Moving from Jira Data Center to Jira Cloud is one of the most significant infrastructure decisions a team can make, and for good reason. Atlassian has already stopped selling new Data Center licenses as of March 30, 2026, and by March 28, 2029, all Data Center instances will become read-only. That means the migration timeline is no longer optional, it’s a matter of planning when, not if.
For teams that rely on forms and extended Jira functionality, it’s especially important to plan how to migrate Smart Forms alongside your Jira data to ensure continuity and avoid disruptions after the move. Apps like Smart Forms for Jira store their own data, including forms, templates, submitted entries, and field configurationsm and each of these elements must be migrated carefully to maintain workflows and avoid data inconsistencies.
This guide provides a practical Jira Cloud migration checklist tailored to Jira admins, project managers, and IT teams, with a focus on how to handle the Smart Forms Jira migration alongside your core Jira data.
Smart Forms Migration Overview
Smart Forms for Jira is an app that lets teams build dynamic, conditional forms directly inside Jira, for issue creation, approval workflows, data collection, and more. When you migrate Jira to Cloud, Smart Forms data must come with it.
The good news: Smart Forms supports automated migration via the Jira Cloud Migration Assistant (JCMA), Atlassian’s official tool for migrating Data Center instances to Cloud. This tool handles the migration of core Jira data and compatible app data in a single, structured process.
For the migration to succeed, Smart Forms must be:
- Installed and active on your Jira Data Center instance (source)
- Installed and active on your Jira Cloud instance (destination)
If Smart Forms is not installed on the Cloud site before migration begins, the app data migration will not proceed.
SaaSJet provides two migration paths depending on your situation:
- Haven’t migrated anything yet? Follow the full migration guide (Jira + Smart Forms)
- Already migrated Jira, only need to migrate Smart Forms data? Use the app-only migration guide
Jira Cloud Migration Checklist
Use this step-by-step checklist before, during, and after your migration to stay organized and reduce the risk of data loss.
✅ Phase 1: Pre-Migration Preparation
1/Environment & Access
- [1.1] Confirm administrator access on both Data Center and Cloud instances
- [1.2] Set up and license your Jira Cloud site
- [1.3] Install the Jira Cloud Migration Assistant (JCMA) on your Data Center instance
- [1.4] Review Atlassian’s official cloud migration guidelines
- [1.5] Install Smart Forms for Jira on your Cloud instance and confirm an active subscription
2/Jira Data Audit
- [2.1] Review all projects to be migrated, confirm they are complete and up to date
- [2.2] Audit users and groups, identify invalid accounts or missing email domains
- [2.3] Check custom fields, issue types, statuses, and priorities for naming conflicts
- [2.4] Review workflows to confirm Cloud compatibility
- [2.5] Identify any projects or Jira data that Smart Forms depends on (forms referencing specific projects, issue types, or fields)
3/App Compatibility Check
- [3.1] List all installed Data Center apps
- [3.2] In JCMA’s Assess phase, mark Smart Forms as “Needed in cloud”
- [3.3] For apps without Cloud equivalents, select “Not needed in cloud” or find alternatives
- [3.3] Confirm all required apps are enabled (disabled apps will block migration)
4/Freeze Changes
- [4.1] Communicate a data freeze to your team, any data added or modified in Data Center after migration begins will not transfer automatically
- [4.2] Complete all pending updates to forms, projects, and issues before starting
✅ Phase 2: Migration Execution (Using JCMA)
Step 1 – Assess
[1.1] Open Jira Settings → System → “Migrate to cloud” to launch JCMA
[1.2] Run the instance assessment (size, performance, usage)
[1.3] Download the assessment report and review for warnings
[1.4] In the app assessment, find Smart Forms for Jira and select “Needed in cloud”
Step 2 – Prepare
[2.1] Connect your Cloud site using “Choose cloud site” in JCMA
[2.2] Verify Smart Forms is detected as installed on the Cloud instance
[2.3] Review and accept the app data migration policy for Smart Forms
[2.4] Run the user readiness assessment
[2.5] Review email domains and mark them as trusted or untrusted
[2.6] Resolve any flagged user issues before proceeding
Step 3 – Migrate
[3.1] Select “Migrate Jira data including users and installed apps”
[3.2] For your first migration, choose “Select all data”, this ensures all projects, users, groups, custom fields, statuses, and app dependencies are included
[3.3] Confirm Smart Forms for Jira appears in the app migration list
[3.4] Run Pre-Migration Checks, resolve any errors JCMA flags before starting
[3.5] Review the final migration summary, then start migration
[3.6] Monitor progress via JCMA logs; download CSV logs periodically during Smart Forms data migration
Important: If you migrate only selected projects and leave out Jira data that Smart Forms depends on (such as specific issue types, custom fields, or user groups), Smart Forms forms may not function correctly after migration. Always use “Select all data” for your initial migration.
Common Migration Risks and How to Avoid Them
Risk 1: Smart Forms not installed on Cloud before migration Solution: Install Smart Forms on your Cloud instance and verify the subscription is active before initiating JCMA.
Risk 2: Missing dependent Jira data Solution: Use “Select all data” in JCMA for the first migration. Partial migrations that skip projects, custom fields, or user groups can break form logic and field mappings.
Risk 3: Invalid or unverified users Solution: Run the user assessment in JCMA’s Prepare phase. Resolve invalid accounts and confirm email domain trust settings before migrating.
Risk 4: Migrating during peak hours Solution: Schedule migration during off-peak hours. Depending on instance size, migration can significantly impact system performance.
Risk 5: Post-migration changes in Data Center Solution: Communicate a clear freeze date to your team. Any updates made after the migration snapshot will require a re-migration of affected data.
Post-Migration Validation Checklist
Once migration completes, don’t assume everything is working, validate systematically.
Smart Forms Validation
[1.1] Open Smart Forms in Jira Cloud and confirm all form templates are present
[1.2] Verify submitted form data has transferred correctly
[1.3] Test form submission end-to-end in a non-production project
[1.4] Confirm issue links created by forms point to the correct issues in Cloud
[1.5] Check that custom field mappings within forms reflect Cloud field IDs (not Data Center IDs)
Jira Configuration Validation
[2.1] Verify all migrated projects are accessible and correctly configured
[2.2] Confirm user permissions and group memberships are intact
[2.3] Test workflows to ensure transitions and automations work as expected
[2.4] Check issue types, statuses, and priorities are mapped correctly
[2.5] Review notifications and service desk queues if applicable
App & Integration Validation
[3.1] Confirm all apps marked “Needed in cloud” are functioning
[3.2] Test any integrations or automations that interact with Smart Forms
[3.3] Download and review JCMA migration logs to identify any skipped records
A successful Jira Data Center to Cloud migration isn’t just about moving issues from one server to another, it’s about ensuring every component of your Jira ecosystem, including apps like Smart Forms, arrives intact and fully functional. By following this Jira Cloud migration checklist, using the Jira Cloud Migration Assistant, and validating thoroughly after migration, your team can make the transition with minimal disruption and maximum confidence.
The key takeaways:
Use JCMA as your primary migration tool – it’s designed for exactly this purpose
Always migrate all Jira data on your first run to preserve Smart Forms dependencies
Install Smart Forms on Cloud before you begin migration
Validate forms, submitted data, field mappings, and permissions post-migration
Need Help With Your Smart Forms Migration?
If you’re preparing for migration or have already started and need guidance, SaaSJet has you covered. Start with the official Smart Forms migration documentation for a detailed walkthrough of each step. If you run into any issues or have questions specific to your environment, the SaaSJet Support team is available to help you migrate smoothly.
Your forms data is too important to leave to chance – plan ahead, migrate with confidence.
