diff --git a/admin/tool/uploaduser/index.php b/admin/tool/uploaduser/index.php
index 30a0dbf15e9..c052d1cfcbc 100644
--- a/admin/tool/uploaduser/index.php
+++ b/admin/tool/uploaduser/index.php
@@ -1110,9 +1110,6 @@ while ($linenum <= $previewrows and $fields = $cir->next()) {
 
     if (isset($rowcols['city'])) {
         $rowcols['city'] = trim($rowcols['city']);
-        if (empty($rowcols['city'])) {
-            $rowcols['status'][] = get_string('fieldrequired', 'error', 'city');
-        }
     }
     // Check if rowcols have custom profile field with correct data and update error state.
     $noerror = uu_check_custom_profile_data($rowcols) && $noerror;
diff --git a/admin/tool/uploaduser/user_form.php b/admin/tool/uploaduser/user_form.php
index b8341bdf7f0..b377a9b2568 100644
--- a/admin/tool/uploaduser/user_form.php
+++ b/admin/tool/uploaduser/user_form.php
@@ -257,9 +257,10 @@ class admin_uploaduser_form2 extends moodleform {
         } else {
             $mform->setDefault('city', $CFG->defaultcity);
         }
-        $mform->addRule('city', get_string('required'), 'required');
 
-        $mform->addElement('select', 'country', get_string('selectacountry'), get_string_manager()->get_list_of_countries());
+        $choices = get_string_manager()->get_list_of_countries();
+        $choices = array(''=>get_string('selectacountry').'...') + $choices;
+        $mform->addElement('select', 'country', get_string('selectacountry'), $choices);
         if (empty($CFG->country)) {
             $mform->setDefault('country', $templateuser->country);
         } else {