diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index e9c8a4895e1..837e9e27aba 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ v 8.11.0 (unreleased)
   - Add commit stats in commit api. !5517 (dixpac)
   - Add CI configuration button on project page
   - Make error pages responsive (Takuya Noguchi)
+  - The performance of the project dropdown used for moving issues has been improved
   - Fix skip_repo parameter being ignored when destroying a namespace
   - Change requests_profiles resource constraint to catch virtually any file
   - Bump gitlab_git to lazy load compare commits
diff --git a/app/controllers/autocomplete_controller.rb b/app/controllers/autocomplete_controller.rb
index e1641ba6265..b48668eea87 100644
--- a/app/controllers/autocomplete_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/autocomplete_controller.rb
@@ -35,19 +35,13 @@ class AutocompleteController < ApplicationController
 
   def projects
     project = Project.find_by_id(params[:project_id])
-
-    projects = current_user.authorized_projects
-    projects = projects.search(params[:search]) if params[:search].present?
-    projects = projects.select do |project|
-      current_user.can?(:admin_issue, project)
-    end
+    projects = projects_finder.execute(project, search: params[:search], offset_id: params[:offset_id])
 
     no_project = {
       id: 0,
       name_with_namespace: 'No project',
     }
-    projects.unshift(no_project)
-    projects.delete(project)
+    projects.unshift(no_project) unless params[:offset_id].present?
 
     render json: projects.to_json(only: [:id, :name_with_namespace], methods: :name_with_namespace)
   end
@@ -79,4 +73,8 @@ class AutocompleteController < ApplicationController
       end
     end
   end
+
+  def projects_finder
+    MoveToProjectFinder.new(current_user)
+  end
 end
diff --git a/app/finders/move_to_project_finder.rb b/app/finders/move_to_project_finder.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3334b8556df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/finders/move_to_project_finder.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+class MoveToProjectFinder
+  def initialize(user)
+    @user = user
+  end
+
+  def execute(from_project, search: nil, offset_id: nil)
+    projects = @user.projects_where_can_admin_issues
+    projects = projects.search(search) if search.present?
+    projects = projects.excluding_project(from_project)
+
+    # to ask for Project#name_with_namespace
+    projects.includes(namespace: :owner)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/models/project.rb b/app/models/project.rb
index e0b28160937..eefdae35615 100644
--- a/app/models/project.rb
+++ b/app/models/project.rb
@@ -197,6 +197,8 @@ class Project < ActiveRecord::Base
   scope :active, -> { joins(:issues, :notes, :merge_requests).order('issues.created_at, notes.created_at, merge_requests.created_at DESC') }
   scope :abandoned, -> { where('projects.last_activity_at < ?', 6.months.ago) }
 
+  scope :excluding_project, ->(project) { where.not(id: project) }
+
   state_machine :import_status, initial: :none do
     event :import_start do
       transition [:none, :finished] => :started
diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index 87a2d999843..48e83ab7e56 100644
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -429,6 +429,13 @@ class User < ActiveRecord::Base
                     owned_groups.select(:id), namespace.id).joins(:namespace)
   end
 
+  # Returns projects which user can admin issues on (for example to move an issue to that project).
+  #
+  # This logic is duplicated from `Ability#project_abilities` into a SQL form.
+  def projects_where_can_admin_issues
+    authorized_projects(Gitlab::Access::REPORTER).non_archived.where.not(issues_enabled: false)
+  end
+
   def is_admin?
     admin
   end
diff --git a/spec/controllers/autocomplete_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/autocomplete_controller_spec.rb
index ed0b7f9e240..44128a43362 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/autocomplete_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/autocomplete_controller_spec.rb
@@ -2,178 +2,262 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe AutocompleteController do
   let!(:project) { create(:project) }
-  let!(:user)    { create(:user) }
-  let!(:user2)   { create(:user) }
-  let!(:non_member)   { create(:user) }
+  let!(:user) { create(:user) }
 
-  context 'project members' do
-    before do
-      sign_in(user)
-      project.team << [user, :master]
+  context 'users and members' do
+    let!(:user2) { create(:user) }
+    let!(:non_member) { create(:user) }
+
+    context 'project members' do
+      before do
+        sign_in(user)
+        project.team << [user, :master]
+      end
+
+      describe 'GET #users with project ID' do
+        before do
+          get(:users, project_id: project.id)
+        end
+
+        let(:body) { JSON.parse(response.body) }
+
+        it { expect(body).to be_kind_of(Array) }
+        it { expect(body.size).to eq 1 }
+        it { expect(body.map { |u| u["username"] }).to include(user.username) }
+      end
+
+      describe 'GET #users with unknown project' do
+        before do
+          get(:users, project_id: 'unknown')
+        end
+
+        it { expect(response).to have_http_status(404) }
+      end
     end
 
-    describe 'GET #users with project ID' do
+    context 'group members' do
+      let(:group) { create(:group) }
+
       before do
-        get(:users, project_id: project.id)
+        sign_in(user)
+        group.add_owner(user)
+      end
+
+      let(:body) { JSON.parse(response.body) }
+
+      describe 'GET #users with group ID' do
+        before do
+          get(:users, group_id: group.id)
+        end
+
+        it { expect(body).to be_kind_of(Array) }
+        it { expect(body.size).to eq 1 }
+        it { expect(body.first["username"]).to eq user.username }
+      end
+
+      describe 'GET #users with unknown group ID' do
+        before do
+          get(:users, group_id: 'unknown')
+        end
+
+        it { expect(response).to have_http_status(404) }
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'non-member login for public project' do
+      let!(:project) { create(:project, :public) }
+
+      before do
+        sign_in(non_member)
+        project.team << [user, :master]
+      end
+
+      let(:body) { JSON.parse(response.body) }
+
+      describe 'GET #users with project ID' do
+        before do
+          get(:users, project_id: project.id, current_user: true)
+        end
+
+        it { expect(body).to be_kind_of(Array) }
+        it { expect(body.size).to eq 2 }
+        it { expect(body.map { |u| u['username'] }).to match_array([user.username, non_member.username]) }
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'all users' do
+      before do
+        sign_in(user)
+        get(:users)
       end
 
       let(:body) { JSON.parse(response.body) }
 
       it { expect(body).to be_kind_of(Array) }
-      it { expect(body.size).to eq 1 }
-      it { expect(body.map { |u| u["username"] }).to include(user.username) }
+      it { expect(body.size).to eq User.count }
     end
 
-    describe 'GET #users with unknown project' do
-      before do
-        get(:users, project_id: 'unknown')
+    context 'unauthenticated user' do
+      let(:public_project) { create(:project, :public) }
+      let(:body) { JSON.parse(response.body) }
+
+      describe 'GET #users with public project' do
+        before do
+          public_project.team << [user, :guest]
+          get(:users, project_id: public_project.id)
+        end
+
+        it { expect(body).to be_kind_of(Array) }
+        it { expect(body.size).to eq 1 }
       end
 
-      it { expect(response).to have_http_status(404) }
+      describe 'GET #users with project' do
+        before do
+          get(:users, project_id: project.id)
+        end
+
+        it { expect(response).to have_http_status(404) }
+      end
+
+      describe 'GET #users with unknown project' do
+        before do
+          get(:users, project_id: 'unknown')
+        end
+
+        it { expect(response).to have_http_status(404) }
+      end
+
+      describe 'GET #users with inaccessible group' do
+        before do
+          project.team << [user, :guest]
+          get(:users, group_id: user.namespace.id)
+        end
+
+        it { expect(response).to have_http_status(404) }
+      end
+
+      describe 'GET #users with no project' do
+        before do
+          get(:users)
+        end
+
+        it { expect(body).to be_kind_of(Array) }
+        it { expect(body.size).to eq 0 }
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'author of issuable included' do
+      before do
+        sign_in(user)
+      end
+
+      let(:body) { JSON.parse(response.body) }
+
+      it 'includes the author' do
+        get(:users, author_id: non_member.id)
+
+        expect(body.first["username"]).to eq non_member.username
+      end
+
+      it 'rejects non existent user ids' do
+        get(:users, author_id: 99999)
+
+        expect(body.collect { |u| u['id'] }).not_to include(99999)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'skip_users parameter included' do
+      before { sign_in(user) }
+
+      it 'skips the user IDs passed' do
+        get(:users, skip_users: [user, user2].map(&:id))
+
+        other_user_ids    = [non_member, project.owner, project.creator].map(&:id)
+        response_user_ids = JSON.parse(response.body).map { |user| user['id'] }
+
+        expect(response_user_ids).to contain_exactly(*other_user_ids)
+      end
     end
   end
 
-  context 'group members' do
-    let(:group) { create(:group) }
+  context 'projects' do
+    let(:authorized_project) { create(:project) }
+    let(:authorized_search_project) { create(:project, name: 'rugged') }
 
     before do
       sign_in(user)
-      group.add_owner(user)
-    end
-
-    let(:body) { JSON.parse(response.body) }
-
-    describe 'GET #users with group ID' do
-      before do
-        get(:users, group_id: group.id)
-      end
-
-      it { expect(body).to be_kind_of(Array) }
-      it { expect(body.size).to eq 1 }
-      it { expect(body.first["username"]).to eq user.username }
-    end
-
-    describe 'GET #users with unknown group ID' do
-      before do
-        get(:users, group_id: 'unknown')
-      end
-
-      it { expect(response).to have_http_status(404) }
-    end
-  end
-
-  context 'non-member login for public project' do
-    let!(:project) { create(:project, :public) }
-
-    before do
-      sign_in(non_member)
       project.team << [user, :master]
     end
 
-    let(:body) { JSON.parse(response.body) }
-
-    describe 'GET #users with project ID' do
+    context 'authorized projects' do
       before do
-        get(:users, project_id: project.id, current_user: true)
+        authorized_project.team << [user, :master]
       end
 
-      it { expect(body).to be_kind_of(Array) }
-      it { expect(body.size).to eq 2 }
-      it { expect(body.map { |u| u['username'] }).to match_array([user.username, non_member.username]) }
-    end
-  end
+      describe 'GET #projects with project ID' do
+        before do
+          get(:projects, project_id: project.id)
+        end
 
-  context 'all users' do
-    before do
-      sign_in(user)
-      get(:users)
+        let(:body) { JSON.parse(response.body) }
+
+        it do
+          expect(body).to be_kind_of(Array)
+          expect(body.size).to eq 2
+
+          expect(body.first['id']).to eq 0
+          expect(body.first['name_with_namespace']).to eq 'No project'
+
+          expect(body.last['id']).to eq authorized_project.id
+          expect(body.last['name_with_namespace']).to eq authorized_project.name_with_namespace
+        end
+      end
     end
 
-    let(:body) { JSON.parse(response.body) }
-
-    it { expect(body).to be_kind_of(Array) }
-    it { expect(body.size).to eq User.count }
-  end
-
-  context 'unauthenticated user' do
-    let(:public_project) { create(:project, :public) }
-    let(:body) { JSON.parse(response.body) }
-
-    describe 'GET #users with public project' do
+    context 'authorized projects and search' do
       before do
-        public_project.team << [user, :guest]
-        get(:users, project_id: public_project.id)
+        authorized_project.team << [user, :master]
+        authorized_search_project.team << [user, :master]
       end
 
-      it { expect(body).to be_kind_of(Array) }
-      it { expect(body.size).to eq 1 }
+      describe 'GET #projects with project ID and search' do
+        before do
+          get(:projects, project_id: project.id, search: 'rugged')
+        end
+
+        let(:body) { JSON.parse(response.body) }
+
+        it do
+          expect(body).to be_kind_of(Array)
+          expect(body.size).to eq 2
+
+          expect(body.last['id']).to eq authorized_search_project.id
+          expect(body.last['name_with_namespace']).to eq authorized_search_project.name_with_namespace
+        end
+      end
     end
 
-    describe 'GET #users with project' do
-      before do
-        get(:users, project_id: project.id)
+    context 'authorized projects without admin_issue ability' do
+      before(:each) do
+        authorized_project.team << [user, :guest]
+
+        expect(user.can?(:admin_issue, authorized_project)).to eq(false)
       end
 
-      it { expect(response).to have_http_status(404) }
-    end
+      describe 'GET #projects with project ID' do
+        before do
+          get(:projects, project_id: project.id)
+        end
 
-    describe 'GET #users with unknown project' do
-      before do
-        get(:users, project_id: 'unknown')
+        let(:body) { JSON.parse(response.body) }
+
+        it do
+          expect(body).to be_kind_of(Array)
+          expect(body.size).to eq 1 # 'No project'
+
+          expect(body.first['id']).to eq 0
+        end
       end
-
-      it { expect(response).to have_http_status(404) }
-    end
-
-    describe 'GET #users with inaccessible group' do
-      before do
-        project.team << [user, :guest]
-        get(:users, group_id: user.namespace.id)
-      end
-
-      it { expect(response).to have_http_status(404) }
-    end
-
-    describe 'GET #users with no project' do
-      before do
-        get(:users)
-      end
-
-      it { expect(body).to be_kind_of(Array) }
-      it { expect(body.size).to eq 0 }
-    end
-  end
-
-  context 'author of issuable included' do
-    before do
-      sign_in(user)
-    end
-
-    let(:body) { JSON.parse(response.body) }
-
-    it 'includes the author' do
-      get(:users, author_id: non_member.id)
-
-      expect(body.first["username"]).to eq non_member.username
-    end
-
-    it 'rejects non existent user ids' do
-      get(:users, author_id: 99999)
-
-      expect(body.collect { |u| u['id'] }).not_to include(99999)
-    end
-  end
-
-  context 'skip_users parameter included' do
-    before { sign_in(user) }
-
-    it 'skips the user IDs passed' do
-      get(:users, skip_users: [user, user2].map(&:id))
-
-      other_user_ids = [non_member, project.owner, project.creator].map(&:id)
-      response_user_ids = JSON.parse(response.body).map { |user| user['id'] }
-
-      expect(response_user_ids).to contain_exactly(*other_user_ids)
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/finders/move_to_project_finder_spec.rb b/spec/finders/move_to_project_finder_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4f3304f7b6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/finders/move_to_project_finder_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe MoveToProjectFinder do
+  let(:user) { create(:user) }
+  let(:project) { create(:project) }
+
+  let(:no_access_project) { create(:project) }
+  let(:guest_project) { create(:project) }
+  let(:reporter_project) { create(:project) }
+  let(:developer_project) { create(:project) }
+  let(:master_project) { create(:project) }
+
+  subject { described_class.new(user) }
+
+  describe '#execute' do
+    context 'filter' do
+      it 'does not return projects under Gitlab::Access::REPORTER' do
+        guest_project.team << [user, :guest]
+
+        expect(subject.execute(project)).to be_empty
+      end
+
+      it 'returns projects equal or above Gitlab::Access::REPORTER ordered by id in descending order' do
+        reporter_project.team << [user, :reporter]
+        developer_project.team << [user, :developer]
+        master_project.team << [user, :master]
+
+        expect(subject.execute(project).to_a).to eq([master_project, developer_project, reporter_project])
+      end
+
+      it 'does not include the source project' do
+        project.team << [user, :reporter]
+
+        expect(subject.execute(project).to_a).to be_empty
+      end
+
+      it 'does not return archived projects' do
+        reporter_project.team << [user, :reporter]
+        reporter_project.update_attributes(archived: true)
+        other_reporter_project = create(:project)
+        other_reporter_project.team << [user, :reporter]
+
+        expect(subject.execute(project).to_a).to eq([other_reporter_project])
+      end
+
+      it 'does not return projects for which issues are disabled' do
+        reporter_project.team << [user, :reporter]
+        reporter_project.update_attributes(issues_enabled: false)
+        other_reporter_project = create(:project)
+        other_reporter_project.team << [user, :reporter]
+
+        expect(subject.execute(project).to_a).to eq([other_reporter_project])
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'search' do
+      it 'uses Project#search' do
+        expect(user).to receive_message_chain(:projects_where_can_admin_issues, :search) { Project.all }
+
+        subject.execute(project, search: 'wadus')
+      end
+
+      it 'returns projects matching a search query' do
+        foo_project = create(:project)
+        foo_project.team << [user, :master]
+
+        wadus_project = create(:project, name: 'wadus')
+        wadus_project.team << [user, :master]
+
+        expect(subject.execute(project).to_a).to eq([wadus_project, foo_project])
+        expect(subject.execute(project, search: 'wadus').to_a).to eq([wadus_project])
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/models/user_spec.rb b/spec/models/user_spec.rb
index 54505f6b822..51e4780e2b1 100644
--- a/spec/models/user_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/user_spec.rb
@@ -957,6 +957,53 @@ describe User, models: true do
     end
   end
 
+  describe '#projects_where_can_admin_issues' do
+    let(:user) { create(:user) }
+
+    it 'includes projects for which the user access level is above or equal to reporter' do
+      create(:project)
+      reporter_project = create(:project)
+      developer_project = create(:project)
+      master_project = create(:project)
+
+      reporter_project.team << [user, :reporter]
+      developer_project.team << [user, :developer]
+      master_project.team << [user, :master]
+
+      expect(user.projects_where_can_admin_issues.to_a).to eq([master_project, developer_project, reporter_project])
+      expect(user.can?(:admin_issue, master_project)).to eq(true)
+      expect(user.can?(:admin_issue, developer_project)).to eq(true)
+      expect(user.can?(:admin_issue, reporter_project)).to eq(true)
+    end
+
+    it 'does not include for which the user access level is below reporter' do
+      project = create(:project)
+      guest_project = create(:project)
+
+      guest_project.team << [user, :guest]
+
+      expect(user.projects_where_can_admin_issues.to_a).to be_empty
+      expect(user.can?(:admin_issue, guest_project)).to eq(false)
+      expect(user.can?(:admin_issue, project)).to eq(false)
+    end
+
+    it 'does not include archived projects' do
+      project = create(:project)
+      project.update_attributes(archived: true)
+
+      expect(user.projects_where_can_admin_issues.to_a).to be_empty
+      expect(user.can?(:admin_issue, project)).to eq(false)
+    end
+
+    it 'does not include projects for which issues are disabled' do
+      project = create(:project)
+      project.update_attributes(issues_enabled: false)
+
+      expect(user.projects_where_can_admin_issues.to_a).to be_empty
+      expect(user.can?(:admin_issue, project)).to eq(false)
+    end
+  end
+
   describe '#ci_authorized_runners' do
     let(:user) { create(:user) }
     let(:runner) { create(:ci_runner) }