About the Migration Governance Indicators

Migrants' rights

Indicators in this domain assess the extent to which migrants have the same status as citizens in terms of access to basic social services such as health, education, and social security. It also describes the rights of migrants to family reunification, to work, and to residency and citizenship. The ratification of the main international conventions is also included within this domain.

Indicators in this category look at the extent to which migrants have access to certain social services such as health, education and social security. They also examine measures to ensure integration and access to work.

Whole of government approach

Indicators in this domain assess countries’ institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks related to migration policies. Domain 2 also reviews the existence of national migration strategies that are in-line with development, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in relation to migration management. This domain also investigates the extent to which governments collect and use migration data.

Indicators in this category assess the institutional frameworks of cities for migration. This area also examines the existence of migration strategies consistent with development objectives, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in migration management.

Partnerships

This domain focuses on countries’ efforts to cooperate on migration-related issues with other states and with relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector. Cooperation can lead to improvements in governance by aligning and raising standards, increasing dialogue and providing structures to overcome challenges.

Indicators in this category focus on cities’ efforts to cooperate on migration issues with the national government as well as other cities and relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector.

Well-being of migrants

This domain includes indicators on countries’ policies for managing the socioeconomic well-being of migrants, through aspects such as the recognition of migrants’ educational and professional qualifications, provisions regulating student migration and the existence of bilateral labour agreements between countries. Indicators equally focus on policies and strategies related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances.

Indicators in this category assess cities’ initiatives in terms of international student mobility, access to the labour market and decent working conditions for migrant workers. Aspects related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances are also included in this domain.

Mobility dimensions of crises

This domain studies the type and level of preparedness of countries when they are faced with mobility dimensions of crises, linked to either disasters, the environment and/or conflict. The questions are used to identify the processes in place for nationals and non-nationals both during and after disasters, including whether humanitarian assistance is equally available to migrants as it is to citizens.

Indicators in this category examine the type and level of readiness of cities to deal with aspects of mobility crises. The questions focus on the processes in place for citizens and non-citizens both during and after disasters, especially if humanitarian assistance is available for migrants and citizens.

Safe, orderly and regular migration

This domain analyses countries’ approach to migration management in terms of border control and enforcement policies, admission criteria for migrants, preparedness and resilience in the case of significant and unexpected migration flows, as well as the fight against trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants. It also assesses efforts and incentives to help integrate returning citizens.

Indicators in this category look at the cities’ approaches to migrant safety as well as return and reintegration policies and the fight against trafficking in persons.

Key findings

Introduction

This country profile describes the well-governed areas of Tuvalu’s migration governance structures and areas with potential for further development, as evaluated by the six domains of the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI). These address migrants’ rights, a “whole-of-government” approach, partnerships, socioeconomic well-being of migrants, the mobility dimensions of crises, and safe and orderly migration.

Click the icons on the wheel to explore the key findings.

The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) initiative is a policy-benchmarking programme led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and implemented with the support of the Economist Intelligence Unit. Funding is provided by IOM’s Member States.

Key findings

MIGRANTS' RIGHTS

Migration Governance: Examples of well-developed areas:

Immigrants have access to primary and secondary education, as education is compulsory for all children aged 7–15 years in the country and is paid for by the Government in most cases.
Family reunification permits are available to all migrants according to the Immigration Regulations of 2014.
Tuvalu offers a path to citizenship to all immigrants.

Areas with potential for further development:

Formal national provident fund benefits are only available to citizens.
Public-sector employment is only accessible to nationals, and there are restrictions for migrants accessing private-sector employment and self-employment.

Key findings

WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH

Migration Governance: Examples of well-developed areas:

Tuvalu’s Interministerial Development Coordinating Committee includes migration in its agenda.
The National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2016-2020 aims at mitigating the adverse impacts of internal migration and urbanisation and capitalising instead on opportunities offered by human mobility.
The Government has a cohesive migration policy framework, including a National Labour Migration Policy (2015) and Immigration Regulations (2014).

Areas with potential for further development:

The country does not have an institution or body tasked with coordinating efforts to engage with its diaspora.
Although the Tuvalu Central Statistics Division publishes migration data on an annual basis, available migration data is limited to visitor arrivals.

Key findings

PARTNERSHIPS

Migration Governance: Examples of well-developed areas:

Tuvalu actively participates in regional consultative processes and multilateral fora. For example, Tuvalu has proposed a UN resolution to create a legal framework for people displaced by climate change.
Tuvalu is also member of a number of schemes which allow seasonal agricultural workers and semi-skilled workers to work in New Zealand and Australia, respectively, and are governed by memorandums of understanding.
The country has developed a Special Portability Agreement with New Zealand (and 21 other Pacific countries) with regard to pensions.

Areas with potential for further development:

Collaboration with civil society, the private sector and the diaspora in agenda-setting and implementation of migration-related issues is limited.

Key findings

WELL-BEING OF MIGRANTS

Migration Governance: Examples of well-developed areas:

Tuvalu participates in international schemes that ensure common qualification frameworks.
The University of the South Pacific (USP) is open to international students, although they may face higher fees.

Areas with potential for further development:

There is no monitoring of national labour market demand for immigrants or domestic labour supply and the effects of emigration.
Tuvalu has no labour migration information system and relies on receiving countries for data on labour migrants.
The Government is not involved in developing formal remittance schemes.

Key findings

MOBILITY DIMENSIONS OF CRISES

Migration Governance: Examples of well-developed areas:

The Government has a strategy with specific measures to provide assistance to immigrants during crisis and post-crisis phases in the country.
The Government has a national Disaster Risk Reduction strategy with specific provisions for addressing the displacement impacts of disasters.
The Government is seeking the establishment of an international legal framework allowing for the re-establishment of Tuvalu within another country in the event that present-day Tuvalu becomes uninhabitable due to the effects of climate change.

Areas with potential for further development:

Communication systems for people to receive information on the evolving nature of crises and how to access assistance could be improved.
There is no policy to accommodate the return of migrants who have fled the country during times of crisis.

Tuvalu has not implemented measures to make exceptions to the immigration procedures for immigrants whose country of origin is experiencing a crisis.

Key findings

Safe, orderly and regular migration

Migration Governance: Examples of well-developed areas:

Tuvalu has legislation on trafficking in persons and human smuggling under the Counter Terrorism and transnational Organised Crime Act of 2009.
A basic operational mechanism managed by the Immigration Division is in place to monitor visa overstays.

Areas with potential for further development:

There are no clearly outlined visa options nor a formal system for specific visa applications prior to arrival.
Tuvalu has no border information management system.
There is no formal governmental programme or dedicated policy focused on attracting nationals who have migrated from Tuvalu or to facilitate migrant reintegration in the country.

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