diff --git a/rdmo/conditions/renderers/__init__.py b/rdmo/conditions/renderers/__init__.py
index e597e65fb9..3e2dfd4e7e 100644
--- a/rdmo/conditions/renderers/__init__.py
+++ b/rdmo/conditions/renderers/__init__.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ def render_document(self, xml, conditions):
         xml.startElement('rdmo', {
             'xmlns:dc': 'http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/',
             'version': self.version,
+            'required': self.required,
             'created': self.created
         })
         for condition in conditions:
diff --git a/rdmo/core/renderers.py b/rdmo/core/renderers.py
index 91e7e8417b..9d64d1175c 100644
--- a/rdmo/core/renderers.py
+++ b/rdmo/core/renderers.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import re
 from io import StringIO
 
+from django.conf import settings
 from django.utils.encoding import smart_str
 from django.utils.timezone import get_current_timezone, now
 from django.utils.xmlutils import SimplerXMLGenerator
@@ -51,6 +52,10 @@ def render_document(self, xml, data):
     def version(self):
         return __version__
 
+    @property
+    def required(self):
+        return settings.EXPORT_MIN_REQUIRED_VERSION
+
     @property
     def created(self):
         return now().astimezone(get_current_timezone()).isoformat()
diff --git a/rdmo/core/settings.py b/rdmo/core/settings.py
index c6610be4de..29f701ee46 100644
--- a/rdmo/core/settings.py
+++ b/rdmo/core/settings.py
@@ -295,6 +295,8 @@
 
 EXPORT_CONTENT_DISPOSITION = 'attachment'
 
+EXPORT_MIN_REQUIRED_VERSION = '2.1.0'
+
 PROJECT_TABLE_PAGE_SIZE = 20
 
 PROJECT_VISIBILITY = True
diff --git a/rdmo/core/tests/test_renderers.py b/rdmo/core/tests/test_renderers.py
index a57b3417ea..8782a7b3a4 100644
--- a/rdmo/core/tests/test_renderers.py
+++ b/rdmo/core/tests/test_renderers.py
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+from django.conf import settings
+
+from rdmo import __version__
+
 from ..renderers import BaseXMLRenderer
 
 
@@ -7,6 +11,7 @@ def render_document(self, xml, data):
         xml.startElement('rdmo', {
             'xmlns:dc': "http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/",
             'version': self.version,
+            'required': self.required,
             'created': self.created
         })
         self.render_text_element(xml, 'text', {}, data['text'])
@@ -17,6 +22,8 @@ def test_render():
     renderer = TestRenderer()
     xml = renderer.render({'text': 'test'})
     assert '<text>test</text>' in xml
+    assert f'version="{__version__}"' in xml
+    assert f'required="{settings.EXPORT_MIN_REQUIRED_VERSION}"' in xml
 
 
 def test_render_ascii_code():
diff --git a/rdmo/core/xml.py b/rdmo/core/xml.py
index 264977352e..5d1cd10894 100644
--- a/rdmo/core/xml.py
+++ b/rdmo/core/xml.py
@@ -45,17 +45,49 @@ def validate_root(root: Optional[xmlElement]) -> Tuple[bool, Optional[str]]:
 
 
 def validate_and_get_xml_version_from_root(root: xmlElement) -> Tuple[Optional[Version], list]:
-    unparsed_root_version = root.attrib.get('version') or LEGACY_RDMO_XML_VERSION
-    root_version, rdmo_version = parse(unparsed_root_version), parse(RDMO_INSTANCE_VERSION)
-    if root_version > rdmo_version:
-        logger.info('Import failed version validation (%s > %s)', root_version, rdmo_version)
+    rdmo_version = parse(RDMO_INSTANCE_VERSION)
+
+    # Extract version attributes from the XML root
+    unparsed_required_version = root.attrib.get('required')  # New required version field
+    unparsed_root_version = root.attrib.get('version') or LEGACY_RDMO_XML_VERSION  # Fallback to legacy default
+
+    # Validate the 'required' attribute if it exists
+    if unparsed_required_version:
+        try:
+            required_version = parse(unparsed_required_version)
+        except ValueError:
+            logger.info('Import failed: Invalid "required" format in XML (%s)', unparsed_required_version)
+            errors = [_('The "required" attribute in this RDMO XML file is not a valid version.')]
+            return None, errors
+
+        if required_version > rdmo_version:
+            logger.info('Import failed: Required version (%s) > RDMO instance version (%s)', required_version,
+                        rdmo_version)
+            errors = [
+                _('This RDMO XML file requires a newer RDMO version to be imported.'),
+                f'Required version: {required_version}, Current version: {rdmo_version}.'
+            ]
+            return None, errors
+
+    # Fallback to validate the legacy 'version' field
+    try:
+        xml_version = parse(unparsed_root_version)
+
+    except ValueError:
+        logger.info('Import failed: Invalid "version" format in XML (%s)', unparsed_root_version)
+        errors = [_('The "version" attribute in this RDMO XML file is not a valid version.')]
+        return None, errors
+
+    # RDMO 1.x can not import XMLs from RDMO 2.x
+    if rdmo_version < parse('2.0.0') and xml_version >= parse('2.0.0'):
+        logger.info('Import failed: Backwards compatibility is not supported for RDMO versions < 2.0.0')
         errors = [
-            _('This RDMO XML file does not have a valid version number.'),
-            f'XML Version ({root_version}) is greater than RDMO instance version {rdmo_version}'
+            _('This RDMO XML file was created with a newer version of RDMO and cannot be imported.'),
+            _('Backwards compatibility is not supported for RDMO versions lower than 2.0.0.')
         ]
         return None, errors
-    return root_version, []
 
+    return xml_version, []
 
 def validate_legacy_elements(elements: dict, root_version: Version) -> list:
 
@@ -117,13 +149,13 @@ def parse_xml_to_elements(xml_file=None) -> Tuple[OrderedDict, list]:
         return OrderedDict(), errors
 
     # step 3.1.1: validate the legacy elements
-    legacy_errors = validate_legacy_elements(elements, parse(root.attrib.get('version', LEGACY_RDMO_XML_VERSION)))
+    legacy_errors = validate_legacy_elements(elements, root_version)
     if legacy_errors:
         errors.extend(legacy_errors)
         return OrderedDict(), errors
 
     # step 4: convert elements from previous versions
-    elements = convert_elements(elements, parse(root.attrib.get('version', LEGACY_RDMO_XML_VERSION)))
+    elements = convert_elements(elements, root_version)
 
     # step 5: order the elements and return
     # ordering of elements is done in the import_elements function
@@ -232,9 +264,6 @@ def strip_ns(tag, ns_map):
 
 
 def convert_elements(elements, version: Version):
-    if not isinstance(version, Version):
-        raise TypeError('Version should be of parsed version type.')
-
     if version < parse('2.0.0'):
         validate_pre_conversion_for_missing_key_in_legacy_elements(elements, version)
         elements = convert_legacy_elements(elements)
diff --git a/rdmo/domain/renderers/__init__.py b/rdmo/domain/renderers/__init__.py
index fce1febd34..91580f4d90 100644
--- a/rdmo/domain/renderers/__init__.py
+++ b/rdmo/domain/renderers/__init__.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ def render_document(self, xml, attributes):
         xml.startElement('rdmo', {
             'xmlns:dc': "http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/",
             'version': self.version,
+            'required': self.required,
             'created': self.created
         })
         for attribute in attributes:
diff --git a/rdmo/management/tests/helpers_xml.py b/rdmo/management/tests/helpers_xml.py
index d5fd64a420..97b719baf0 100644
--- a/rdmo/management/tests/helpers_xml.py
+++ b/rdmo/management/tests/helpers_xml.py
@@ -1,25 +1,30 @@
+from packaging.version import parse
 
+from rdmo import __version__
 from rdmo.core.xml import parse_xml_to_elements, read_xml, resolve_file
 
+current_version = parse(__version__)
+
 xml_test_files = {
     "xml/elements/catalogs.xml":
         None,
     "xml/elements/updated-and-changed/optionsets-1.xml":
         None,
     'file-does-not-exist.xml':
-        'This file does not exists',
+        'This field may not be blank.',  # or 'This file does not exists'
     "xml/error.xml":
         "The content of the XML file does not consist of well-formed data or markup. XML Parsing Error: syntax error: line 1, column 0",  # noqa: E501
     "xml/project.xml":
         "This XML does not contain RDMO content.",
     'xml/error-version.xml':
-        'This RDMO XML file does not have a valid version number. XML Version (99.9.9) is greater',
+        'The "version" attribute in this RDMO XML file is not a valid version.',
+    'xml/error-version-required.xml':
+        f'This RDMO XML file requires a newer RDMO version to be imported. Required version: 99.9.9, Current version: {current_version}',  # noqa: E501
     'xml/elements/legacy/catalog-error-key.xml':
         'XML Parsing Error: Missing legacy elements',
 }
 
 xml_error_files = {k: v for k,v in xml_test_files.items() if v is not None}
-xml_error_files['file-does-not-exist.xml'] = 'This field may not be blank.'
 
 def read_xml_and_parse_to_root_and_elements(file):
     errors = []
diff --git a/rdmo/management/tests/test_commands.py b/rdmo/management/tests/test_commands.py
index e3263b1925..661ac47571 100644
--- a/rdmo/management/tests/test_commands.py
+++ b/rdmo/management/tests/test_commands.py
@@ -23,4 +23,6 @@ def test_import(db, settings, xml_file_path, error_message):
         with pytest.raises(CommandError) as e:
             call_command('import', xml_file, stdout=stdout, stderr=stderr)
 
+        if error_message == 'This field may not be blank.':
+            error_message = 'This file does not exists'  # overwrite error message for cli import
         assert str(e.value).startswith(error_message)
diff --git a/rdmo/options/renderers/__init__.py b/rdmo/options/renderers/__init__.py
index 41e18c2e63..f7342577bd 100644
--- a/rdmo/options/renderers/__init__.py
+++ b/rdmo/options/renderers/__init__.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ def render_document(self, xml, optionsets):
         xml.startElement('rdmo', {
             'xmlns:dc': 'http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/',
             'version': self.version,
+            'required': self.required,
             'created': self.created
         })
         for optionset in optionsets:
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ def render_document(self, xml, options):
         xml.startElement('rdmo', {
             'xmlns:dc': 'http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/',
             'version': self.version,
+            'required': self.required,
             'created': self.created
         })
         for option in options:
diff --git a/rdmo/projects/renderers.py b/rdmo/projects/renderers.py
index 2a3e543418..75d18a1442 100644
--- a/rdmo/projects/renderers.py
+++ b/rdmo/projects/renderers.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ def render_document(self, xml, project):
         xml.startElement('project', {
             'xmlns:dc': 'http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/',
             'version': self.version,
+            'required': self.required,
             'created': self.created
         })
         self.render_text_element(xml, 'title', {}, project['title'])
diff --git a/rdmo/questions/renderers/__init__.py b/rdmo/questions/renderers/__init__.py
index 112ee856be..81e6753a0f 100644
--- a/rdmo/questions/renderers/__init__.py
+++ b/rdmo/questions/renderers/__init__.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ def render_document(self, xml, catalogs):
         xml.startElement('rdmo', {
             'xmlns:dc': 'http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/',
             'version': self.version,
+            'required': self.required,
             'created': self.created
         })
         for catalog in catalogs:
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ def render_document(self, xml, sections):
         xml.startElement('rdmo', {
             'xmlns:dc': 'http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/',
             'version': self.version,
+            'required': self.required,
             'created': self.created
         })
         for section in sections:
@@ -49,6 +51,7 @@ def render_document(self, xml, pages):
         xml.startElement('rdmo', {
             'xmlns:dc': 'http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/',
             'version': self.version,
+            'required': self.required,
             'created': self.created
         })
         for page in pages:
@@ -63,6 +66,7 @@ def render_document(self, xml, questionsets):
         xml.startElement('rdmo', {
             'xmlns:dc': 'http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/',
             'version': self.version,
+            'required': self.required,
             'created': self.created
         })
         for questionset in questionsets:
@@ -77,6 +81,7 @@ def render_document(self, xml, questions):
         xml.startElement('rdmo', {
             'xmlns:dc': 'http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/',
             'version': self.version,
+            'required': self.required,
             'created': self.created
         })
         for question in questions:
diff --git a/rdmo/tasks/renderers/__init__.py b/rdmo/tasks/renderers/__init__.py
index 4257b7e3f2..7244d57f57 100644
--- a/rdmo/tasks/renderers/__init__.py
+++ b/rdmo/tasks/renderers/__init__.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ def render_document(self, xml, tasks):
         xml.startElement('rdmo', {
             'xmlns:dc': 'http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/',
             'version': self.version,
+            'required': self.required,
             'created': self.created
         })
         for task in tasks:
diff --git a/rdmo/views/renderers/__init__.py b/rdmo/views/renderers/__init__.py
index 02ee2c3ebe..fb7cebec49 100644
--- a/rdmo/views/renderers/__init__.py
+++ b/rdmo/views/renderers/__init__.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ def render_document(self, xml, views):
         xml.startElement('rdmo', {
             'xmlns:dc': 'http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/',
             'version': self.version,
+            'required': self.required,
             'created': self.created
         })
         for view in views:
diff --git a/testing/xml/error-version-required.xml b/testing/xml/error-version-required.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7c4347d3d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/xml/error-version-required.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<rdmo xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" created="2023-04-20T09:39:10.351808+02:00" version="99.9.9" required="99.9.9">
+</rdmo>
diff --git a/testing/xml/error-version.xml b/testing/xml/error-version.xml
index efaaccaf70..2bdff9578c 100644
--- a/testing/xml/error-version.xml
+++ b/testing/xml/error-version.xml
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-<rdmo xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" created="2023-04-20T09:39:10.351808+02:00" version="99.9.9">
+<rdmo xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" created="2023-04-20T09:39:10.351808+02:00" version="error.version.0">
 </rdmo>