Is it possible to migrate or export just the users(epersons) in the same way as the items and collections / communities via the application or command line without having to import all the dspace content?
The following process might help. Test carefully if you decide to follow this approach.
Using the AIP export command, you can export a site object without exporting all of the descendant communities and collections. This will create an XML representation of your users and groups.
dspace packager -d -t AIP -e user@yourdomain.org -i XXX/0 aip_file
I do not know if this will meet your needs. I have used this process to transfer users and groups into an empty test repository.