How to Pre-Register Multiple Guests Using Bulk Visitor Upload

Cove Team
Cove Team
  • Updated

Bulk Visitor Upload lets you pre-register many guests at once instead of adding them one at a time. Use it when you are planning a large meeting, conference, training session, or tenant event, or when you have a high volume of expected guests on a single day.

Bulk Visitor Upload is available to Building Administrators and Tenant Administrators from the Visitors module in the Dashboard. There are two ways to upload a list of guests:

  • CSV / Spreadsheet Upload – best for large groups with custom details, such as different arrival times, companies, or hosts.
  • Copy & Paste – best for quick imports from an email list, calendar invite, or document where all guests share the same visit details.

Method 1: Upload via CSV or Spreadsheet

Use this method when you have a spreadsheet of attendee details, or when guests need different arrival times, companies, or hosts.

Step 1: Download the Template

  • Navigate to Dashboard → Visitors
  • Select Add Visitors, then choose Bulk Upload / Import CSV
  • Select Download Sample CSV Template so that your data matches the required format

Step 2: Prepare Your File

Fill in your guest details in the template:

  • First Name (required)
  • Last Name (required)
  • Email Address or Phone Number (required for visitor notifications and mobile passes)
  • Visit Date and Time (defaults to the property’s local time)
  • Host Email (optional – defaults to you if left blank)
  • Company / Visitor Notes (optional)

Save your file as a standard .csv before uploading, and delete the example row if the template includes one.

Note: Whether a visitor email address is required also depends on your building’s settings. Building Administrators can confirm this in Visitor Management Setup.

Step 3: Upload and Review

  • Drag and drop your completed CSV file into the upload window
  • Review the preview table on screen
  • Correct any flagged entries, then select Confirm & Send Invitations

Green rows indicate valid visitor entries. Red or flagged cells indicate a formatting issue, such as a missing name or an invalid email address. Click directly into any cell to correct the error before confirming.

Method 2: Quick Copy and Paste

Use this method when every guest shares the same visit details and you want to paste names and email addresses directly from an email, calendar invite, or document.

  • Navigate to Dashboard → Visitors
  • Select Add Visitors, then choose Paste List
  • Set the shared visit details: date and arrival time, host name, and access level or floor if applicable
  • Paste your attendee list into the text box
  • Select Parse List to review the extracted names and email addresses
  • Make any edits in the table, then select Complete Registration

The following list formats are supported:

  • Jane Doe <jane.doe@example.com>
  • John Smith, john.smith@example.com
  • Tab-separated rows copied directly from Excel or Google Sheets

What Happens After You Upload

For Your Visitors

  • Each registered guest receives an email or SMS confirmation with their visit details and arrival instructions
  • The confirmation includes a mobile digital pass or QR code for check-in at the front desk or turnstiles

For Security and Reception

  • Uploaded guests appear in the Visitors module in real time
  • Front-desk staff can find them in the Expected Today view on the day of the visit, which speeds up check-in for large events

Important Behavior to Know

  • Visit dates and times default to the property’s local time
  • If Host Email is left blank, the visit is assigned to you
  • An email address or phone number is required for a guest to receive notifications and a mobile pass
  • Flagged entries are not registered until the formatting issue is corrected
  • Copy and paste applies the same date, arrival time, and host to every guest in the list. Use a CSV upload when guests need different details
  • At properties with an access control integration, a guest’s QR code may not be available until their credential is created in the access control system, which typically happens a few hours before the visit

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