---
ref: tool:atlassian/create-jira-work-item
name: Create a Jira work item
company: company:atlassian
workflows: []
access: [mcp, cli, api]
tags: [capability:manage-tasks, category:project-management, has:api, has:cli, has:mcp]
docs: https://developer.atlassian.com/cloud/jira/platform/rest/v3/api-group-issues/#api-rest-api-3-issue-post
updated: 2026-09-27
---

# Create a Jira work item

Creates a Jira work item (an issue) in a project with its type, summary, description, assignee and labels, and returns its key.

The fields a work item accepts depend on its project and type: read them first
with `GET /rest/api/3/issue/createmeta/{projectIdOrKey}/issuetypes`. On the
API, `description` takes Atlassian Document Format; the CLI takes it as plain
text or ADF, for example
`acli jira workitem create --summary "New Task" --project "TEAM" --type "Task"`.

## Set up

Use the first option your agent supports.

### MCP (official, remote)

Add this server to your agent's MCP settings, then sign in when asked.

```json
{ "mcpServers": { "atlassian": { "url": "https://mcp.atlassian.com/v2/mcp" } } }
```

Call the MCP tool `createJiraIssue`.

Server URL: https://mcp.atlassian.com/v2/mcp

### CLI (official)

Install the command, then confirm it runs.

```sh
brew tap atlassian/homebrew-acli && brew install acli
acli --version
```

Run `acli jira workitem create`.

### API (official)

- Base URL: https://{your-domain}.atlassian.net
- Endpoint: `POST /rest/api/3/issue`
- Auth: send the header `Authorization: Basic $ATLASSIAN_API_KEY`
- Get a key: https://id.atlassian.com/manage-profile/security/api-tokens
- Docs: https://developer.atlassian.com/cloud/jira/platform/rest/v3/intro/

Before doing anything else, make one read-only call to confirm access.

## Rules

- Ask the user before anything that sends messages, costs money, or changes data.
- Never print API keys.