Batch pass creation: issue passes at scale via CSV upload

Batch Pass Creation allows you to create large numbers of passes in a single operation using a CSV file. Use this approach when you need to issue passes at scale, such as during migrations, bulk onboarding or campaign launches.

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Creating a batch via CSV

Go to the Bulk Operations section and click Create via CSV. Then create a new batch. Optionally enter a batch name, and select the pass template you want the passes to be created under. Sample CSV You can download a sample CSV from the batch creation form in the Dashboard. Select a pass template first: the sample CSV download link appears once a template is selected, and the file includes the columns specific to your chosen template.

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Configuration

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Fixed headers

For more information on the functionality of each field, please refer to the API Reference.

Column Name	Description	Required?	Example	Type
ext_id	External ID for the pass	Yes	Pass12345	Text (Any)
group_tags	Comma separated tags to group passes	No	summer_offer_24	Text (Any)
nfc_enabled	Boolean to enable NFC	No	true	Boolean (true or false)
nfc_source	Source of NFC data	No	extId	Text (extId or uuid or custom)
nfc_custom_value	Custom value for NFC, nfc_source must be set to custom	No	summer_20_off	Text (any)
barcode_enabled	Boolean to enable barcode	No	true	Boolean (true or false)
barcode_type	Type of barcode	No	qr	Text (qr, code128, aztec or pdf417)
barcode_source	Source of barcode	No	extId	Text (extId, uuid or custom)
barcode_value	Value for the barcode, barcode_source must be set to custom	No	abcd12345	Text (Any)
barcode_display_text	Boolean to display barcode value as text	No	true	Boolean (true or false)
expires_at	Expiration date and time for the pass	No	2024-08-14T18:12:11Z	Datetime in iso8601 format
override_background_color	Override the background colour of the pass. Restrictions apply depending on device and template type	No	#000000	Text (hex colour code)
override_label_color	Override the label colour of the pass. Restrictions apply depending on device and template type	No	#FFFFFF	Text (hex colour code)
override_text_color	Override the text colour of the pass. Restrictions apply depending on device and template type	No	#FFFFFF	Text (hex colour code)
override_banner_image_asset_id	UUID of a processed Image Asset to use as the banner image	No	f47ac10b-58cc-4372-a567-0e02b2c3d479	Text (UUID)
override_logo_image_asset_id	UUID of a processed Image Asset to use as the logo image	No	f47ac10b-58cc-4372-a567-0e02b2c3d479	Text (UUID)
override_thumbnail_image_asset_id	UUID of a processed Image Asset to use as the thumbnail image (generic passes only)	No	f47ac10b-58cc-4372-a567-0e02b2c3d479	Text (UUID)

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Dynamic headers

Each template can have custom fields, which you identify and set via dynamic headers. When you create a template, you set an ID for each field. Target that field in your CSV by including the prefix passfield_ followed by your template ID. Example: In your pass template, you’ve chosen to display Field 1 as “Customer Name”, and given it the ID of “name”. Then, for each row in your CSV, you’ve entered a different name, to correspond with the data downloaded from your system. In which case, your CSV would need to have a row called passfield_name

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Special characters and markdown

CSV files that include special characters (commas, quotes, or line breaks) — or embedded HTML or markdown content — need careful formatting so fields parse reliably. Follow these rules:

• Commas (,): Wrap the entire field in double quotes (").
• Line breaks (\n): Wrap the entire field in double quotes (").
• Double quotes (") inside fields: Use double quotes around the field, and escape inner quotes by doubling them ("").
• Markdown or HTML: Use double quotes around the full field, and use single quotes inside HTML attributes to avoid quote conflicts, or escape double quotes if needed.

For example: This will ensure that the special characters are handled correctly, and the markdown is rendered as expected.

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Results

Once you’ve uploaded your CSV, you can track the progress of your batch on the Passes page. The batch appears in the “Batches” section. Click it to see the batch progress. If any rows fail, you can download a CSV of the errors. Once you’ve fixed them, re-upload the CSV to try again. Once the batch is complete, you can download a CSV of the passes created in the following format:

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Retrieving download URLs via the API

If you created the batch through the Create Passes Batch API rather than the dashboard, follow the same result flow programmatically:

1. Poll Show Batch with the batch id until status is successful.
2. Read the resultCsvUrl field from the response and download the CSV.
3. Each row contains ext_id, uuid, and download_url for the created pass.

Download URLs follow the format https://download.passentry.com/download?pass={uuid}, so you can also construct them directly from a pass UUID returned by Show Pass under data.attributes.downloadUrl.

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FAQ

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When should I use batch pass creation instead of the API?

Use CSV batch creation for one-off or infrequent bulk operations, such as migrations or campaign launches. For recurring or automated workflows, use the standard pass creation API to issue passes programmatically.

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What happens if some rows in my CSV fail?

If any rows fail, you can download an error CSV showing which rows failed and why. You can fix the errors and re-upload the CSV to retry only the failed passes.

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Is there a limit to how many passes I can create in one batch?

The maximum batch size depends on your plan and system limits. Large CSV files are supported, but extremely large batches may take longer to process.