";
+  qDebug() << "filePath:" << filePath;
+  const QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> itemValuesList =
+      FileHandler::getItemValuesFromCSVFile(filePath);
+  // NEXT inform UI on errors
+  if (itemValuesList.isEmpty()) {
+    qDebug() << "No items found. Doing nothing...";
+    return;
+  }
+  // qDebug() << "CSV file content:" << itemValuesList;
+  m_mainModel->insertItems(m_mainModel->rowCount(), itemValuesList);
+}
+
 void GenericCore::setupModels() {
   m_mainModel = make_shared<TableModel>(m_modelUndoStack, this);
   // TODO add QAbstractItemModelTester
diff --git a/genericcore.h b/genericcore.h
index 671ded1..b4a9776 100644
--- a/genericcore.h
+++ b/genericcore.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ class GenericCore : public QObject {
   std::shared_ptr<TableModel> getModel() const;
 
   void saveItems();
+  void importCSVFile(const QString& filePath);
 
  signals:
   void displayStatusMessage(QString message);
diff --git a/model/metadata.h b/model/metadata.h
index 580d931..97f7d4d 100644
--- a/model/metadata.h
+++ b/model/metadata.h
@@ -50,5 +50,13 @@ static int GET_ROLE_FOR_COLUMN(const int column) {
       break;
   }
 }
+static QList<QString> GET_HEADER_NAMES() {
+  QList<QString> result;
+  for (const UserRoles& role : USER_FACING_ROLES) {
+    const QString headerName = ROLE_NAMES.value(role);
+    result.append(headerName);
+  }
+  return result;
+}
 
 #endif  // METADATA_H
diff --git a/model/tablemodel.cpp b/model/tablemodel.cpp
index 2ae6cdf..dd0dae0 100644
--- a/model/tablemodel.cpp
+++ b/model/tablemodel.cpp
@@ -169,18 +169,26 @@ void TableModel::appendItems(const QByteArray& jsonDoc) { insertItems(-1, jsonDo
 void TableModel::insertItems(int startPosition,
                              const QByteArray& jsonDoc,
                              const QModelIndex& parentIndex) {
+  const QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> valueList =
+      JsonParser::toItemValuesList(jsonDoc, ITEM_KEY_STRING);
+
+  insertItems(startPosition, valueList, parentIndex);
+}
+
+void TableModel::insertItems(int startPosition,
+                             const QList<QHash<int, QVariant>>& itemValuesList,
+                             const QModelIndex& parentIndex) {
   qInfo() << "Inserting item(s) into model...";
   if (parentIndex != QModelIndex()) {
-    qWarning() << "Using invalid parent index (no child support for now)";
+    qWarning()
+        << "Using invalid parent index (no child support for now)! Using root index as parent...";
   }
   if (startPosition == -1 || startPosition > m_items.size()) {
     /// Appending item(s)
     startPosition = m_items.size();
   }
 
-  QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> valueList = JsonParser::toItemValuesList(jsonDoc, ITEM_KEY_STRING);
-
-  InsertRowsCommand* insertCommand = new InsertRowsCommand(this, startPosition, valueList);
+  InsertRowsCommand* insertCommand = new InsertRowsCommand(this, startPosition, itemValuesList);
   m_undoStack->push(insertCommand);
 }
 
diff --git a/model/tablemodel.h b/model/tablemodel.h
index c7650f2..75f7bbd 100644
--- a/model/tablemodel.h
+++ b/model/tablemodel.h
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ class TableModel : public QAbstractTableModel {
   void insertItems(int startPosition,
                    const QByteArray& jsonDoc,
                    const QModelIndex& parentIndex = QModelIndex());
+  void insertItems(int startPosition,
+                   const QList<QHash<int, QVariant>>& itemValuesList,
+                   const QModelIndex& parentIndex = QModelIndex());
 
  private:
   /// *** members ***