diff --git a/src/mckicad/server.py b/src/mckicad/server.py
index 0f0d53f..e725170 100644
--- a/src/mckicad/server.py
+++ b/src/mckicad/server.py
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ from mckicad.tools import (  # noqa: E402, F401
     bom,
     drc,
     export,
+    netlist,
     pcb,
     power_symbols,
     project,
diff --git a/src/mckicad/tools/netlist.py b/src/mckicad/tools/netlist.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e5dd4af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mckicad/tools/netlist.py
@@ -0,0 +1,295 @@
+"""Netlist import tools for the mckicad MCP server.
+
+Parses external netlist files into the component-pin-net graph that
+``verify_connectivity`` and ``apply_batch`` consume.  Supports KiCad
+XML (.net) and CSV/TSV formats.
+"""
+
+import csv
+import io
+import json
+import logging
+import os
+from typing import Any
+import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
+
+from mckicad.server import mcp
+from mckicad.utils.file_utils import write_detail_file
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Format-specific parsers
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def _parse_kicad_xml(content: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Parse a KiCad XML netlist (.net file) into nets/components dicts.
+
+    KiCad XML structure::
+
+        <export version="D">
+          <components>
+            <comp ref="R1"><value>1K</value>...</comp>
+          </components>
+          <nets>
+            <net code="1" name="GND">
+              <node ref="R2" pin="1"/>
+            </net>
+          </nets>
+        </export>
+    """
+    root = ET.fromstring(content)
+
+    # Parse components
+    components: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {}
+    comp_section = root.find("components")
+    if comp_section is not None:
+        for comp in comp_section.findall("comp"):
+            ref = comp.get("ref", "")
+            if not ref:
+                continue
+            value_el = comp.find("value")
+            footprint_el = comp.find("footprint")
+            libsource = comp.find("libsource")
+            components[ref] = {
+                "value": value_el.text if value_el is not None and value_el.text else "",
+                "footprint": footprint_el.text if footprint_el is not None and footprint_el.text else "",
+                "lib": libsource.get("lib", "") if libsource is not None else "",
+                "part": libsource.get("part", "") if libsource is not None else "",
+            }
+
+    # Parse nets
+    nets: dict[str, list[list[str]]] = {}
+    connection_count = 0
+    nets_section = root.find("nets")
+    if nets_section is not None:
+        for net_el in nets_section.findall("net"):
+            net_name = net_el.get("name", "")
+            if not net_name:
+                continue
+            pins: list[list[str]] = []
+            for node in net_el.findall("node"):
+                ref = node.get("ref", "")
+                pin = node.get("pin", "")
+                if ref and pin:
+                    pins.append([ref, pin])
+                    connection_count += 1
+            if pins:
+                nets[net_name] = pins
+
+    return {
+        "nets": nets,
+        "components": components,
+        "statistics": {
+            "net_count": len(nets),
+            "component_count": len(components),
+            "connection_count": connection_count,
+        },
+    }
+
+
+def _parse_csv(content: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Parse a CSV/TSV netlist into nets/components dicts.
+
+    Expects columns that include at least ``Reference``, ``Pin``, and ``Net``.
+    Column names are matched case-insensitively.  Both comma and tab
+    delimiters are auto-detected.
+    """
+    # Auto-detect delimiter
+    delimiter = "\t" if "\t" in content.split("\n", 1)[0] else ","
+
+    reader = csv.DictReader(io.StringIO(content), delimiter=delimiter)
+    if reader.fieldnames is None:
+        raise ValueError("CSV file has no header row")
+
+    # Normalise header names to lowercase for flexible matching
+    field_map: dict[str, str] = {}
+    for f in reader.fieldnames:
+        fl = f.strip().lower()
+        field_map[fl] = f
+
+    # Find the columns we need
+    ref_col = field_map.get("reference") or field_map.get("ref") or field_map.get("designator")
+    pin_col = field_map.get("pin") or field_map.get("pin_number") or field_map.get("pin number")
+    net_col = field_map.get("net") or field_map.get("net_name") or field_map.get("net name")
+
+    if not ref_col:
+        raise ValueError("CSV missing 'Reference' (or 'Ref', 'Designator') column")
+    if not pin_col:
+        raise ValueError("CSV missing 'Pin' (or 'Pin_Number', 'Pin Number') column")
+    if not net_col:
+        raise ValueError("CSV missing 'Net' (or 'Net_Name', 'Net Name') column")
+
+    nets: dict[str, list[list[str]]] = {}
+    components: set[str] = set()
+    connection_count = 0
+
+    for row in reader:
+        ref = (row.get(ref_col) or "").strip()
+        pin = (row.get(pin_col) or "").strip()
+        net_name = (row.get(net_col) or "").strip()
+        if not ref or not pin or not net_name:
+            continue
+        nets.setdefault(net_name, []).append([ref, pin])
+        components.add(ref)
+        connection_count += 1
+
+    # Return components as a simple dict (no value/footprint info from CSV)
+    comp_dict: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {ref: {} for ref in sorted(components)}
+
+    return {
+        "nets": nets,
+        "components": comp_dict,
+        "statistics": {
+            "net_count": len(nets),
+            "component_count": len(components),
+            "connection_count": connection_count,
+        },
+    }
+
+
+def _detect_format(content: str, file_path: str) -> str:
+    """Auto-detect netlist format from file extension and content."""
+    ext = os.path.splitext(file_path)[1].lower()
+
+    # Extension-based detection
+    if ext == ".net":
+        return "kicad_xml"
+    if ext in (".csv", ".tsv"):
+        return "csv"
+    if ext == ".xml":
+        return "kicad_xml"
+
+    # Content-based detection
+    stripped = content.lstrip()
+    if stripped.startswith("<?xml") or stripped.startswith("<export"):
+        return "kicad_xml"
+
+    # Check for CSV header pattern
+    first_line = stripped.split("\n", 1)[0].lower()
+    if any(kw in first_line for kw in ("reference", "designator", "ref,")):
+        return "csv"
+
+    return "unknown"
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# MCP tool
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+@mcp.tool()
+def import_netlist(
+    source_path: str,
+    format: str = "auto",
+    output_path: str | None = None,
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Import a netlist file and extract the component-pin-net graph.
+
+    Parses an external netlist into a structured JSON representation
+    suitable for ``verify_connectivity`` (as the ``expected`` parameter)
+    or for generating ``apply_batch`` wiring instructions.
+
+    Supported formats:
+    - ``kicad_xml`` — KiCad intermediate netlist (.net XML).  Most reliable
+      source, exported via ``kicad-cli sch export netlist``.
+    - ``csv`` — CSV or TSV with Reference, Pin, and Net columns.  Common
+      export from EDA tools (Altium, Eagle, etc.).
+    - ``auto`` — detect format from file extension and content (default).
+
+    Args:
+        source_path: Path to the netlist file to import.
+        format: Netlist format (``auto``, ``kicad_xml``, ``csv``).
+        output_path: Optional path to write the parsed result as JSON.
+            Defaults to ``.mckicad/imported_netlist.json`` next to
+            the source file.
+
+    Returns:
+        Dictionary with ``nets`` (net_name → [[ref, pin], ...]),
+        ``components`` (ref → metadata dict), and ``statistics``.
+        The ``nets`` dict is directly compatible with
+        ``verify_connectivity``'s ``expected`` parameter.
+    """
+    source_path = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(source_path))
+
+    if not os.path.isfile(source_path):
+        return {
+            "success": False,
+            "error": f"Source file not found: {source_path}",
+        }
+
+    allowed_formats = ("auto", "kicad_xml", "csv")
+    fmt = format.lower().strip()
+    if fmt not in allowed_formats:
+        return {
+            "success": False,
+            "error": f"Unsupported format: {format}. Allowed: {', '.join(allowed_formats)}",
+        }
+
+    try:
+        with open(source_path) as f:
+            content = f.read()
+    except Exception as e:
+        return {"success": False, "error": f"Failed to read file: {e}"}
+
+    if not content.strip():
+        return {"success": False, "error": "Source file is empty"}
+
+    # Detect format if auto
+    if fmt == "auto":
+        fmt = _detect_format(content, source_path)
+        if fmt == "unknown":
+            return {
+                "success": False,
+                "error": (
+                    "Could not auto-detect netlist format. "
+                    "Specify format='kicad_xml' or format='csv' explicitly."
+                ),
+            }
+
+    # Parse
+    try:
+        if fmt == "kicad_xml":
+            parsed = _parse_kicad_xml(content)
+        elif fmt == "csv":
+            parsed = _parse_csv(content)
+        else:
+            return {"success": False, "error": f"Parser not implemented for format: {fmt}"}
+    except ET.ParseError as e:
+        return {"success": False, "error": f"XML parse error: {e}"}
+    except ValueError as e:
+        return {"success": False, "error": str(e)}
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error("Netlist import failed: %s", e, exc_info=True)
+        return {"success": False, "error": f"Parse error: {e}"}
+
+    stats = parsed["statistics"]
+    logger.info(
+        "Imported netlist from %s (%s): %d nets, %d components, %d connections",
+        os.path.basename(source_path), fmt,
+        stats["net_count"], stats["component_count"], stats["connection_count"],
+    )
+
+    result: dict[str, Any] = {
+        "success": True,
+        "format_detected": fmt,
+        "source_path": source_path,
+        **parsed,
+    }
+
+    # Write output JSON
+    if output_path:
+        out = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(output_path))
+        os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(out) or ".", exist_ok=True)
+        with open(out, "w") as f:
+            json.dump(parsed, f, indent=2)
+    else:
+        out = write_detail_file(
+            source_path, "imported_netlist.json", parsed,
+        )
+
+    result["output_path"] = out
+
+    return result
diff --git a/tests/test_netlist.py b/tests/test_netlist.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d21bde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_netlist.py
@@ -0,0 +1,286 @@
+"""Tests for netlist import tools."""
+
+import json
+import os
+import textwrap
+
+import pytest
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+class TestParseKicadXml:
+    """Tests for KiCad XML netlist parsing."""
+
+    def test_parse_basic_netlist(self, tmp_output_dir):
+        from mckicad.tools.netlist import import_netlist
+
+        xml_content = textwrap.dedent("""\
+            <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+            <export version="D">
+              <components>
+                <comp ref="R1">
+                  <value>10k</value>
+                  <footprint>Resistor_SMD:R_0402</footprint>
+                  <libsource lib="Device" part="R"/>
+                </comp>
+                <comp ref="R2">
+                  <value>4.7k</value>
+                  <footprint>Resistor_SMD:R_0402</footprint>
+                  <libsource lib="Device" part="R"/>
+                </comp>
+                <comp ref="C1">
+                  <value>100nF</value>
+                  <footprint>Capacitor_SMD:C_0402</footprint>
+                  <libsource lib="Device" part="C"/>
+                </comp>
+              </components>
+              <nets>
+                <net code="1" name="GND">
+                  <node ref="R1" pin="2"/>
+                  <node ref="C1" pin="2"/>
+                </net>
+                <net code="2" name="VCC">
+                  <node ref="R1" pin="1"/>
+                  <node ref="R2" pin="1"/>
+                </net>
+                <net code="3" name="SIG">
+                  <node ref="R2" pin="2"/>
+                  <node ref="C1" pin="1"/>
+                </net>
+              </nets>
+            </export>
+        """)
+        path = os.path.join(tmp_output_dir, "test.net")
+        with open(path, "w") as f:
+            f.write(xml_content)
+
+        result = import_netlist(source_path=path)
+
+        assert result["success"] is True
+        assert result["format_detected"] == "kicad_xml"
+        assert result["statistics"]["net_count"] == 3
+        assert result["statistics"]["component_count"] == 3
+        assert result["statistics"]["connection_count"] == 6
+
+        # Check nets structure
+        nets = result["nets"]
+        assert "GND" in nets
+        assert ["R1", "2"] in nets["GND"]
+        assert ["C1", "2"] in nets["GND"]
+        assert "VCC" in nets
+        assert len(nets["VCC"]) == 2
+
+        # Check components
+        assert "R1" in result["components"]
+        assert result["components"]["R1"]["value"] == "10k"
+        assert result["components"]["R1"]["lib"] == "Device"
+
+    def test_auto_detects_xml_format(self, tmp_output_dir):
+        from mckicad.tools.netlist import import_netlist
+
+        xml = '<export version="D"><components/><nets/></export>'
+        path = os.path.join(tmp_output_dir, "test.xml")
+        with open(path, "w") as f:
+            f.write(xml)
+
+        result = import_netlist(source_path=path, format="auto")
+        assert result["success"] is True
+        assert result["format_detected"] == "kicad_xml"
+
+    def test_malformed_xml_returns_error(self, tmp_output_dir):
+        from mckicad.tools.netlist import import_netlist
+
+        path = os.path.join(tmp_output_dir, "bad.net")
+        with open(path, "w") as f:
+            f.write("<export><broken>")
+
+        result = import_netlist(source_path=path)
+        assert result["success"] is False
+        assert "XML parse error" in result["error"]
+
+    def test_verify_connectivity_compatible(self, tmp_output_dir):
+        """The nets dict is directly usable as verify_connectivity expected param."""
+        from mckicad.tools.netlist import import_netlist
+
+        xml = textwrap.dedent("""\
+            <export version="D">
+              <components>
+                <comp ref="U1"><value>IC</value></comp>
+              </components>
+              <nets>
+                <net code="1" name="NET1">
+                  <node ref="U1" pin="1"/>
+                  <node ref="R1" pin="2"/>
+                </net>
+              </nets>
+            </export>
+        """)
+        path = os.path.join(tmp_output_dir, "compat.net")
+        with open(path, "w") as f:
+            f.write(xml)
+
+        result = import_netlist(source_path=path)
+        assert result["success"] is True
+
+        # verify_connectivity expects: {"NET1": [["U1", "1"], ["R1", "2"]]}
+        nets = result["nets"]
+        assert "NET1" in nets
+        assert isinstance(nets["NET1"], list)
+        for pin_pair in nets["NET1"]:
+            assert isinstance(pin_pair, list)
+            assert len(pin_pair) == 2
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+class TestParseCsv:
+    """Tests for CSV/TSV netlist parsing."""
+
+    def test_parse_csv_netlist(self, tmp_output_dir):
+        from mckicad.tools.netlist import import_netlist
+
+        csv_content = textwrap.dedent("""\
+            Reference,Pin,Net
+            R1,1,VCC
+            R1,2,GND
+            C1,1,VCC
+            C1,2,GND
+        """)
+        path = os.path.join(tmp_output_dir, "test.csv")
+        with open(path, "w") as f:
+            f.write(csv_content)
+
+        result = import_netlist(source_path=path)
+        assert result["success"] is True
+        assert result["format_detected"] == "csv"
+        assert result["statistics"]["net_count"] == 2
+        assert result["statistics"]["component_count"] == 2
+        assert result["statistics"]["connection_count"] == 4
+
+        assert ["R1", "1"] in result["nets"]["VCC"]
+        assert ["C1", "2"] in result["nets"]["GND"]
+
+    def test_parse_tsv_netlist(self, tmp_output_dir):
+        from mckicad.tools.netlist import import_netlist
+
+        tsv_content = "Reference\tPin\tNet\nR1\t1\tVCC\nR1\t2\tGND\n"
+        path = os.path.join(tmp_output_dir, "test.tsv")
+        with open(path, "w") as f:
+            f.write(tsv_content)
+
+        result = import_netlist(source_path=path, format="csv")
+        assert result["success"] is True
+        assert result["statistics"]["connection_count"] == 2
+
+    def test_csv_missing_columns(self, tmp_output_dir):
+        from mckicad.tools.netlist import import_netlist
+
+        csv_content = "Name,Value\nR1,10k\n"
+        path = os.path.join(tmp_output_dir, "bad.csv")
+        with open(path, "w") as f:
+            f.write(csv_content)
+
+        result = import_netlist(source_path=path, format="csv")
+        assert result["success"] is False
+        assert "Reference" in result["error"]
+
+    def test_csv_alternative_column_names(self, tmp_output_dir):
+        from mckicad.tools.netlist import import_netlist
+
+        csv_content = "Designator,Pin Number,Net Name\nU1,3,SDA\nU1,4,SCL\n"
+        path = os.path.join(tmp_output_dir, "alt.csv")
+        with open(path, "w") as f:
+            f.write(csv_content)
+
+        result = import_netlist(source_path=path, format="csv")
+        assert result["success"] is True
+        assert "SDA" in result["nets"]
+        assert "SCL" in result["nets"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+class TestImportNetlistErrors:
+    """Tests for error handling in import_netlist."""
+
+    def test_nonexistent_file(self):
+        from mckicad.tools.netlist import import_netlist
+
+        result = import_netlist(source_path="/tmp/nonexistent_12345.net")
+        assert result["success"] is False
+        assert "not found" in result["error"]
+
+    def test_empty_file(self, tmp_output_dir):
+        from mckicad.tools.netlist import import_netlist
+
+        path = os.path.join(tmp_output_dir, "empty.net")
+        with open(path, "w") as f:
+            f.write("")
+
+        result = import_netlist(source_path=path)
+        assert result["success"] is False
+        assert "empty" in result["error"]
+
+    def test_unsupported_format(self, tmp_output_dir):
+        from mckicad.tools.netlist import import_netlist
+
+        path = os.path.join(tmp_output_dir, "test.net")
+        with open(path, "w") as f:
+            f.write("some content")
+
+        result = import_netlist(source_path=path, format="spice")
+        assert result["success"] is False
+        assert "Unsupported" in result["error"]
+
+    def test_unknown_format_auto(self, tmp_output_dir):
+        from mckicad.tools.netlist import import_netlist
+
+        path = os.path.join(tmp_output_dir, "mystery.dat")
+        with open(path, "w") as f:
+            f.write("random binary garbage 12345")
+
+        result = import_netlist(source_path=path)
+        assert result["success"] is False
+        assert "auto-detect" in result["error"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+class TestOutputFile:
+    """Tests for output file writing."""
+
+    def test_writes_output_json(self, tmp_output_dir):
+        from mckicad.tools.netlist import import_netlist
+
+        xml = textwrap.dedent("""\
+            <export version="D">
+              <components><comp ref="R1"><value>1k</value></comp></components>
+              <nets>
+                <net code="1" name="GND"><node ref="R1" pin="2"/></net>
+              </nets>
+            </export>
+        """)
+        src = os.path.join(tmp_output_dir, "test.net")
+        with open(src, "w") as f:
+            f.write(xml)
+
+        out = os.path.join(tmp_output_dir, "output.json")
+        result = import_netlist(source_path=src, output_path=out)
+        assert result["success"] is True
+        assert result["output_path"] == out
+        assert os.path.isfile(out)
+
+        with open(out) as f:
+            data = json.load(f)
+        assert "nets" in data
+        assert "GND" in data["nets"]
+
+    def test_default_output_path(self, tmp_output_dir):
+        from mckicad.tools.netlist import import_netlist
+
+        xml = '<export version="D"><components/><nets/></export>'
+        src = os.path.join(tmp_output_dir, "test.net")
+        with open(src, "w") as f:
+            f.write(xml)
+
+        result = import_netlist(source_path=src)
+        assert result["success"] is True
+        assert "output_path" in result
+        assert os.path.isfile(result["output_path"])