Integrate GitLab with Jira

Connecting your GitLab account to Jira means your team can view their development activity in the context of the Jira work items they’re working on — no need to switch between tools. When a Jira work item key is referenced in a commit, branch, or merge request in GitLab, the Jira work item will update automatically to show the latest development information.

If you set up a CI/CD pipeline in GitLab, Jira will also show build and deployment information on your Jira work items, on the board, on the deployments timeline, and in the Releases hub. How to integrate deployments with Jira

Connect a GitLab account to Jira

Install the GitLab Marketplace app

1. Go to the Atlassian Marketplace and install the app GitLab.com for Jira Cloud.

2. Once the app has installed, follow the link Manage apps. If the app is already installed on your Jira site, log in to Jira and select the Settings icon, then select Apps, then Manage apps.

Add your GitLab namespace in Jira

1. On the Manage apps page in Jira, expand the GitLab for Jira app details and select Get started.

2. Select Add namespace.

3. Select or enter the namespace of your GitLab project. If the URL for your project is https://gitlab.com/mynamespace/new-project then the namespace is mynamespace.

Set up your Jira integration in GitLab

1. Log in to your GitLab.com account.

2. Go to your project and select Settings, then Integrations.

3. Under Add an integration, select Jira.

4. Enter your Jira site details as follows:

   1. Web URL — your Jira site URL (e.g. https://myjirasite.atlassian.net)

   2. Username or email — the username or email registered on your Jira profile.

   3. Password or API token — create an API token, copy it to your clipboard, and paste it in. How to manage API tokens for your Atlassian account

5. Select Test settings to check if the connection is working.

6. Select Save changes. 

Add Jira work item keys in your commits, branches, and merge requests

To link your team’s development activity to Jira, start including work item keys in commit messages, branch names, and merge request titles. Reference work items in your development work

View a video demo of the GitLab Jira integration.

Set up a CI/CD pipeline in GitLab

1. Log in to your GitLab.com account.

2. Go to your project and select CI/CD, then Pipelines.

3. Create a .gitlab-ci.yml file with a pipeline.

4. Add a deploy stage and set your environment. How to set up environments in GitLab

To send build and deployment information from GitLab to Jira, your team must include Jira work item keys in their commit messages and branch names. Whenever a pipeline runs in GitLab, the integration will look for Jira work item keys in the branch name and commit messages. If it finds work item keys, it will send build and deployment information to Jira. This information will be shown in the development panel on your team’s Jira work items, on the board, on the Deployments timeline, and in the Releases hub.