diff --git a/lib/import_export/category_importer.rb b/lib/import_export/category_importer.rb
index 9b21b7aa265..25b57acfcb9 100644
--- a/lib/import_export/category_importer.rb
+++ b/lib/import_export/category_importer.rb
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ module ImportExport
         parent = Category.new(@export_data[:category])
         parent.user_id = @topic_importer.new_user_id(@export_data[:category][:user_id]) # imported user's new id
         parent.custom_fields["import_id"] = id
-        parent.permissions = permissions if permissions
+        parent.permissions = permissions.present? ? permissions : {"everyone" => CategoryGroup.permission_types[:full]}
         parent.save!
         set_category_description(parent, @export_data[:category][:description])
       end
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ module ImportExport
           subcategory.parent_category_id = parent.id
           subcategory.user_id = @topic_importer.new_user_id(cat_attrs[:user_id])
           subcategory.custom_fields["import_id"] = id
-          subcategory.permissions = permissions if permissions
+          subcategory.permissions = permissions.present? ? permissions : {"everyone" => CategoryGroup.permission_types[:full]}
           subcategory.save!
           set_category_description(subcategory, cat_attrs[:description])
         end