Import from PostgreSQL into Prisma Postgres for Prisma Next

Import an existing PostgreSQL database into Prisma Postgres, then use it with Prisma Next.

Move an existing PostgreSQL database into Prisma Postgres, then connect Prisma Next to it.

Prerequisites

You need:

the connection URL for the PostgreSQL database you are importing from
a Prisma Data Platform account
PostgreSQL 17 CLI tools, including pg_dump and pg_restore
Node.js 24 or newer

1. Create a Prisma Postgres database

Create a Prisma Postgres database from Console or with the CLI. Copy the direct connection string; you will use it for the restore and for DATABASE_URL.

2. Export from PostgreSQL

Run pg_dump against the source database:

pg_dump -Fc -v -d "postgresql://USER:PASSWORD@HOST:PORT/DATABASE" -n public -f db_dump.bak

3. Restore into Prisma Postgres

Restore the dump with the direct Prisma Postgres connection string:

pg_restore -d "postgres://USER:PASSWORD@db.prisma.io:5432/postgres?sslmode=require" -v ./db_dump.bak

4. Add Prisma Next

From your app root, initialize Prisma Next:

bunx prisma-next init

Choose PostgreSQL, set DATABASE_URL to the Prisma Postgres connection string, then infer and emit the contract:

bunx prisma-next contract infer --output ./prisma/contract.prisma
bunx prisma-next contract emit
bunx prisma-next db sign

Next steps

Review the inferred contract before you rely on it in application code.
Use the PostgreSQL existing-project guide for the first Prisma Next query.
Use the full Prisma Postgres import guide for deeper migration details.

Import from PostgreSQL