diff --git a/src/documents/management/commands/document_importer.py b/src/documents/management/commands/document_importer.py
index c33b6b4ee..418b2bb40 100644
--- a/src/documents/management/commands/document_importer.py
+++ b/src/documents/management/commands/document_importer.py
@@ -370,7 +370,12 @@ class Command(CryptMixin, BaseCommand):
         self.stdout.write("Copy files into paperless...")
 
         document_records = [
-            record
+            {
+                "pk": record["pk"],
+                EXPORTER_FILE_NAME: record[EXPORTER_FILE_NAME],
+                EXPORTER_THUMBNAIL_NAME: record.get(EXPORTER_THUMBNAIL_NAME),
+                EXPORTER_ARCHIVE_NAME: record.get(EXPORTER_ARCHIVE_NAME),
+            }
             for manifest_path in self.manifest_paths
             for record in iter_manifest_records(manifest_path)
             if record["model"] == "documents.document"
@@ -382,13 +387,13 @@ class Command(CryptMixin, BaseCommand):
             doc_file = record[EXPORTER_FILE_NAME]
             document_path = self.source / doc_file
 
-            if EXPORTER_THUMBNAIL_NAME in record:
+            if record[EXPORTER_THUMBNAIL_NAME]:
                 thumb_file = record[EXPORTER_THUMBNAIL_NAME]
                 thumbnail_path = (self.source / thumb_file).resolve()
             else:
                 thumbnail_path = None
 
-            if EXPORTER_ARCHIVE_NAME in record:
+            if record[EXPORTER_ARCHIVE_NAME]:
                 archive_file = record[EXPORTER_ARCHIVE_NAME]
                 archive_path = self.source / archive_file
             else:
diff --git a/src/documents/tests/test_importer_profile_phase4.py b/src/documents/tests/test_importer_profile_phase4.py
index cc8d236ef..41a9fb379 100644
--- a/src/documents/tests/test_importer_profile_phase4.py
+++ b/src/documents/tests/test_importer_profile_phase4.py
@@ -99,3 +99,30 @@ class TestImporterProfilePhase4(DirectoriesMixin, SampleDirMixin, TestCase):
                         first = False
                     out.write("\n]\n")
         tmp_path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+
+        # Baseline: full record list (old _import_files_from_manifest approach)
+        with profile_block("baseline: full record list (doc records only)"):
+            _ = [
+                record
+                for path in manifest_paths
+                for record in iter_manifest_records(path)
+                if record["model"] == "documents.document"
+            ]
+
+        # New: slim dict list (current _import_files_from_manifest approach)
+        from documents.settings import EXPORTER_ARCHIVE_NAME
+        from documents.settings import EXPORTER_FILE_NAME
+        from documents.settings import EXPORTER_THUMBNAIL_NAME
+
+        with profile_block("new: slim dict list (4 keys only)"):
+            _ = [
+                {
+                    "pk": record["pk"],
+                    EXPORTER_FILE_NAME: record[EXPORTER_FILE_NAME],
+                    EXPORTER_THUMBNAIL_NAME: record.get(EXPORTER_THUMBNAIL_NAME),
+                    EXPORTER_ARCHIVE_NAME: record.get(EXPORTER_ARCHIVE_NAME),
+                }
+                for path in manifest_paths
+                for record in iter_manifest_records(path)
+                if record["model"] == "documents.document"
+            ]