diff --git a/addons/base_import/static/src/css/import.css b/addons/base_import/static/src/css/import.css
index 6f4770ce34c..f6258f5aa50 100644
--- a/addons/base_import/static/src/css/import.css
+++ b/addons/base_import/static/src/css/import.css
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+.openerp .oe_list_buttons .oe_alternative {
+    visibility: visible;
+}
+.openerp .oe_list_buttons.oe_editing .oe_list_button_import {
+    display: none;
+}
+
 .oe_import dd,
 .oe_import .oe_import_toggled,
 .oe_import .oe_import_grid,
diff --git a/addons/base_import/static/src/js/import.js b/addons/base_import/static/src/js/import.js
index 63a266ef6c0..c2deb660ff2 100644
--- a/addons/base_import/static/src/js/import.js
+++ b/addons/base_import/static/src/js/import.js
@@ -35,6 +35,25 @@ openerp.base_import = function (instance) {
         $(form).ajaxSubmit(attributes);
     }
 
+    // if true, the 'Import', 'Export', etc... buttons will be shown
+    instance.web.ListView.prototype.defaults.import_enabled = true;
+    instance.web.ListView.include({
+        on_loaded: function () {
+            var self = this;
+            var add_button = false;
+            if (!this.$buttons) {
+                add_button = true;
+            }
+            this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            if(add_button) {
+                this.$buttons.on('click', '.oe_list_button_import', function() {
+                    new instance.web.DataImport(self, self.dataset).open();
+                    return false;
+                });
+            }
+        }
+    });
+
     instance.web.DataImport = instance.web.Dialog.extend({
         template: 'ImportView',
         dialog_title: _lt("Import Data"),
diff --git a/addons/base_import/static/src/xml/import.xml b/addons/base_import/static/src/xml/import.xml
index 733a93fd104..386348bea4b 100644
--- a/addons/base_import/static/src/xml/import.xml
+++ b/addons/base_import/static/src/xml/import.xml
@@ -92,4 +92,12 @@
             <t t-esc="error.message"/>
         </li>
     </ul>
+    <t t-extend="ListView.buttons">
+        <t t-jquery="span.oe_alternative">
+            this.attr('t-if', 'widget.options.import_enabled');
+        </t>
+        <t t-jquery="span.oe_alternative" t-operation="append">
+            <a href="#" class="oe_bold oe_list_button_import">Import</a>
+        </t>
+    </t>
 </templates>