diff --git a/nipype/algorithms/icc.py b/nipype/algorithms/icc.py
index 36d2cb4221..0b7e2987d7 100644
--- a/nipype/algorithms/icc.py
+++ b/nipype/algorithms/icc.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from scipy.linalg import pinv
 from ..interfaces.base import BaseInterfaceInputSpec, TraitedSpec, \
     BaseInterface, traits, File
-from nipype.utils import NUMPY_MMAP
+from ..utils import NUMPY_MMAP
 
 
 class ICCInputSpec(BaseInterfaceInputSpec):
diff --git a/nipype/algorithms/metrics.py b/nipype/algorithms/metrics.py
index a184dbad20..2436d2542b 100644
--- a/nipype/algorithms/metrics.py
+++ b/nipype/algorithms/metrics.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 from ..interfaces.base import (BaseInterface, traits, TraitedSpec, File,
                                InputMultiPath,
                                BaseInterfaceInputSpec, isdefined)
-from nipype.utils import NUMPY_MMAP
+from ..utils import NUMPY_MMAP
 
 iflogger = logging.getLogger('interface')
 
diff --git a/nipype/algorithms/misc.py b/nipype/algorithms/misc.py
index 1014aef3c3..8b0bce02a9 100644
--- a/nipype/algorithms/misc.py
+++ b/nipype/algorithms/misc.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
                                BaseInterfaceInputSpec, isdefined,
                                DynamicTraitedSpec, Undefined)
 from ..utils.filemanip import fname_presuffix, split_filename
-from nipype.utils import NUMPY_MMAP
+from ..utils import NUMPY_MMAP
 
 from . import confounds
 
diff --git a/nipype/interfaces/dipy/preprocess.py b/nipype/interfaces/dipy/preprocess.py
index 64a66a2a6c..19b76b800b 100644
--- a/nipype/interfaces/dipy/preprocess.py
+++ b/nipype/interfaces/dipy/preprocess.py
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 import nibabel as nb
 import numpy as np
 
+from ...utils import NUMPY_MMAP
+
 from ... import logging
 from ..base import (traits, TraitedSpec, File, isdefined)
 from .base import DipyBaseInterface
@@ -179,7 +181,6 @@ def resample_proxy(in_file, order=3, new_zooms=None, out_file=None):
     Performs regridding of an image to set isotropic voxel sizes using dipy.
     """
     from dipy.align.reslice import reslice
-    from nipype.utils import NUMPY_MMAP
 
     if out_file is None:
         fname, fext = op.splitext(op.basename(in_file))
@@ -223,7 +224,6 @@ def nlmeans_proxy(in_file, settings,
     from dipy.denoise.nlmeans import nlmeans
     from scipy.ndimage.morphology import binary_erosion
     from scipy import ndimage
-    from nipype.utils import NUMPY_MMAP
 
     if out_file is None:
         fname, fext = op.splitext(op.basename(in_file))
diff --git a/nipype/interfaces/fsl/ICA_AROMA.py b/nipype/interfaces/fsl/ICA_AROMA.py
index a93dc7f37c..1577b48ce9 100644
--- a/nipype/interfaces/fsl/ICA_AROMA.py
+++ b/nipype/interfaces/fsl/ICA_AROMA.py
@@ -10,17 +10,12 @@
     ...                            '../../testing/data'))
     >>> os.chdir(datadir)
 """
-from nipype.interfaces.base import (
-    TraitedSpec,
-    CommandLineInputSpec,
-    CommandLine,
-    File,
-    Directory,
-    traits,
-    OutputMultiPath
-)
+from __future__ import print_function, division, unicode_literals, absolute_import
+from ..base import (TraitedSpec, CommandLineInputSpec, CommandLine,
+                    File, Directory, traits)
 import os
 
+
 class ICA_AROMAInputSpec(CommandLineInputSpec):
     feat_dir = Directory(exists=True, mandatory=True,
                          argstr='-feat %s',
diff --git a/nipype/interfaces/fsl/fix.py b/nipype/interfaces/fsl/fix.py
index d716c16659..0775cf62c5 100644
--- a/nipype/interfaces/fsl/fix.py
+++ b/nipype/interfaces/fsl/fix.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # emacs: -*- mode: python; py-indent-offset: 4; indent-tabs-mode: nil -*-
 # vi: set ft=python sts=4 ts=4 sw=4 et:
 """The fix module provides classes for interfacing with the `FSL FIX
@@ -53,8 +54,9 @@
 outgraph = fix_pipeline.run()
 
 """
+from __future__ import print_function, division, unicode_literals, absolute_import
 
-from nipype.interfaces.base import (
+from ..base import (
     TraitedSpec,
     CommandLineInputSpec,
     CommandLine,
@@ -64,13 +66,10 @@
     BaseInterfaceInputSpec,
     traits
 )
-from nipype.interfaces.traits_extension import (
-    Directory,
-    File,
-    isdefined
-)
+from ..traits_extension import Directory, File, isdefined
 import os
 
+
 class TrainingSetCreatorInputSpec(BaseInterfaceInputSpec):
     mel_icas_in = InputMultiPath(Directory(exists=True), copyfile=False,
                               desc='Melodic output directories',
diff --git a/nipype/interfaces/niftyseg/base.py b/nipype/interfaces/niftyseg/base.py
index a516cbd92f..8025349714 100644
--- a/nipype/interfaces/niftyseg/base.py
+++ b/nipype/interfaces/niftyseg/base.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # emacs: -*- mode: python; py-indent-offset: 4; indent-tabs-mode: nil -*-
 # vi: set ft=python sts=4 ts=4 sw=4 et:
 
@@ -15,9 +16,10 @@
 --------
 See the docstrings of the individual classes for examples.
 """
+from __future__ import print_function, division, unicode_literals, absolute_import
 
-from nipype.interfaces.niftyreg.base import no_nifty_package
-from nipype.interfaces.niftyfit.base import NiftyFitCommand
+from ..niftyreg.base import no_nifty_package
+from ..niftyfit.base import NiftyFitCommand
 import subprocess
 import warnings
 
diff --git a/nipype/interfaces/petpvc.py b/nipype/interfaces/petpvc.py
index e9479b512d..dbb3a25d1a 100644
--- a/nipype/interfaces/petpvc.py
+++ b/nipype/interfaces/petpvc.py
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@
 import os
 
 from .base import TraitedSpec, CommandLineInputSpec, CommandLine, File, isdefined, traits
-from ..external.due import due, Doi, BibTeX
+from ..utils.filemanip import fname_presuffix
+from ..external.due import BibTeX
 
 pvc_methods = ['GTM',
                'IY',
@@ -200,8 +201,6 @@ def _gen_fname(self, basename, cwd=None, suffix=None, change_ext=True,
             New filename based on given parameters.
 
         """
-        from nipype.utils.filemanip import fname_presuffix
-
         if basename == '':
             msg = 'Unable to generate filename for command %s. ' % self.cmd
             msg += 'basename is not set!'
diff --git a/nipype/interfaces/utility/wrappers.py b/nipype/interfaces/utility/wrappers.py
index 30b4e10e8f..4de11d7ea8 100644
--- a/nipype/interfaces/utility/wrappers.py
+++ b/nipype/interfaces/utility/wrappers.py
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@
 
 from builtins import str, bytes
 
-from nipype import logging
+from ... import logging
 from ..base import (traits, DynamicTraitedSpec, Undefined, isdefined, runtime_profile,
-                    BaseInterfaceInputSpec)
+                    BaseInterfaceInputSpec, get_max_resources_used)
 from ..io import IOBase, add_traits
 from ...utils.filemanip import filename_to_list
 from ...utils.misc import getsource, create_function_from_source
@@ -138,7 +138,6 @@ def _add_output_traits(self, base):
 
     def _run_interface(self, runtime):
         # Get workflow logger for runtime profile error reporting
-        from nipype import logging
         logger = logging.getLogger('workflow')
 
         # Create function handle
@@ -163,7 +162,6 @@ def _function_handle_wrapper(queue, **kwargs):
 
         # Profile resources if set
         if runtime_profile:
-            from nipype.interfaces.base import get_max_resources_used
             import multiprocessing
             # Init communication queue and proc objs
             queue = multiprocessing.Queue()
diff --git a/nipype/pipeline/engine/utils.py b/nipype/pipeline/engine/utils.py
index 0efd35534f..25b12ab607 100644
--- a/nipype/pipeline/engine/utils.py
+++ b/nipype/pipeline/engine/utils.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # emacs: -*- mode: python; py-indent-offset: 4; indent-tabs-mode: nil -*-
 # vi: set ft=python sts=4 ts=4 sw=4 et:
@@ -24,7 +23,7 @@
 import pickle
 from functools import reduce
 import numpy as np
-from nipype.utils.misc import package_check
+from ...utils.misc import package_check
 
 package_check('networkx', '1.3')
 
diff --git a/nipype/utils/__init__.py b/nipype/utils/__init__.py
index decca90323..4a0741e48e 100644
--- a/nipype/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/nipype/utils/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 
-from nipype.utils.config import NUMPY_MMAP
-from nipype.utils.onetime import OneTimeProperty, setattr_on_read
-from nipype.utils.tmpdirs import TemporaryDirectory, InTemporaryDirectory
+from .config import NUMPY_MMAP
+from .onetime import OneTimeProperty, setattr_on_read
+from .tmpdirs import TemporaryDirectory, InTemporaryDirectory
diff --git a/nipype/workflows/dmri/fsl/artifacts.py b/nipype/workflows/dmri/fsl/artifacts.py
index c581769ba3..cad1e43563 100644
--- a/nipype/workflows/dmri/fsl/artifacts.py
+++ b/nipype/workflows/dmri/fsl/artifacts.py
@@ -2,15 +2,15 @@
 # coding: utf-8
 # emacs: -*- mode: python; py-indent-offset: 4; indent-tabs-mode: nil -*-
 # vi: set ft=python sts=4 ts=4 sw=4 et:
-from __future__ import division
-
-from nipype.utils import NUMPY_MMAP
+from __future__ import print_function, division, unicode_literals, absolute_import
 
 from ....interfaces.io import JSONFileGrabber
 from ....interfaces import utility as niu
 from ....interfaces import ants
 from ....interfaces import fsl
 from ....pipeline import engine as pe
+from ...data import get_flirt_schedule
+
 from .utils import (b0_indices, time_avg, apply_all_corrections, b0_average,
                     hmc_split, dwi_flirt, eddy_rotate_bvecs, rotate_bvecs,
                     insert_mat, extract_bval, recompose_dwi, recompose_xfm,
@@ -354,8 +354,6 @@ def hmc_pipeline(name='motion_correct'):
         outputnode.out_xfms - list of transformation matrices
 
     """
-    from nipype.workflows.data import get_flirt_schedule
-
     params = dict(dof=6, bgvalue=0, save_log=True, no_search=True,
                   # cost='mutualinfo', cost_func='mutualinfo', bins=64,
                   schedule=get_flirt_schedule('hmc'))
@@ -456,7 +454,6 @@ def ecc_pipeline(name='eddy_correct'):
         outputnode.out_xfms - list of transformation matrices
     """
 
-    from nipype.workflows.data import get_flirt_schedule
     params = dict(dof=12, no_search=True, interp='spline', bgvalue=0,
                   schedule=get_flirt_schedule('ecc'))
     # cost='normmi', cost_func='normmi', bins=64,
@@ -903,6 +900,7 @@ def _xfm_jacobian(in_xfm):
 
 def _get_zoom(in_file, enc_dir):
     import nibabel as nb
+    from nipype.utils import NUMPY_MMAP
 
     zooms = nb.load(in_file, mmap=NUMPY_MMAP).header.get_zooms()
 
diff --git a/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/autorecon1.py b/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/autorecon1.py
index 1ec49740b2..6ced37b1ee 100644
--- a/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/autorecon1.py
+++ b/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/autorecon1.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-
-from nipype.utils import NUMPY_MMAP
-from nipype.interfaces.utility import Function,IdentityInterface
-import nipype.pipeline.engine as pe  # pypeline engine
-from nipype.interfaces.freesurfer import *
+from __future__ import print_function, division, unicode_literals, absolute_import
+from ....utils import NUMPY_MMAP
+from ....pipeline import engine as pe
+from ....interfaces.utility import Function, IdentityInterface
+from ....interfaces.freesurfer import *
 from .utils import copy_file
 
 
diff --git a/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/autorecon2.py b/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/autorecon2.py
index a74b5681dd..4ef83a835e 100644
--- a/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/autorecon2.py
+++ b/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/autorecon2.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-from nipype.interfaces.utility import Function, IdentityInterface, Merge
-import nipype.pipeline.engine as pe  # pypeline engine
-from nipype.interfaces.freesurfer import *
+from __future__ import print_function, division, unicode_literals, absolute_import
+from ....interfaces.utility import Function, IdentityInterface, Merge
+from ....pipeline import engine as pe
+from ....interfaces.freesurfer import *
 from .utils import copy_file
 
 def copy_ltas(in_file, subjects_dir, subject_id, long_template):
diff --git a/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/autorecon3.py b/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/autorecon3.py
index b5210cc046..651c417f16 100644
--- a/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/autorecon3.py
+++ b/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/autorecon3.py
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-from nipype.interfaces.utility import IdentityInterface, Merge, Function
-import nipype.pipeline.engine as pe  # pypeline engine
-from nipype.interfaces.freesurfer import *
+from __future__ import print_function, division, unicode_literals, absolute_import
+from ....interfaces.utility import IdentityInterface, Merge, Function
+from ....pipeline import engine as pe
+from ....interfaces.freesurfer import *
 from .ba_maps import create_ba_maps_wf
-from nipype.interfaces.io import DataGrabber
+from ....interfaces.io import DataGrabber
 
 def create_AutoRecon3(name="AutoRecon3", qcache=False, plugin_args=None,
                       th3=True, exvivo=True, entorhinal=True, fsvernum=5.3):
diff --git a/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/ba_maps.py b/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/ba_maps.py
index 5661730687..05f1ec8efe 100644
--- a/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/ba_maps.py
+++ b/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/ba_maps.py
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import print_function, division, unicode_literals, absolute_import
 import os
-import nipype
-from nipype.interfaces.utility import Function,IdentityInterface
-import nipype.pipeline.engine as pe  # pypeline engine
-from nipype.interfaces.freesurfer import *
-from nipype.interfaces.io import DataGrabber
-from nipype.interfaces.utility import Merge
+from ....interfaces.utility import Function, IdentityInterface
+from ....pipeline import engine as pe  # pypeline engine
+from ....interfaces.freesurfer import *
+from ....interfaces.io import DataGrabber
+from ....interfaces.utility import Merge
 
 def create_ba_maps_wf(name="Brodmann_Area_Maps", th3=True, exvivo=True,
                       entorhinal=True):
diff --git a/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/recon.py b/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/recon.py
index ae5ba79439..1835f3dfd4 100644
--- a/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/recon.py
+++ b/nipype/workflows/smri/freesurfer/recon.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import print_function, division, unicode_literals, absolute_import
 from ....pipeline import engine as pe
 from ....interfaces import freesurfer as fs
 from ....interfaces import utility as niu
@@ -206,7 +207,6 @@ def setconfig(reg_template=None,
                   awk_file=None,
                   rb_date=None):
         """Set optional configurations to the default"""
-        from nipype.workflows.smri.freesurfer.utils import getdefaultconfig
         def checkarg(arg, default):
             """Returns the value if defined; otherwise default"""
             if arg:
diff --git a/nipype/workflows/smri/niftyreg/groupwise.py b/nipype/workflows/smri/niftyreg/groupwise.py
index e6f7edd9ad..d222395223 100644
--- a/nipype/workflows/smri/niftyreg/groupwise.py
+++ b/nipype/workflows/smri/niftyreg/groupwise.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # emacs: -*- mode: python; py-indent-offset: 4; indent-tabs-mode: nil -*-
 # vi: set ft=python sts=4 ts=4 sw=4 et:
 
@@ -6,10 +7,11 @@
 pipelines. Including linear and non-linear image co-registration
 """
 
+from __future__ import print_function, division, unicode_literals, absolute_import
 from builtins import str, range
-import nipype.interfaces.utility as niu
-import nipype.interfaces.niftyreg as niftyreg
-import nipype.pipeline.engine as pe
+from ....interfaces import utility as niu
+from ....interfaces import niftyreg as niftyreg
+from ....pipeline import engine as pe
 
 
 def create_linear_gw_step(name="linear_gw_niftyreg",