diff --git a/api/v3/permission_converters.py b/api/v3/permission_converters.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6837438
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/v3/permission_converters.py
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+# Copyright 2020 The Chromium Authors. All rights reserved.
+# Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+# license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+from __future__ import print_function
+from __future__ import division
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
+from framework import permissions
+from framework import exceptions
+from api.v3.api_proto import permission_objects_pb2
+
+# Global dictionaries to map backend permission strings to
+# API Permission enum values.
+
+HOTLIST_PERMISSIONS_MAP = {
+    permissions.EDIT_HOTLIST:
+        permission_objects_pb2.Permission.Value('HOTLIST_EDIT'),
+    permissions.ADMINISTER_HOTLIST:
+        permission_objects_pb2.Permission.Value('HOTLIST_ADMINISTER')
+}
+
+FIELDDEF_PERMISSIONS_MAP = {
+    permissions.EDIT_FIELD_DEF:
+        permission_objects_pb2.Permission.Value('FIELD_DEF_EDIT'),
+    permissions.EDIT_FIELD_DEF_VALUE:
+        permission_objects_pb2.Permission.Value('FIELD_DEF_VALUE_EDIT')
+}
+
+# TODO(crbug/monorail/7339): Create a common _ConvertPermissions(permissions,
+# permissions_map)
+
+
+def ConvertHotlistPermissions(hotlist_permissions):
+  # type: (Sequence[str]) -> Sequence[permission_objects_pb2.Permission]
+  """Converts hotlist permission strings into protoc Permission enum values."""
+  api_permissions = []
+  for permission in hotlist_permissions:
+    api_permission = HOTLIST_PERMISSIONS_MAP.get(permission)
+    if not api_permission:
+      raise exceptions.InputException(
+          'Unrecognized hotlist permission: %s' % permission)
+    api_permissions.append(api_permission)
+
+  return api_permissions
+
+
+def ConvertFieldDefPermissions(field_permissions):
+  # type: (Sequence[str]) -> Sequence[permission_objects_pb2.Permission]
+  """Converts field permission strings into protoc Permission enum values."""
+  api_permissions = []
+  for permission in field_permissions:
+    api_permission = FIELDDEF_PERMISSIONS_MAP.get(permission)
+    if not api_permission:
+      raise exceptions.InputException(
+          'Unrecognized field permission: %s' % permission)
+    api_permissions.append(api_permission)
+
+  return api_permissions
+
+
+# TODO(crbug/monorail/7339): Implement all ConvertFooPermissions methods.