Geneva/Berlin: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is launching today a new report titled "Migration Governance Insights on Regular Pathways: Delivering on the Promise of Migration", IOM's first global policy analysis focusing on regular migration pathways.

The report examines data collected from 100 national and 69 local assessments conducted between 2016 and 2023 by IOM’s Migration Governance Indicators. 

The report reveals that countries with both dedicated emigration policies and formal diaspora engagement see significantly higher remittance inflows, receiving, on average, three times more remittances than countries without these measures.

It also underscores the importance of creating legal and policy frameworks that enable safe, orderly, and regular migration. These pathways facilitate authorized movement, entry, stay, and re-entry of migrants, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

These findings make a strong case for expanding existing migration pathways and providing more opportunities for regular migration. This involves strengthening institutional capacities, promoting clear and transparent migration rules, and utilizing digitalization to streamline visa and residence processes.

Aligned with IOM’s Strategic Plan, the report emphasizes a comprehensive approach to migration governance. To enhance regular migration pathways, the organization calls for coordinated actions at various levels and robust stakeholder engagement to design flexible and adaptable migration policies.

Regular migration pathways offer significant benefits for both countries of origin and destination by maximizing the positive impacts of migration. For origin countries, these pathways can amplify diaspora contributions, support the reintegration of returning nationals, and promote economic development through increased remittances, skill transfer, and community development. For destination countries, dedicated migration policies can address labour shortages, attract skilled workers, and support demographic stability through regional agreements, while also providing safer and more predictable migration routes that reduce the risks associated with irregular migration. This influx of talent and labour fosters economic growth and innovation.

IOM encourages governments, policymakers, and international organizations to leverage the insights from this report to promote a more inclusive and effective global migration system. By working together, stakeholders can ensure that migration is a choice and not a necessity.

To read the full report visit: https://bit.ly/RegularPathways or click here to access the executive summary.

For more information, please contact: mgi@iom.int