diff --git a/app/models/pafs_core/area.rb b/app/models/pafs_core/area.rb
index 2fe5df7a..055e4fe8 100644
--- a/app/models/pafs_core/area.rb
+++ b/app/models/pafs_core/area.rb
@@ -10,8 +10,12 @@ class Area < ApplicationRecord
       AUTHORITY = "Authority"
     ].freeze
 
+    attr_accessor :skip_identifier_validation
+
     validates :name, :area_type, presence: true
     validates :name, uniqueness: true
+    validates :identifier, presence: true, if: :rma? || :authority?, unless: :skip_identifier_validation
+    validates :identifier, uniqueness: true, if: :rma? || :authority?, unless: :skip_identifier_validation
     validate :parentage
     validates :area_type, inclusion: { in: AREA_TYPES }
     validates :sub_type, presence: true, if: :rma?
diff --git a/app/services/pafs_core/area_importer.rb b/app/services/pafs_core/area_importer.rb
index b8138579..ce2e8adf 100644
--- a/app/services/pafs_core/area_importer.rb
+++ b/app/services/pafs_core/area_importer.rb
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ def create_child_records(areas_grouped_by_parent)
           if parent || child["type"] == PafsCore::Area::AREA_TYPES[0]
             begin
               a = Area.new(area)
+              a.skip_identifier_validation = true
               a.save!
             rescue StandardError => e
               report_error(e.message, child)
diff --git a/spec/factories/areas.rb b/spec/factories/areas.rb
index 7712612a..15239d48 100644
--- a/spec/factories/areas.rb
+++ b/spec/factories/areas.rb
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@
 
     factory :rma_area do
       area_type { "RMA" }
+      identifier { Faker::Lorem.characters(number: 10) }
       sub_type { PafsCore::Area.authorities.first&.identifier || create(:authority).identifier }
 
       parent { PafsCore::Area.country || create(:country) }