- title: 'GitLab.com importer' announcement_milestone: '15.8' announcement_date: '2023-01-22' removal_milestone: '16.0' removal_date: '2023-05-22' breaking_change: false body: | The [GitLab.com importer](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/import/gitlab_com.html) is deprecated in GitLab 15.8 and will be removed in GitLab 16.0. The GitLab.com importer was introduced in 2015 for importing a project from GitLab.com to a self-managed GitLab instance through the UI. This feature is available on self-managed instances only. [Migrating GitLab groups and projects by direct transfer](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/group/import/#migrate-groups-by-direct-transfer-recommended) supersedes the GitLab.com importer and provides a more cohesive importing functionality. See [migrated group items](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/group/import/#migrated-group-items) and [migrated project items](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/group/import/#migrated-project-items) for an overview. stage: manage tiers: issue_url: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/Product/-/issues/4895 documentation_url: https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/import/gitlab_com.html