How to Migrate from Jira to Linear (Step-by-Step 2026 Guide)

Q: Does Linear have a built-in Jira import tool?

Yes. Linear has a native Jira import that connects directly to your Jira Cloud instance. It imports issues, comments, attachments, labels, priorities, and assignees. Go to Linear Settings > Import Data > Jira. It supports both Jira Cloud and Jira Server exports.

Q: How long does the Jira to Linear migration take?

The actual import takes 10-30 minutes depending on issue count. Full migration including workspace setup, integration configuration, and team onboarding takes 1-3 hours. Linear is intentionally simpler than Jira, so there is less to configure.

Q: Will Jira custom fields transfer to Linear?

Standard fields like priority, status, assignee, and labels transfer. Jira custom fields are imported as text in the issue description. Linear has a simpler data model by design, so you will need to decide which custom fields to convert into Linear labels or custom properties.

By ToolVS Research Team · Last Updated April 2026

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Easy1-3 hoursDeveloper Tools

This is one of the easiest migrations. Linear has a built-in Jira importer. It pulls issues, comments, attachments, labels, and assignees directly from your Jira Cloud instance. The import itself takes 10-30 minutes. Most of your time goes into simplifying your workflow since Linear is intentionally less complex than Jira.

Migration Checklist

Step 1: Prepare Your Jira Data

Clean up Jira: close stale issues, archive completed sprints
Decide which Jira projects to migrate (you do not need to bring everything)
Note your Jira workflow statuses: To Do, In Progress, In Review, Done, etc.
Document your custom field usage (which ones are actually important?)
List all Jira integrations (GitHub, Slack, Confluence, etc.)

Step 2: Set Up Linear Workspace

Create your Linear workspace at linear.app
Create Teams matching your Jira projects (e.g., "Frontend", "Backend", "Mobile")
Configure workflow states per team: Backlog, Todo, In Progress, In Review, Done
Set up labels matching your Jira labels or issue types (Bug, Feature, Improvement)
Invite team members

Step 3: Run the Jira Import

Go to Linear Settings → Import Data → Jira
Enter your Jira Cloud URL and authorize the connection
Select which Jira projects to import
Map each Jira project to a Linear team
Map Jira statuses to Linear workflow states
Click Start Import and wait (10-30 minutes)

For Jira Server/Data Center: Export issues as CSV from Jira, then use Linear's CSV import option instead.

Step 4: Verify Imported Data

Check issue counts match between Jira and Linear
Verify statuses mapped correctly
Confirm assignees are linked to the right Linear users
Check that comments and attachments transferred
Review sub-tasks (Jira sub-tasks become Linear sub-issues)

Step 5: Connect Integrations

Go to Settings → Integrations
Connect GitHub or GitLab for automatic issue linking with PRs
Connect Slack for notifications and issue creation from messages
Connect Figma for design file linking
Set up Linear API for any custom integrations you had in Jira

Step 6: Test Workflows

Create a test issue, assign it, and move through all workflow states
Verify GitHub PR linking works (create a branch with issue ID)
Test Slack notifications
Create a cycle (Linear's sprint equivalent) and add issues

Step 7: Train the Team

Show keyboard shortcuts (Linear is keyboard-first: C to create, S to set status)
Explain Cycles vs Jira Sprints (similar concept, simpler interface)
Demonstrate views, filters, and the command palette (Cmd+K)
Share Linear's official getting started documentation

Step 8: Run Parallel for 1-2 Weeks

Set Jira to read-only. All new issues go into Linear. Team references old Jira issues via links preserved during import. After 1-2 weeks, most teams are fully comfortable with Linear.

Step 9: Deactivate Jira

Export all Jira issues as CSV for archival
Go to Jira Administration → Billing → Manage Subscription
Cancel or downgrade your Atlassian plan
Keep Jira accessible for 30 days in case you need to reference historical data

What You Will Lose

Advanced JQL queries — Linear has powerful filters but no query language like JQL
Customizable workflows per project — Linear is opinionated with simpler workflows
Confluence integration — Linear integrates with Notion and other docs tools instead
Jira add-ons — Marketplace apps like Tempo, BigPicture, or ScriptRunner have no Linear equivalent
Portfolio-level views — Jira Advanced Roadmaps features are more robust than Linear Projects

What You Will Gain

Speed — Linear is dramatically faster than Jira (keyboard-first design, instant search)
Clean UI — minimal, focused interface with no visual clutter
Git integration — automatic PR/branch linking, status updates from Git
Cycles and Triage — built-in sprint planning and issue triage workflow
Developer happiness — most dev teams report higher satisfaction with Linear

Gotchas and Common Mistakes

Do not replicate Jira complexity: Linear is intentionally simpler. Resist the urge to recreate every Jira custom field and workflow state. Use this as a chance to simplify.
Custom fields as text: Jira custom fields import into issue descriptions as text. Decide upfront which ones to convert into Linear labels or properties.
Epic mapping: Jira Epics map to Linear Projects. The hierarchy is different. Plan your project structure before importing.
Board members limit: Linear free plan supports up to 250 issues per team. For larger teams, you need the Standard plan at $8/user/month.

Data Export Formats

Data Type	Jira Export	Linear Import
Issues	API or CSV	Native Jira import
Comments	Included via API	Auto-imported
Attachments	Included via API	Auto-imported
Workflows	Status mapping	Map during import
Automation rules	No export	Use Linear automations

Migration Timeline

When	Task	Time Needed
Day 1	Set up Linear + run import	1 hour
Day 1	Verify data + connect integrations	1 hour
Day 2	Team training + shortcuts demo	30 min
Day 2-14	Run parallel	Monitoring
Day 14	Deactivate Jira	15 min

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Linear have a built-in Jira import tool?

Yes. Go to Settings, Import Data, and select Jira. It connects directly to Jira Cloud and imports issues, comments, attachments, labels, priorities, and assignees automatically.

How long does the Jira to Linear migration take?

The actual import takes 10-30 minutes. Full migration including setup, integration configuration, and onboarding takes 1-3 hours total.

Will Jira custom fields transfer to Linear?

Standard fields transfer. Custom fields import as text in issue descriptions. Linear has a simpler data model, so decide which custom fields to convert to labels or properties.

Not sure yet? Read our full Jira vs Linear comparison to see pricing, features, and which issue tracker fits your team better.

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Last updated: April 9, 2026. All steps verified.