diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/sh-project-import-visibility-error.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/sh-project-import-visibility-error.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..eb7e001c6aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/sh-project-import-visibility-error.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+title: Fix invalid visibility string comparison in project import
+merge_request: 28612
+author:
+type: fixed
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/import_export/project_tree_restorer.rb b/lib/gitlab/import_export/project_tree_restorer.rb
index 51001750a6c..20caadb89c0 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/import_export/project_tree_restorer.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/import_export/project_tree_restorer.rb
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ module Gitlab
 
       def visibility_level
         level = override_params['visibility_level'] || json_params['visibility_level'] || @project.visibility_level
-        level = @project.group.visibility_level if @project.group && level > @project.group.visibility_level
+        level = @project.group.visibility_level if @project.group && level.to_i > @project.group.visibility_level
 
         { 'visibility_level' => level }
       end
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/import_export/project_tree_restorer_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/import_export/project_tree_restorer_spec.rb
index 6084dc96410..651aa600fb2 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/import_export/project_tree_restorer_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/import_export/project_tree_restorer_spec.rb
@@ -328,6 +328,19 @@ describe Gitlab::ImportExport::ProjectTreeRestorer do
     end
 
     context 'when the project has overridden params in import data' do
+      it 'handles string versions of visibility_level' do
+        # Project needs to be in a group for visibility level comparison
+        # to happen
+        group = create(:group)
+        project.group = group
+
+        project.create_import_data(data: { override_params: { visibility_level: Gitlab::VisibilityLevel::INTERNAL.to_s } })
+
+        restored_project_json
+
+        expect(project.visibility_level).to eq(Gitlab::VisibilityLevel::INTERNAL)
+      end
+
       it 'overwrites the params stored in the JSON' do
         project.create_import_data(data: { override_params: { description: "Overridden" } })