diff --git a/backend/open_webui/config.py b/backend/open_webui/config.py
index d8d7b9032e..e3a90dbcf5 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/config.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/config.py
@@ -2768,6 +2768,8 @@ USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_ALLOW_PUBLIC_SHARING = (
 
 USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_EXPORT = os.getenv('USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_EXPORT', 'True').lower() == 'true'
 
+USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_IMPORT = os.getenv('USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_IMPORT', 'True').lower() == 'true'
+
 USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_STT = os.getenv('USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_STT', 'True').lower() == 'true'
 
 USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_TTS = os.getenv('USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_TTS', 'True').lower() == 'true'
@@ -2864,6 +2866,7 @@ DEFAULT_USER_PERMISSIONS = {
         'edit': USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_EDIT,
         'share': USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_SHARE,
         'export': USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_EXPORT,
+        'import': USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_IMPORT,
         'stt': USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_STT,
         'tts': USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_TTS,
         'call': USER_PERMISSIONS_CHAT_CALL,
diff --git a/backend/open_webui/routers/chats.py b/backend/open_webui/routers/chats.py
index 0ece8ec410..5017f821e2 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/routers/chats.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/routers/chats.py
@@ -585,10 +585,19 @@ async def create_new_chat(
 
 @router.post('/import', response_model=list[ChatResponse])
 async def import_chats(
+    request: Request,
     form_data: ChatsImportForm,
     user=Depends(get_verified_user),
     db: AsyncSession = Depends(get_async_session),
 ):
+    if user.role != 'admin' and not await has_permission(
+        user.id, 'chat.import', request.app.state.config.USER_PERMISSIONS, db=db
+    ):
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN,
+            detail=ERROR_MESSAGES.ACCESS_PROHIBITED,
+        )
+
     try:
         chats = await Chats.import_chats(user.id, form_data.chats, db=db)
         return chats
diff --git a/backend/open_webui/routers/users.py b/backend/open_webui/routers/users.py
index 158d6e8e15..ef1c989773 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/routers/users.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/routers/users.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ from open_webui.utils.auth import (
     get_verified_user,
     validate_password,
 )
-from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict, Field
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -201,6 +201,8 @@ class AccessGrantsPermissions(BaseModel):
 
 
 class ChatPermissions(BaseModel):
+    model_config = ConfigDict(populate_by_name=True)
+
     controls: bool = True
     valves: bool = True
     system_prompt: bool = True
@@ -215,6 +217,7 @@ class ChatPermissions(BaseModel):
     edit: bool = True
     share: bool = True
     export: bool = True
+    import_: bool = Field(default=True, alias='import')
     stt: bool = True
     tts: bool = True
     call: bool = True
@@ -265,7 +268,7 @@ async def get_default_user_permissions(request: Request, user=Depends(get_admin_
 
 @router.post('/default/permissions')
 async def update_default_user_permissions(request: Request, form_data: UserPermissions, user=Depends(get_admin_user)):
-    request.app.state.config.USER_PERMISSIONS = form_data.model_dump()
+    request.app.state.config.USER_PERMISSIONS = form_data.model_dump(by_alias=True)
     return request.app.state.config.USER_PERMISSIONS
 
 
diff --git a/src/lib/components/admin/Users/Groups/Permissions.svelte b/src/lib/components/admin/Users/Groups/Permissions.svelte
index d0845d398c..bb07931efd 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/admin/Users/Groups/Permissions.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/admin/Users/Groups/Permissions.svelte
@@ -700,6 +700,22 @@
 			{/if}
 		</div>
 
+		<div class="flex flex-col w-full">
+			<div class="flex w-full justify-between my-1">
+				<div class=" self-center text-xs font-medium">
+					{$i18n.t('Allow Chat Import')}
+				</div>
+				<Switch bind:state={permissions.chat['import']} />
+			</div>
+			{#if defaultPermissions?.chat?.import && !permissions.chat['import']}
+				<div>
+					<div class="text-xs text-gray-500">
+						{$i18n.t('This is a default user permission and will remain enabled.')}
+					</div>
+				</div>
+			{/if}
+		</div>
+
 		<div class="flex flex-col w-full">
 			<div class="flex w-full justify-between my-1">
 				<div class=" self-center text-xs font-medium">
diff --git a/src/lib/components/chat/Settings/DataControls.svelte b/src/lib/components/chat/Settings/DataControls.svelte
index 2507191bd4..61e27db573 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/chat/Settings/DataControls.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/chat/Settings/DataControls.svelte
@@ -187,20 +187,22 @@
 		<div>
 			<div class="mb-1 text-sm font-medium">{$i18n.t('Chats')}</div>
 
-			<div>
-				<div class="py-0.5 flex w-full justify-between">
-					<div class="self-center text-xs">{$i18n.t('Import Chats')}</div>
-					<button
-						class="p-1 px-3 text-xs flex rounded-sm transition"
-						on:click={() => {
-							chatImportInputElement.click();
-						}}
-						type="button"
-					>
-						<span class="self-center">{$i18n.t('Import')}</span>
-					</button>
+			{#if $user?.role === 'admin' || ($user.permissions?.chat?.import ?? true)}
+				<div>
+					<div class="py-0.5 flex w-full justify-between">
+						<div class="self-center text-xs">{$i18n.t('Import Chats')}</div>
+						<button
+							class="p-1 px-3 text-xs flex rounded-sm transition"
+							on:click={() => {
+								chatImportInputElement.click();
+							}}
+							type="button"
+						>
+							<span class="self-center">{$i18n.t('Import')}</span>
+						</button>
+					</div>
 				</div>
-			</div>
+			{/if}
 
 			{#if $user?.role === 'admin' || ($user.permissions?.chat?.export ?? true)}
 				<div>
diff --git a/src/lib/constants/permissions.ts b/src/lib/constants/permissions.ts
index a925938a1a..af52a04bf0 100644
--- a/src/lib/constants/permissions.ts
+++ b/src/lib/constants/permissions.ts
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_PERMISSIONS = {
 		edit: true,
 		share: true,
 		export: true,
+		import: true,
 		stt: true,
 		tts: true,
 		call: true,