In this work new magnetic ion imprinted polymer nanoparticles were utilized for the rapid extraction, preconcentration and determination of trace amounts of Ni(II) ions. The parameters affecting preconcentration were optimized by a Box–Behnken design through response surface methodology. Three variables (pH value, sorption time and magnetic imprinted polymer amount) were selected as the main factors affecting the sorption, while four variables (type, volume and concentration of the eluent; elution time) were selected for investigating the elution step in the optimization study. These values were 7 mg, 10 min, 8.0, HCl, 3.8 mL, 0.9 mol L^−l HCl solution, 5.0 min, for the magnetic imprinted polymer amount, sorption time, pH of the sample, type, volume, and concentration of the eluent, and elution time, respectively. Following the sorption and elution steps, the Ni(II) ions were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The limit of detection (LOD) and the relative standard deviations were 0.25 μg L⁻¹ and less than 10%, respectively. The sorption capacity of the imprinted polymer and non-imprinted polymer were 50 and 24 mg g⁻¹ for Ni(II), respectively. Ultimately this nanosorbent was successfully applied to the rapid extraction of trace quantities of Ni(II) ions in different real samples and satisfactory results were obtained.