Migrate repositories from GitHub to GitLab using Port self-service actions

This guide demonstrates how to migrate repositories from GitHub to GitLab using Port's self-service actions together with a GitHub Actions workflow.

We will use Port to model your repositories, trigger a standardised migration flow, and keep visibility of progress using logs and entity tracking.

Once implemented you will be able to:

Set up GitHub integration so Port discovers repositories and metadata.
Model repositories with blueprints to track your GitHub repositories.
Trigger a repeatable migration flow from Port that runs a GitHub Actions workflow.
Automatically create GitLab projects and push complete repository history.

Prerequisites

You should have the following in place for this migration:

A Port account with the onboarding process completed.
A GitHub organization containing the repositories you want to migrate.
A GitLab account (self-hosted or cloud) with permissions to create projects.
A GitLab namespace or group to serve as the migration destination.

Set up data model

To represent your GitHub repositories in your portal, we need to create a blueprint, set up the GitHub integration, and configure the data source. Skip to the section below if you already have an existing GitHub integration.

Create the GitHub Repository blueprint

Go to the data model page of your portal.
Click on + Blueprint.
Click on the {...} Edit JSON button in the top right corner.

Copy and paste the following JSON schema:

GitHub Repository blueprint (click to expand)

{
  "identifier": "githubRepository",
  "title": "GitHub Repository",
  "icon": "Github",
  "schema": {
    "properties": {
      "url": {
        "title": "URL",
        "format": "url",
        "type": "string",
        "icon": "Link"
      },
      "readme": {
        "title": "README",
        "type": "string",
        "format": "markdown",
        "icon": "Book"
      },
      "defaultBranch": {
        "title": "Default Branch",
        "type": "string",
        "icon": "GitVersion"
      },
      "language": {
        "title": "Language",
        "type": "string",
        "icon": "Code"
      }
    },
    "required": []
  },
  "mirrorProperties": {},
  "calculationProperties": {},
  "aggregationProperties": {},
  "relations": {}
}

Click on Save to create the blueprint.

Set up GitHub integration

Set up Port's GitHub integration by following Port's setup guide for GitHub.

Configure the mapping:

From the data sources page, locate the GitHub integration you installed and click on it.

Under the Mapping field, paste the following mapping configuration:

GitHub mapping configuration (click to expand)

createMissingRelatedEntities: true
resources:
  - kind: repository
    selector:
      query: 'true'
    port:
      entity:
        mappings:
          identifier: .name
          title: .name
          blueprint: '"githubRepository"'
          properties:
            readme: file://README.md
            url: .html_url
            defaultBranch: .default_branch
            language: .language

Click on the Save & Resync button at the bottom right corner.

Set up self-service actions

We'll create a self-service action that allows users to trigger the migration flow from Port's UI.

Create the migration action

Go to the Self-service page.
Click on + Action.
Click on {...} Edit JSON to enter JSON mode.

Copy and paste the following action configuration:

Self-service action configuration (click to expand)

{
  "identifier": "migrate_to_gitlab",
  "title": "Migrate Repository to GitLab",
  "icon": "GitLab",
  "description": "Migrate a GitHub repository to GitLab with full history and create the project automatically",
  "trigger": {
    "type": "self-service",
    "operation": "DAY-2",
    "userInputs": {
      "properties": {
        "org": {
          "title": "GitHub organization",
          "type": "string",
          "description": "The GitHub organization or user that owns the repository (for example, erioluwa-port)"
        },
        "project_name": {
          "title": "GitLab Project Name",
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Override GitLab project name (leave empty to use repository name)"
        },
        "visibility": {
          "title": "Visibility",
          "type": "string",
          "enum": ["private", "internal", "public"],
          "default": "private",
          "description": "Project visibility level"
        }
      },
      "required": ["org", "visibility"]
    },
    "blueprintIdentifier": "githubRepository"
  },
  "invocationMethod": {
    "type": "INTEGRATION_ACTION",
    "installationId": "YOUR_GITHUB_INTEGRATION_ID",
    "integrationActionType": "dispatch_workflow",
    "integrationActionExecutionProperties": {
      "org": "YOUR_GITHUB_ORG",
      "repo": "YOUR_GITHUB_REPO",
      "workflow": "migrate-to-gitlab.yml",
      "workflowInputs": {
        "{{ spreadValue() }}": "{{ .inputs }}",
        "port_context": {
          "runId": "{{ .run.id }}",
          "blueprint": "{{ .action.blueprint }}",
          "entity": "{{ .entity }}"
        }
      },
      "reportWorkflowStatus": true
    }
  },
  "requiredApproval": false,
  "allowAnyoneToViewRuns": true
}

Replace the following fields:
- installationId: The ID of your GitHub integration in Port (find it on the data sources page).
- org: Your GitHub organization where the workflow resides.
- repo: The repository where the GitHub Actions workflow is stored.
Click Save to create the action.

Workflow name

Make sure the workflow name matches the filename of your GitHub Actions workflow (in this guide, migrate-to-gitlab.yml).

Create the GitHub Actions workflow

Create a file in your repository at .github/workflows/migrate-to-gitlab.yml. This workflow handles the actual migration steps - creating the GitLab project and pushing the complete repository history.

GitHub Actions workflow (Click to expand)

name: Migrate to GitLab

on:
  workflow_dispatch:
    inputs:
      org:
        description: 'GitHub organization or user that owns the repository (for example, erioluwa-port)'
        required: true
        type: string
      project_name:
        description: 'Project name (leave empty to use repository name)'
        required: false
        type: string
      visibility:
        description: 'Project visibility'
        required: true
        type: choice
        options:
          - private
          - internal
          - public
        default: private
      port_context:
        description: 'JSON string with runId, blueprint, and entity from Port'
        required: true
        type: string

jobs:
  migrate:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    steps:
      - name: Inform Port - migration started
        uses: port-labs/port-github-action@v1
        with:
          clientId: ${{ secrets.PORT_CLIENT_ID }}
          clientSecret: ${{ secrets.PORT_CLIENT_SECRET }}
          operation: PATCH_RUN
          runId: ${{ fromJson(inputs.port_context).runId }}
          logMessage: "Starting GitHub → GitLab migration... 🚀"

      - name: Clone GitHub repository (full history)
        env:
          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
          GITHUB_ORG: ${{ inputs.org }}
          GITHUB_REPO: ${{ fromJson(inputs.port_context).entity.identifier }}
        run: |
          git clone --mirror \
            "https://x-access-token:${GH_TOKEN}@github.com/${GITHUB_ORG}/${GITHUB_REPO}.git" \
            repo.git
          echo "Cloned ${GITHUB_ORG}/${GITHUB_REPO} with full history"

      - name: Set project name
        id: project
        env:
          INPUT_PROJECT_NAME: ${{ inputs.project_name }}
          GITHUB_REPO: ${{ fromJson(inputs.port_context).entity.identifier }}
        run: |
          PROJECT_NAME=""

          if [ -n "$INPUT_PROJECT_NAME" ] && [ "$INPUT_PROJECT_NAME" != "null" ]; then
            PROJECT_NAME="$INPUT_PROJECT_NAME"
          fi

          if [ -z "$PROJECT_NAME" ] || [ "$PROJECT_NAME" = "null" ]; then
            # Strip org prefix (e.g. "org/repo" → "repo")
            PROJECT_NAME="${GITHUB_REPO##*/}"
            echo "Using repository name as fallback: $PROJECT_NAME"
          fi

          echo "name=$PROJECT_NAME" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
          echo "Using project name: $PROJECT_NAME"

      - name: Create GitLab project
        id: create_project
        env:
          GITLAB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITLAB_TOKEN }}
          GITLAB_HOST: ${{ secrets.GITLAB_HOST }}
          GITLAB_NAMESPACE: ${{ secrets.GITLAB_NAMESPACE }}
          PROJECT_NAME: ${{ steps.project.outputs.name }}
          VISIBILITY: ${{ inputs.visibility }}
        run: |
          RESPONSE=$(curl -s -w "\n%{http_code}" -X POST "https://${GITLAB_HOST}/api/v4/projects" \
            -H "PRIVATE-TOKEN: ${GITLAB_TOKEN}" \
            -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
            -d "{
              \"name\": \"${PROJECT_NAME}\",
              \"path\": \"${PROJECT_NAME}\",
              \"namespace_id\": \"$(curl -s "https://${GITLAB_HOST}/api/v4/namespaces?search=${GITLAB_NAMESPACE}" -H "PRIVATE-TOKEN: ${GITLAB_TOKEN}" | jq -r '.[0].id')\",
              \"visibility\": \"${VISIBILITY}\",
              \"initialize_with_readme\": false
            }")

          HTTP_CODE=$(echo "$RESPONSE" | tail -n1)
          BODY=$(echo "$RESPONSE" | head -n-1)

          if [ "$HTTP_CODE" -eq 201 ]; then
            echo "✅ GitLab project created successfully"
            PROJECT_URL=$(echo "$BODY" | jq -r '.http_url_to_repo')
            echo "url=$PROJECT_URL" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
            echo "Project URL: $PROJECT_URL"
          elif [ "$HTTP_CODE" -eq 400 ] && echo "$BODY" | jq -e '.message.path[]' | grep -q "has already been taken"; then
            echo "⚠️  Project already exists, will use existing project"
            PROJECT_URL="https://${GITLAB_HOST}/${GITLAB_NAMESPACE}/${PROJECT_NAME}.git"
            echo "url=$PROJECT_URL" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
          else
            echo "❌ Failed to create project. HTTP code: $HTTP_CODE"
            echo "Response: $BODY"
            exit 1
          fi

      - name: Inform Port - GitLab project ready
        uses: port-labs/port-github-action@v1
        with:
          clientId: ${{ secrets.PORT_CLIENT_ID }}
          clientSecret: ${{ secrets.PORT_CLIENT_SECRET }}
          operation: PATCH_RUN
          runId: ${{ fromJson(inputs.port_context).runId }}
          logMessage: "GitLab project '${{ steps.project.outputs.name }}' is ready. Pushing repository history... 📦"

      - name: Configure Git
        run: |
          git config --global user.name "GitHub Actions Bot"
          git config --global user.email "actions@github.com"

      - name: Push to GitLab
        env:
          GITLAB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITLAB_TOKEN }}
          GITLAB_URL: ${{ steps.create_project.outputs.url }}
        run: |
          cd repo.git
          GITLAB_HOST=$(echo $GITLAB_URL | sed -E 's|https?://([^/]+)/.*|\1|')
          GITLAB_PATH=$(echo $GITLAB_URL | sed -E 's|https?://[^/]+/(.*)|/\1|')
          git remote add gitlab https://oauth2:${GITLAB_TOKEN}@${GITLAB_HOST}${GITLAB_PATH}
          # Push all branches and tags
          git push gitlab --mirror --force

      - name: Verify migration
        run: |
          echo "✅ Migration completed successfully!"
          echo "Repository has been pushed to: ${{ steps.create_project.outputs.url }}"
          echo ""
          echo "Refs pushed:"
          cd repo.git && git show-ref

      - name: Inform Port - migration complete
        if: success()
        uses: port-labs/port-github-action@v1
        with:
          clientId: ${{ secrets.PORT_CLIENT_ID }}
          clientSecret: ${{ secrets.PORT_CLIENT_SECRET }}
          operation: PATCH_RUN
          runId: ${{ fromJson(inputs.port_context).runId }}
          logMessage: |
            Migration completed successfully! ✅
            Repository is now available at: ${{ steps.create_project.outputs.url }}

      - name: Inform Port - migration failed
        if: failure()
        uses: port-labs/port-github-action@v1
        with:
          clientId: ${{ secrets.PORT_CLIENT_ID }}
          clientSecret: ${{ secrets.PORT_CLIENT_SECRET }}
          operation: PATCH_RUN
          runId: ${{ fromJson(inputs.port_context).runId }}
          status: FAILURE
          logMessage: "Migration failed ❌. Check the workflow logs for details."

Required secrets

You'll need to set up the following secrets in your GitHub repository (under Settings → Secrets and variables → Actions):

GH_TOKEN: A GitHub Personal Access Token with repo scope for cloning the source repositories. Create one at: GitHub → Settings → Developer settings → Personal access tokens
GITLAB_TOKEN: Your GitLab Personal Access Token with api scope. Create one at: GitLab → Settings → Access Tokens
GITLAB_HOST: Your GitLab instance hostname (e.g. gitlab.com or gitlab.mycompany.com)
GITLAB_NAMESPACE: Your GitLab username or group (e.g. myusername or mycompany/engineering)
PORT_CLIENT_ID and PORT_CLIENT_SECRET: Used by the Port GitHub Action to send log updates back to Port. Find these in Port → Settings → Credentials

Let's test it

Go to the Self-service page.
Find the "Migrate Repository to GitLab" action.
Click Execute.
Select a GitHub repository from the dropdown.
Optionally override the GitLab project name.
Choose the visibility level (private, internal, or public).
Click Execute to start the migration.
Monitor the action execution in Port's logs.
Verify that the repository is successfully created in your GitLab namespace with full commit history.

What happens during migration

Repository selection - you select a GitHub repository from your Port catalog.
Project creation - the workflow creates a new GitLab project via the GitLab API.
History preservation - full Git history is fetched, including all branches and tags.
Push to GitLab - all branches and tags are pushed to the new GitLab project.
Verification - the workflow confirms successful migration and displays the new GitLab URL.

Troubleshooting

"Failed to create project" error

Verify your GITLAB_TOKEN has api scope permissions.
Check that GITLAB_NAMESPACE exists and is accessible.
Ensure the project name doesn't already exist in the namespace.

"Authentication failed" error

Verify all three secrets are correctly set in GitHub.
Check that your GitLab token hasn't expired.
Confirm the token has access to the specified namespace.

"Project already exists" warning

The workflow will attempt to use the existing project.
If you want a fresh migration, delete the existing GitLab project first.
Or provide a different project name to avoid conflicts.

Prerequisites​

Set up data model​

Create the GitHub Repository blueprint​

Set up GitHub integration​

Set up self-service actions​

Create the migration action​

Create the GitHub Actions workflow​

Let's test it​

What happens during migration​

Troubleshooting​