---
stage: Manage
group: Import
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
---

# Migrating groups **(FREE)**

> - [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/249160) in GitLab 13.7 for group resources [with a flag](../../feature_flags.md) named `bulk_import`. Disabled by default.
> - Group resources [enabled on GitLab.com and self-managed](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/338985) in GitLab 14.3.
> - [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/267945) in GitLab 14.4 for project resources [with a flag](../../feature_flags.md) named `bulk_import_projects`. Disabled by default.

FLAG:
On self-managed GitLab, by default [migrating group resources](#migrated-group-resources) is available. To hide the
feature, ask an administrator to [disable the feature flag](../../../administration/feature_flags.md) named `bulk_import`.
On self-managed GitLab, by default [migrating project resources](#migrated-project-resources) is not available. To show
this feature, ask an administrator to [enable the feature flag](../../../administration/feature_flags.md) named
`bulk_import_projects`. On GitLab.com, migrating group resources is available but migrating project resources is not
available.

Users with the Owner role on a top-level group can migrate it to:

- Another top-level group.
- The subgroup of any existing top-level group.
- Another GitLab instance, including GitLab.com.

Migrating groups using the method documented here is not the same as [migrating groups using file exports](../settings/import_export.md).
Importing and exporting groups using file exports requires you to export a group to a file and then import that file in
another GitLab instance. Migrating groups using the method documented here automates this step.

## Import your groups into GitLab

When you migrate a group, you connect to your GitLab instance and then choose
groups to import. Not all the data is migrated. See:

- [Migrated group resources](#migrated-group-resources).
- [Migrated project resources](#migrated-project-resources).

Leave feedback about group migration in [the relevant issue](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/284495).

NOTE:
You might need to reconfigure your firewall to prevent blocking the connection on the self-managed
instance.

### Connect to the remote GitLab instance

Before you begin, ensure that the target GitLab instance can communicate with the source over HTTPS
(HTTP is not supported). You might need to reconfigure your firewall to prevent blocking the connection on the self-managed
instance.

Then create the group you want to import into, and connect:

1. Create a new group or subgroup:

   - On the top bar, select `+` and then **New group**.
   - Or, on an existing group's page, in the top right, select **New subgroup**.

1. Select **Import group**.
1. Enter the source URL of your GitLab instance.
1. Generate or copy a [personal access token](../../../user/profile/personal_access_tokens.md)
   with the `api` and `read_repository` scopes on your remote GitLab instance.
1. Enter the [personal access token](../../../user/profile/personal_access_tokens.md) for your remote GitLab instance.
1. Select **Connect instance**.

### Select the groups to import

After you have authorized access to the GitLab instance, you are redirected to the GitLab Group
Migration importer page. The remote groups you have the Owner role for are listed.

1. By default, the proposed group namespaces match the names as they exist in remote instance, but based on your permissions, you can choose to edit these names before you proceed to import any of them.
1. Next to the groups you want to import, select **Import**.
1. The **Status** column shows the import status of each group. If you leave the page open, it updates in real-time.
1. After a group has been imported, select its GitLab path to open its GitLab URL.

![Group Importer page](img/bulk_imports_v14_1.png)

## Automate group and project import **(PREMIUM)**

For information on automating user, group, and project import API calls, see
[Automate group and project import](../../project/import/index.md#automate-group-and-project-import).

## Migrated group resources

Only the following resources are migrated to the target instance. Any other items are **not**
migrated:

- Badges ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/292431) in 13.11)
- Board Lists
- Boards
- Epics ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/250281) in 13.7)
- Finisher
- Group Labels ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/292429) in 13.9)
- Iterations ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/292428) in 13.10)
- Members ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/299415) in 13.9)
  Group members are associated with the imported group if:
  - The user already exists in the target GitLab instance and
  - The user has a public email in the source GitLab instance that matches a
    confirmed email in the target GitLab instance
- Milestones ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/292427) in 13.10)
- Namespace Settings
- Releases
  - Milestones ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/339422) in GitLab 15.0).
- Sub-Groups
- Uploads

## Migrated project resources

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/267945) in GitLab 14.4 [with a flag](../../feature_flags.md) named `bulk_import_projects`. Disabled by default.

FLAG:
On self-managed GitLab, migrating project resources are not available by default. To make them available, ask an administrator to [enable the feature flag](../../../administration/feature_flags.md) named `bulk_import_projects`. On GitLab.com, migrating project resources are not available.

- Projects ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/267945) in GitLab 14.4)
  - Auto DevOps ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/339410) in GitLab 14.6)
  - Branches (including protected branches) ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/339414) in GitLab 14.7)
  - CI Pipelines ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/339407) in GitLab 14.6)
  - Designs ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/339421) in GitLab 15.1)
  - Issues ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/267946) in GitLab 14.4)
  - Labels ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/339419) in GitLab 14.4)
  - LFS Objects ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/339405) in GitLab 14.8)
  - Members ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/341886) in GitLab 14.8)
  - Merge Requests ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/339403) in GitLab 14.5)
  - Migrate Push Rules ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/339403) in GitLab 14.6)
  - Pull Requests (including external pull requests) ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/339409) in GitLab 14.5)
  - Pipeline History ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/339412) in GitLab 14.6)
  - Pipeline Schedules ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/339408) in GitLab 14.8)
  - Releases ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/339422) in GitLab 15.1)
  - Release Evidences ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/360567) in GitLab 15.1)
  - Repositories ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/267945) in GitLab 14.4)
  - Snippets ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/343438) in GitLab 14.6)
  - Uploads ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/339401) in GitLab 14.5)
  - Wikis ([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/345923) in GitLab 14.6)

## Troubleshooting Group Migration

In a [rails console session](../../../administration/operations/rails_console.md#starting-a-rails-console-session),
you can find the failure or error messages for the group import attempt using:

```ruby
# Get relevant import records
import = BulkImports::Entity.where(namespace_id: Group.id).map(&:bulk_import)

# Alternative lookup by user
import = BulkImport.where(user_id: User.find(...)).last

# Get list of import entities. Each entity represents either a group or a project
entities = import.entities

# Get a list of entity failures
entities.map(&:failures).flatten

# Alternative failure lookup by status
entities.where(status: [-1]).pluck(:destination_name, :destination_namespace, :status)
```

### Stale imports

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/352985) in GitLab 14.10.

When troubleshooting group migration, an import may not complete because the import workers took
longer than 8 hours to execute. In this case, the `status` of either a `BulkImport` or
`BulkImport::Entity` is `3` (`timeout`):

```ruby
# Get relevant import records
import = BulkImports::Entity.where(namespace_id: Group.id).map(&:bulk_import)

import.status #=> 3 means that the import timed out.
```