You can use Data Pump to migrate an existing Oracle database into an empty 12c Database with or without transportable option.  This is known as full transportable export/import if transportable option is in use.  Non-transportable tablespaces like SYSTEM and SYSAUX cannot use transportable option and must use conventional data movement.

Considerations when using Data Pump to populate new 12c Oracle database.

1. You can use Data Pump to do this but oracle recommends upgrading to 11.2.0.3 or higher to ensure that registered options and components are included in export.
2. When doing this with 11.2.0.3 or higher set VERSION=12 option in data pump export. This is for transportable tablespaces.
3. For Network-based full transportable imports use parameter FULL=YES, TANSPORTABLE=ALWAYS, and TANSPORT_DATAFILES=datafile_name for source db higher than 11.2.0.3 but lower then 12.1
4. File-based full transportable imports only require use of TRANSPORT_DATAFILE=datafile_name.
5. Default Data Pump directory object DATA_PUMP_DIR does not work with PDBs, you have to create an explicit directory object within the PDB for export and import operations.

Larry Catt

OCP