diff --git a/src/app/admin/admin-import-metadata-page/metadata-import-page.component.html b/src/app/admin/admin-import-metadata-page/metadata-import-page.component.html
index 42a04b0de6..c70bc45947 100644
--- a/src/app/admin/admin-import-metadata-page/metadata-import-page.component.html
+++ b/src/app/admin/admin-import-metadata-page/metadata-import-page.component.html
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 <div class="container">
   <h2 id="header">{{'admin.metadata-import.page.header' | translate}}</h2>
   <p>{{'admin.metadata-import.page.help' | translate}}</p>
+  <p>
+    <input type="checkbox" [(ngModel)]="validateOnly" />
+    <span class="ml-2">{{'admin.metadata-import.page.validateOnly' | translate}}</span>
+  </p>
 
   <ds-file-dropzone-no-uploader
     (onFileAdded)="setFile($event)"
diff --git a/src/app/admin/admin-import-metadata-page/metadata-import-page.component.spec.ts b/src/app/admin/admin-import-metadata-page/metadata-import-page.component.spec.ts
index d663481b8c..814757ec71 100644
--- a/src/app/admin/admin-import-metadata-page/metadata-import-page.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/admin/admin-import-metadata-page/metadata-import-page.component.spec.ts
@@ -87,8 +87,9 @@ describe('MetadataImportPageComponent', () => {
       comp.setFile(fileMock);
     });
 
-    describe('if proceed button is pressed', () => {
+    describe('if proceed button is pressed without validate only', () => {
       beforeEach(fakeAsync(() => {
+        comp.validateOnly = false;
         const proceed = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('#proceedButton')).nativeElement;
         proceed.click();
         fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -107,6 +108,28 @@ describe('MetadataImportPageComponent', () => {
       });
     });
 
+    describe('if proceed button is pressed with validate only', () => {
+      beforeEach(fakeAsync(() => {
+        comp.validateOnly = true;
+        const proceed = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('#proceedButton')).nativeElement;
+        proceed.click();
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+      }));
+      it('metadata-import script is invoked with -f fileName and the mockFile and -v validate-only', () => {
+        const parameterValues: ProcessParameter[] = [
+          Object.assign(new ProcessParameter(), { name: '-f', value: 'filename.txt' }),
+          Object.assign(new ProcessParameter(), { name: '-v', value: true }),
+        ];
+        expect(scriptService.invoke).toHaveBeenCalledWith(METADATA_IMPORT_SCRIPT_NAME, parameterValues, [fileMock]);
+      });
+      it('success notification is shown', () => {
+        expect(notificationService.success).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      });
+      it('redirected to process page', () => {
+        expect(router.navigateByUrl).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/processes/45');
+      });
+    });
+
     describe('if proceed is pressed; but script invoke fails', () => {
       beforeEach(fakeAsync(() => {
         jasmine.getEnv().allowRespy(true);
diff --git a/src/app/admin/admin-import-metadata-page/metadata-import-page.component.ts b/src/app/admin/admin-import-metadata-page/metadata-import-page.component.ts
index 3bdcca3084..deb16c0d73 100644
--- a/src/app/admin/admin-import-metadata-page/metadata-import-page.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/admin/admin-import-metadata-page/metadata-import-page.component.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ export class MetadataImportPageComponent {
    */
   fileObject: File;
 
+  /**
+   * The validate only flag
+   */
+  validateOnly = true;
+
   public constructor(private location: Location,
                      protected translate: TranslateService,
                      protected notificationsService: NotificationsService,
@@ -62,6 +67,9 @@ export class MetadataImportPageComponent {
       const parameterValues: ProcessParameter[] = [
         Object.assign(new ProcessParameter(), { name: '-f', value: this.fileObject.name }),
       ];
+      if (this.validateOnly) {
+        parameterValues.push(Object.assign(new ProcessParameter(), { name: '-v', value: true }));
+      }
 
       this.scriptDataService.invoke(METADATA_IMPORT_SCRIPT_NAME, parameterValues, [this.fileObject]).pipe(
         getFirstCompletedRemoteData(),
diff --git a/src/assets/i18n/en.json5 b/src/assets/i18n/en.json5
index f33a195cfe..426fcb12d2 100644
--- a/src/assets/i18n/en.json5
+++ b/src/assets/i18n/en.json5
@@ -538,6 +538,8 @@
 
   "admin.metadata-import.page.error.addFile": "Select file first!",
 
+  "admin.metadata-import.page.validateOnly": "Validate Only",
+