International Migration Outlook 2025

3. Recent developments in migrant integration policy

Abstract

In a context of increasing fiscal pressure in the field of integration and the widespread policy goal of maximising the productive potential of migrants, this chapter offers an overview of the notable trends in integration policy in OECD countries over the past year, with a focus on reforms in the field of recognition of the skills and qualifications of migrants, as well as innovative uses of digitisation and artificial intelligence in the integration field.

In Brief

Key findings

• While some OECD countries are expanding integration and inclusion frameworks (e.g. Belgium, Canada, Germany), others have tightened access and increased obligations (e.g. Finland, the Netherlands).

• Integration is increasingly tied to labour market needs: Countries like Belgium, Canada, Germany, Luxembourg and Spain are linking integration more closely to labour shortages, especially in care, IT and skilled trades.

• New programmes promote rapid labour market integration: Germany’s Job-Turbo and Belgium’s Turboplan combine language learning with fast employment placement and employer engagement to boost early integration.

• Protecting migrants from abuse and discrimination is a growing focus: Countries such as Italy and Finland are tackling labour exploitation, while Denmark, Finland, Spain and Sweden are advancing anti-racism strategies.

• Decentralisation of integration continues: Belgium, Finland, Switzerland, Ireland and Luxembourg are shifting integration responsibilities to local or regional authorities to improve responsiveness and co‑ordination.

• Monitoring and evaluation are being strengthened: Germany and Sweden have developed new integration dashboards and barometers to better track outcomes across socio‑economic and cultural dimensions.

• Targeted support for migrant women is growing: Finland, Germany, Ireland, Korea, Luxembourg and Mexico have introduced specific measures to support labour market integration for women migrants.

• Citizenship rules are tightening in several countries: Finland, Hungary and the Netherlands have introduced longer residence requirements, cultural or language tests and conditions that may restrict access to citizenship.

• Recognition of skills is being streamlined: Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Germany, Norway and others are reducing processing times and creating priority pathways for migrants in shortage occupations.

• Bridging and micro-credential programmes are scaling up: Countries like Austria, Canada, France and Germany are developing flexible pathways for migrants to fill skill gaps without full requalification.

• Digitisation is improving service access and co‑ordination: Countries like Denmark, Luxembourg and the Netherlands use centralised digital platforms to provide migrants with streamlined access to healthcare, housing and education.

• AI enhances language learning, job matching and planning: Tools in Austria, Germany and Switzerland personalise learning, predict settlement needs and better align migrant skills with labour market demands.

• Digital integration brings new risks: While AI increases efficiency, countries must address risks of exclusion, data privacy breaches, and bias to ensure equitable access for all migrants.

Main developments in integration policy

Over the past year, the orientation of integration policy in OECD countries has evolved to reflect the changes seen in many member countries – both in the economic and political climate. While some governments have strengthened integration frameworks and taken steps toward inclusion – recognising the long-term social and economic dividends of early integration – others, have tightened access to services, introduced restrictive measures, or framed integration conditions as a migrant obligation. These developments underscore a complex and evolving landscape where labour market demands, humanitarian obligations, and political considerations intersect.

Greater alignment with broader economic and demographic goals

Across OECD countries, in the context of ageing populations and widespread labour shortages integration of foreign residents – notably those who have arrived recently – is increasingly viewed as a strategic lever to address broader economic and demographic challenges.

In Germany, for example, skilled migration reforms and integration pathways are explicitly linked to efforts to mitigate labour shortages. The new Job-Turbo Action Plan, launched in late 2023, is designed to rapidly integrate refugees into the labour market by combining early employment with continued language learning and skills development. The three‑phase approach begins with orientation and basic language courses, aiming to bring participants to A2/B1 German levels, with accelerated placement for those with in-demand qualifications. Once basic language skills are achieved, job centres intensify placement efforts, offering tailored support to connect refugees with employers, alongside workplace‑based language training and on-the‑job learning. A final phase focusses on career advancement, including further qualifications, vocational training and coaching to enable progression into skilled roles. The plan includes stronger employer engagement, simplified job-matching initiatives such as Job Turbo Action Days, and increased case management at job centres, with binding integration plans and conditional benefits. It also prioritises the recognition of foreign qualifications and targets sectors with acute labour shortages, notably care, trades and IT. By fast-tracking labour market access, the Job-Turbo aims to reduce long-term unemployment among refugees, alleviate skills shortages and support social and economic integration. Early results indicate strong participation, with around 200 000 refugees already finding employment through the scheme.

In Belgium, the Flemish Government has approved a concept note for a Turboplan for better civic integration and faster employment. This plan introduces ten actions to strengthen labour integration policies, demanding more participation from newcomers while offering guidance towards sustainable employment. The plan prioritises training for low-skilled individuals while concurrently seeking to support highly skilled individuals in finding employment that matches their competence level. Alongside this, it supports employers in making workplaces more accessible to non-native speakers.

Canada’s immigration strategy similarly emphasises the role of newcomers in sustaining long-term economic growth, particularly in the face of demographic ageing. This alignment has encouraged a more proactive approach to migrant integration, wherein access to employment, training and qualification recognition is fast-tracked for those in high-demand occupations. Meanwhile, Luxembourg has adopted legislative updates to facilitate faster access to the labour market for qualified migrants, including direct access to employment for family migrants. In Spain, where birthrates are among the lowest in the EU, and migration has been promoted as a means of growing the economy and sustaining the welfare state, a new immigration reform seeks to focus integration efforts on three key areas: work, education and family. The reform aims to address the country’s ageing population, meeting the needs of the domestic labour market and the migrants themselves.

Avoiding exploitation and combatting racism

Alongside initiatives to help migrants address labour shortages, several OECD countries have stepped up efforts to combat the exploitation of migrant workers. In Italy, a new commissioner has been appointed to support the integration of migrant workers living in informal settlements, following a 2022 report estimating that at least 10 000 foreign agricultural workers reside in such settlements, often facing labour exploitation and degrading living conditions. In parallel, eight Italian municipalities have adopted local action plans for the period 2023-2026 to address labour exploitation in agriculture. These measures form part of the first phase of Italy’s extended National Three‑Year Plan to combat labour exploitation and caporalato – the organised recruitment and employment of large numbers of workers, often irregularly, for low wages and in poor conditions. The municipal-level, multisectoral plans aim to ensure concrete implementation of national commitments. Similarly, in February 2024, the Finnish Government introduced a comprehensive set of measures to prevent labour exploitation more effectively. The programme focusses on strengthening co‑operation and information-sharing between authorities, tackling the informal economy, improving the detection and reporting of exploitation and trafficking, and increasing sanctions. Additional efforts will be made to ensure that workers are well-informed about their rights, obligations and the functioning of the Finnish labour market.

The Swedish government adopted a new action plan to combat racism and hate crime. The action plan, which is built around data on the prevalence of racism in Sweden, focusses particularly on anti-Muslim racism, antisemitism, anti-Black racism, antigypsyism and racism against the Sami. It has four “focus areas”: schools, judiciary, welfare and working life. A monitoring system is being developed to report to the government annually on efforts undertaken. Meanwhile the Danish Government presented a new action plan comprising 36 new initiatives – conceived in co‑operation with civil society organisations and designed to reduce incidents of racism and strengthen civil society efforts in this field. In Finland, the new action plan, Not Only Words, launched in August 2024, aims to foster a more inclusive, equitable society through tangible measures to address structural racism. Measures include internal discussions and training, improving knowledge, increasing equality and accessibility in communication, and expanding the use of anonymous recruitment. However, some groups have expressed concerns that government decisions on migrant-related issues are not in line with the goals of the campaign. In Spain, where an increase in hate content coinciding with major sporting events has been documented, the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, have signed a collaborative agreement with LALIGA to target racism and xenophobia, preventing violent incidents and addressing them effectively where they occur. The agreement between the ministry and LALIGA will extend to communication and awareness campaigns, as well as training modules on racism in grassroots football.

Decentralisation and local engagement

Local governments are often well placed to co‑ordinate key integration services such as housing, schooling and employment services, making their involvement critical to responsive and inclusive integration systems. In several countries, responsibility for delivering integration services has increasingly shifted from central governments to local authorities. This decentralisation is often accompanied by frameworks that empower municipalities to tailor support to local labour markets and community needs. Switzerland’s Agenda Intégration Suisse, for example, delegates substantial integration responsibilities to the cantonal level, supported by federal funding and performance indicators. Switzerland’s Cantons have now played a key role in integration for over a decade, supporting mainstream structures – such as schools, vocational training institutions and businesses – through the Cantonal Integration Programs (CIP). The third phase of the CIP is currently underway (2024-2027) and marks a strategic shift from pilot projects to lasting structural integration along with an emphasis on anti-discrimination and investment in early childhood. Each canton, in its CIP 2024-2027, has specified how it intends to achieve the strategic objectives of the third phase, including bolstering quality and innovation, introducing robust digital management and monitoring systems, and building a more cohesive and sustainable integration framework.

A comprehensive reform of the Finnish national Integration Act which entered into force in early 2025 gives municipalities a greater role in the provision of integration services including skills development, and employment promotion. By increasing the role of municipalities and local communities it is hoped that the act will promote positive interactions between migrants and the Finnish population as well as enhanced co‑operation between integration actors. Austria has also made efforts to strengthen regional implementation partnerships, while Belgium operates civic integration programmes through its regional governments, allowing for linguistic and contextual adaptation. Since January 2024, the three former French-speaking reception offices have adopted bi-communitarian status and have begun implementing a bilingual civic integration programme. Meanwhile, Ireland has established Local Authority Integration Teams in each local authority to provide tailored support to migrants. These teams are embedded in permanent Community Integration Forums, ensuring collaboration between mainstream services, NGOs and migrant groups at the local level.

Luxembourg has replaced the traditional integration framework with a model of “intercultural living together,” establishing communal pacts and commissions to foster inclusive community-level initiatives. In Australia, a new business model for the Australian Migrant English Programme (AMEP) that will come into force from early 2026 will provide an increased focus on delivery in community and work settings. At the same time, the National Community Hubs Program (NCHP) has received additional funding to continue tailored, in-community support to migrants and humanitarian entrants, with a focus on helping migrant women and their families. Meanwhile, in Latvia alongside efforts to reinforce subnational “delivery” of integration policy through newly created regional branches of the Integration and Inclusion Agency, Latvia has engaged local governments and newcomer organisations to “co-design” integration measures.

In Portugal, the network of migrant integration centres continued to expand as part of the country’s 2024 Migration Action Plan. The centres promote migrant integration by offering support with Portuguese language learning, employment, education and access to healthcare services. Meanwhile, the new Government of Poland, established a new Department of Social Integration in 2024 to focus on the integration of migrants, while Bulgaria and Hungary have created online integration platforms to strengthen employment among their foreign-born populations.

Efforts to enhance monitoring of integration indicators

The Swedish government announced the development, by Statistics Sweden, of an “integration barometer” to focus on integration measures that are difficult to measure using data available on the population register – such as democratic, social and cultural integration. According to the government, improved knowledge of differences in needs, values and conditions among the foreign- and native‑born populations will facilitate progress on integration objectives while supporting policy design. Statistics Sweden has separately been tasked with analysing how to monitor listening and reading comprehension, and oral ability in the Swedish language among adults born abroad.

The Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis) has launched the Integration Dashboard, a new interactive online tool bringing together over 60 indicators to provide a visual and interactive data-driven overview of key areas related to integration, and participation in Germany. The data sources include official statistics as well as information from other institutions such as the Federal Employment Agency, the Federal Criminal Police Office and the German Pension Insurance, and academic sources such as the Socio-Economic Panel. The system is built using the technical infrastructure of Dashboard Germany, which has provided high-frequency economic data since late 2024.

Focus on encouraging migrant women into work

Female migrants often encounter additional barriers to integration. These may arise from constraints on their time, due to caregiving responsibilities, that undermine their ability to participate in integration measures or they may result from their migration status, as many are accompanying family members, with little immediate links to the host country. As a result, migrant women often experience higher rates of unemployment and overqualification, and segregation into low-paid and precarious jobs, particularly in care and domestic work. In light of this, many OECD countries have introduced measures to target these additional barriers.

Both Ireland and Korea have expanded access to the labour market for accompanying family migrants – a group among whom women are over-represented. In 2024, Ireland enabled spouses and partners of General Employment Permit and Intra-Corporate Transferee holders to work without needing a separate permit. Meanwhile, Korea changed its immigration policy to allow spouses of professional and skilled workers to engage in non-professional employment, including domestic work and caregiving, if they meet certain criteria (e.g. language skills). In Germany, the MYTURN project – funded until 2027 – has been created to ensure a life‑situation-oriented, approach to support women in gaining labour-market relevant vocational training qualifications to support sustainable labour market entry. Elsewhere, reforms such as the Luxembourgish 2023/24 Intercultural Living Together Act, or the Mexican anti-discrimination and worker rights information campaigns, specifically target, or allocate additional support, to women as a vulnerable group. The Finnish Integration Act, discussed above, highlights as a specific goal the improved employment of migrant women.

Some countries are still taking early steps towards an integration infrastructure, while strengthening requirements and obligations

Elsewhere in the OECD, countries are taking early steps towards the creation of an integration system. In Croatia, 2025 saw the countries first information centre for foreigners opening in the city of Zagreb. The centre will enable foreign workers and displaced persons too obtain information about their rights and obligations, as well as local services, all in one place and in a language they understand – in particular, information will cover health and social protection, enrolment in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, legal information, and information on regulating civil. The country is also preparing a system for the implementation and funding of Croatian language courses and other integration activities.

Similarly, the Government of Slovenia is creating a new space to offer information and advice to promote faster integration of immigrants into Slovenian society. The centre will raise awareness of the rights and duties of immigrants, while supporting the creation of an open and tolerant society through a space to exchange experience, knowledge and skills between the local population and foreigners.

Box 3.1. Mid-term review of the Commission Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021-2027

The Mid-Term Review of the EU Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021-2027, published in June 2025, provides a state of play on the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum through a structured assessment of the progress that has been made in fostering the inclusion of migrants and EU citizens with a migrant background. The report focusses on progress across six key policy areas, including (i) education, (ii) employment, (iii) health, (iv) housing (v) horizontal measures and (vi) EU funds and governance. The report identifies achievements, highlights persistent gaps and provides guidance for Member States and stakeholders in strengthening the implementation of the Action Plan during its remaining period. The review serves as a basis to enhance policy coherence, ensure efficient use of EU funds, and reinforce measures that support equal opportunities and social cohesion. The mid-term review (June 2025) recognises meaningful progress in implementing the Action Plan accompanying the Pact on Migration and Asylum. However, structural gaps and ongoing challenges suggest that intensified, co‑ordinated and better monitored measures are required to fully achieve the Plan’s 2027 goals.

Table 3.1. Summary of key findings from the Mid‑Term Review of the 2021-2027 EU Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion

Dimension	Main Progress Achieved	Ongoing Challenges	Recommended Next Steps
Education & Training	Enhanced access to language training, preschool inclusion and school support for migrants.	Disparities persist – particularly lower achievement and higher dropout rates among students with migration background.	Expand early-language support, strengthen teacher training on diversity, and promote intercultural schooling environments.
Employment & Skills	Increased labour-force participation among migrants; rollout of skills validation and recognition initiatives initiated by Member States.	Disparities persist – particularly lower achievement and higher dropout rates among students with migration background.	Mutual learning on recognition procedures, targeted PES services, gender-sensitive training schemes, and tailored youth employment programmes.
Health	Deployment of intercultural mediation in healthcare; steps taken to reduce barriers to access.	Ongoing issues with informational, legal, and practical barriers, including insufficient cultural competence among providers.	Implement inclusive health literacy campaigns; train practitioners in cultural awareness; collect migrant-disaggregated health data.
Housing	Launch of EU-funded social-housing projects with integration-oriented design; some Member States have piloted inclusive housing policies.	Immigrants face high risk of segregation, overcrowding, and insecure rental situations.	Integrate inclusion in urban planning, apply anti-segregation policies, ensure affordability, and involve migrant communities in housing design.
Horizontal Measures	Progress in mainstreaming anti-discrimination and diversity awareness across sectors; strengthened co‑operation among stakeholders.	Weak enforcement of the European legal framework against discrimination; online and institutional prejudice continues largely unaddressed.	Enhance awareness-raising, fully implement legal safeguards, bolster community-led initiatives, and support civil-society integration actions.
EU Funds & Governance	Effective use of ESF+, AMIF, ERDF, and FEAD in financing integration and inclusion measures; structural fund programming increasingly aligned with integration goals.	Uneven national co‑ordination in fund allocation; lack of systematic evaluation of fund impacts on integration outcomes.	Promote co‑ordinated multi-level governance, establish common output indicators, improve data collection, and conduct systematic post-funding evaluations.

Source: EUR-Lex, Mid-term review of the Commission Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021-2027, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52025SC0162.

Tightening citizenship policy

Alongside efforts to integrate migrants and protect against exploitation, a number of countries are introducing stricter conditions to confer citizenship rights. In Finland, for example, proposed reforms to the Citizenship Act recommend tightening naturalisation measures. In the first place, since October 2024, the required period of residence for Finnish citizenship has been lengthened from five to eight years. In addition, residence granted under international protection no longer counts toward the residence requirements. In the second place, the definition of sufficient financial resources is to be tightened. And finally, Finland is planning to introduce a citizenship test, with the government proposal to be submitted to parliament during the 2025.

Meanwhile, since January 2025, migrants applying for a Hungarian Residence Card must pass a Hungarian cultural knowledge exam covering six key topics including: Hungary’s national symbols and holidays; significant events in Hungarian history; fundamental institutions and citizen rights and obligations. The assessment, which costs HUF 20 000 (approx. EUR 50), will be conducted via a written test in Hungarian with applicants allowed up to a maximum of three attempts.

The government of the Netherlands also outlined proposals to tighten rules governing naturalisation in 2024. These include raising the language requirement to level B1 and extending the residence period from five to ten years. Additionally, the government plans to require new citizens, where possible, to renounce their original nationality. Meanwhile, since mid-2024, it has begun to phase‑out living allowances for people displaced from Ukraine with sufficient income from employment.

Developments in the recognition of skills and qualifications

Recognition of the skills and qualifications that migrants hold is key to strengthening their role in assuaging labour shortages. Many OECD countries have updated qualification recognition policies to enhance their speed and flexibility.

Reducing processing times and creating sector-based pathways

The sooner immigrants have their foreign qualifications assessed and recognised, the sooner they can access parts of the labour market where their skills are in demand. When recognition processes are slow, migrants may face prolonged periods of unemployment or end up working in roles for which they are overqualified. This can lead to long-term negative effects, including skill depreciation and scarring. To address this, several OECD countries have taken steps to accelerate recognition procedures. In the past, such efforts had focussed on introducing legally mandated processing times for the assessment of foreign qualifications or allowing prospective migrants to begin the recognition process before arriving in the country – see OECD (2017[1]). In 2024, however, efforts have instead focussed on simplifying processes and removing certain requirements.

In Germany, for example, the Skilled Immigration Act was revised in 2024 to simplify the recognition of foreign professional qualifications and reduce processing times. In Belgium, a new digital application process was launched to cut processing times from several months to a few weeks. Norway has introduced a fast-track service to assess foreign qualifications within five working days and has extended the automatic recognition system to additional countries, including Ukraine, providing downloadable statements on how specific degrees are typically assessed.

Streamlining the recognition of foreign credentials is particularly critical in sectors experiencing acute labour shortages, such as healthcare, construction and information technology. Indeed, many OECD countries are creating priority pathways in shortage sectors, including Australia (healthcare, construction), Belgium (medicine, law, and education) and Germany (healthcare, engineering, IT). In Denmark, universities have fast-tracked the recognition of foreign degrees in STEM fields, while Czechia has created an accelerated recognition process for Ukrainian refugees in critical sectors including healthcare, IT, and engineering. In Switzerland in 2024, new laws were introduced to ensure faster qualification equivalency processes for migrants in critical industries.

Canada has invested heavily in speeding up foreign credential recognition, especially in healthcare and skilled trades. There has been a focus on streamlining assessment processes and funding bridging programmes. Meanwhile, some provinces, including Ontario and British Columbia, have passed legislation to remove Canadian work experience requirements for many professions.

Micro-credentials and bridging programmes are gaining traction to close skill gaps more efficiently

Micro-credentials and bridging programmes are gaining traction as flexible, targeted solutions to address specific skill gaps among foreign-born workers, enabling faster labour market integration without the need for full requalification. Critical to creating effective micro-credentials and enabling bridging is the recognition of existing competences. France’s VAE system enables individuals – regardless of country of birth – to obtain full or partial diplomas or professional certifications based on their professional experience and/or volunteer activity, by submitting a detailed portfolio to an evaluation jury. Specific initiatives, in particular the VAE sans frontières and pilot schemes such as Parcours VAE migrants have extended this pathway to refugees and migrants, enabling them to convert relevant work and life experience into recognised French qualifications. In 2023, the Ministry of Labour began a pilot of the VAE inversée. While not directly targeted at migrants, it is hoped that this will strengthen engagement among migrants and refugees, reducing barriers by actively engaging them rather than relying on them to initiate the process. The centralised platform, France VAE, introduced in July 2023, further enhances accessibility through an intuitive digital space, with support for non-native speakers. Similarly, Canada is piloting alternative credential recognition projects that allow migrants to prove their skills through competency-based assessments rather than traditional credential validation, while in Austria, vocational training equivalence programmes now allow migrants without formal degrees to demonstrate skills through practical assessments. Phase 3, of Germany’s Job Turbo action plan, outlined above, focusses on stabilising and enhancing employment with the aim that, over time, participants obtain further qualifications and become skilled workers.

Building on competence recognition and micro-credentials, bridging courses offer targeted training modules that focus on specific skills or competencies required in the host country. These allow migrants to update or adapt their existing qualifications without undergoing lengthy and costly requalification processes. In some countries, micro-credentials are stackable and can serve as pathways into formal qualifications, while bridging programmes may also include language training, cultural orientation and practical work placements to facilitate smoother transitions into the workforce. Such approaches are particularly valuable for migrants whose foreign qualifications are only partially recognised, or whose career continuity has been disrupted by migration or displacement. Canada has been at the forefront of such programmes for many years, developing bridging programmes for internationally trained professionals (e.g. doctors, nurses, engineers) to help them meet Canadian certification requirements while gaining work experience.

Employers are playing a growing role in recognition with increasing value placed on work experience

Employers have been playing a growing role in recognition, reflecting a shift from purely government-led credential recognition to more demand-driven, flexible systems that value practical skills and work experience and can fill labour shortages quickly. In Germany, for example, “recognition partnerships” have been introduced as part of the amendments to the Skilled Immigration Act. These partnerships, which came into force in March 2024 have put employers at the core of the recognition process, enabling them to fill skill gaps more nimbly. Under these agreements, qualified migrants can start work immediately in appropriate roles. In exchange, the skilled worker commits to apply for the recognition procedure after entering Germany, while the employer agrees to (i) provide support during the recognition procedure and (ii) allow the worker time to acquire the qualifications needed for full recognition. Concrete measures necessary to achieve full recognition – such as undertaking internships – are identified through an individual assessment. Alongside this, companies and trade unions are involved at all levels of the Job Turbo Initiative (outlined above) and have signed a declaration in support of the initiative.

Digitisation and the use of Artificial Intelligence for integration

Digitisation is the process of converting information, services and administrative procedures from paper-based or manual formats into digital ones. The opportunities offered by AI are particularly valuable in the field of integration, where migration patterns can shift rapidly due to conflict, climate change, or changes in international policy. They are also valuable at a time when public resources – and particularly those dedicated to migrant integration – are increasingly under pressure. When used responsibly and with attention to ethical considerations – like data privacy, equity, and inclusivity – AI can support a more cost-efficient, effective and personalised approach to integration.

Settlement, early integration and access to public services

Across the OECD, many countries have developed comprehensive integration plans or one‑stop-shops to bring together the multiple services migrants must access to support their integration. Digitisation has increased ability of OECD countries to provide these services in a holistic and accessible format to migrants soon after arrival. In the Netherlands, for example, access to healthcare, education and social housing is managed through the digitised municipal population registry, ensuring migrants are immediately entered into public service systems. Each migrant receives a digital integration plan developed with their local municipality, including assigned language learning tracks that can be monitored through digital case files. Denmark, in a similar vein, offers a centralised digital platform, where immigrants can use a single login to access all government services, including banking, housing, and ID. Launched in 2023, Luxembourg’s multilingual portal for asylum seekers, Portail DPI, now offers guidance on legal rights and support services in 13 languages with audio options. The Romanian platform enables migrants to schedule appointments and track case progress through a secure portal, increasing access to rights and reducing delays. In Mexico, Centers for Migrant Integration (CIM) use digital registration and case tracking to deliver housing, health, and legal support for returned migrants and asylum seekers. At the same time, helping build community ties in key border areas​.

Beyond this, a number of countries are experimenting with increasingly digitised data and services to capitalise on the potential of recent developments in AI. Where Norway and Canada use data modelling to anticipate settlement needs – like housing and employment services – in specific regions, other countries are experimenting with AI to help identify which interventions – such as language training or mentorship – are most likely to be effective for integration outcomes. The Swiss State Secretariat for Migration has, since 2020, piloted GeoMatch to guide refugee assignments across cantons. GeoMatch is an AI-powered tool developed by the Immigration Policy Lab at Stanford University and ETH Zurich. It uses historical data to assist governments and resettlement agencies in identifying optimal locations for refugees based on their backgrounds and predicted integration success. Meanwhile, the Netherlands, in co‑operation with the University of Amsterdam’s Athena Institute, is exploring the potential of AI chatbots to deliver customised healthcare information to historically marginalised communities and answer questions in multiple languages about asylum processes and legal rights. In Korea, an AI-driven personalised conversation service (available to migrants and native‑born Koreans) is used to check on people’s well-being once or twice a week, chatting with people for about two minutes. The AI service is able to remember past conservations and use them as input for the next call (OECD, 2025[2]).

Through EU funded CommuniCity project, the cities of Amsterdam and Prague have adapted an existing AI-powered application to address the specific administrative challenges often faced by immigrants and refugees. The application simplifies bureaucratic processes by translating, organising and setting reminders for the submission of important documents, such as government letters, while a chatbot provides personalised assistance.

Language learning, education and recognition

Language training has been at the heart of integration for many years. Artificial intelligence offers significant potential to support language learning, particularly in the context of migrant integration. AI-powered tools can provide personalised and adaptive instruction, tailoring content to individual learners’ needs and progress, thereby increasing the efficiency of learning. Real-time feedback on grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation supports continuous improvement, while advances in natural language processing enables interactive practice through realistic dialogue simulations. These scalable tools can offer flexible and cost-effective learning opportunities for migrants who may face barriers to traditional education – particularly those juggling language study with care and work obligations.

Given this potential, language learning has been leading the way in the use of AI for integration and many OECD countries have developed initiatives in this area. In Germany, the Ankommen (Arrive) app, Co-developed by the German Government, combines language lessons, integration course information and job search tools, while in Finland, AI is used in online Finnish and Swedish learning platforms tailored for immigrants. Austria has expanded its online learning platform Sprachportal.at for migrants to improve their language proficiency and, since January 2023, the Austrian Integration Fund has been issuing digital certificates for integration and language tests, streamlining the process of language accreditation for migrants. In Australia, a new national curriculum and digital delivery model is being developed to improve English language training for migrants, while in Norway, counties have begun using digital tools to deliver Norwegian language and social studies training to full-time upper secondary students in the introduction program. Building on the opportunities for the use of AI in recognition, Estonia has introduced an AI-driven diploma recognition system, allowing migrants to upload credentials digitally for assessment.

Employment and job matching

Alongside strengthening the supply of skills embodied in the foreign-born population – through learning, education and recognition, integration services also play an important role in helping migrants find work, in matching migrants with skills to employment opportunities that require those skills. The heavy reliance of job search on networks can put migrants, who have more limited access to such networks, at a disadvantage.

Advances in AI are supporting the shift in job matching from simply collecting information about a job-seeker’s formal qualifications and experience to a more holistic approach that looks at skill-based profiling and matching. In this manner AI tools, such as machine learning, can be particularly important to help immigrants match with jobs that suit their skills, even when formal qualifications do not transfer easily. In this vein, Germany’s Job Turbo Initiative, discussed above, offers a structured AI-driven employment programme to minimise unemployment spells by placing refugees into jobs quickly after completing integration courses. Building on advances in Natural Language Processing, Sweden has piloted AI-driven career guidance chatbots for recent arrivals, available in multiple languages. The Flemish Public Employment Service (VDAB) has collaborated with Radix AI to develop a deep-learning model that enhances job matching by analysing both structured and unstructured data from CVs and job postings. This AI-driven approach improves the accuracy of matching candidates to suitable job opportunities.

The Danish Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment (STAR) has developed a profiling model using machine learning techniques that predict the likelihood of people becoming long-term (>26 weeks) unemployed. The model combines data from administrative records and an online survey that gathers behavioural information. In collaboration with the University of Copenhagen, a new survey instrument is currently being developed that aims to capture structural personality traits such as time and risk preferences. The system is voluntary for jobseekers to use but if they do, they get full access to the model’s results. The system does not automatically refer jobseekers to active labour market programmes (ALMPs), rather it supports caseworkers who keep full discretionary responsibility (OECD, 2025[2]).

Social inclusion and community building

Ultimately, the goal of integration policy is not just to provide services, but to create conditions in which migrants can fully participate in and contribute to society. With thoughtful design and implementation, AI can be a valuable ally in that effort.

AI and social platforms have the potential to foster community connections, cultural exchange and civic participation. And, in many OECD countries, local communities and non-governmental organisations have been working alongside government to harness AI to enhance social inclusion and community building. In France, apps like RefAid and Bienvenue! have been developed to provide real-time information about shelters, food, legal help and nearby language meetups. Meanwhile, Australia supports digital storytelling and community-building apps that allow migrants to share their stories and connect with locals. In a number of OECD countries, local communities and government have taken the lead in using digital tools to support social inclusion and integration. In Germany, for example, an open-source mobile app, Integreat, is maintained by local governments and non-governmental organisations. The app offers localised information and services tailored to refugees and migrants in Germany and provides guidance on registration, healthcare, education, and employment in multiple languages. In Czechia, as part of the Refugees Welcome project, a Prague‑based NGO, SIMI, has created an online guide (https://bydleni.migrace.com/) containing a comprehensive, up to date summary of practical information to help foreigners navigate the path to dignified, safe and long-term housing. The handbook is based on the organisation’s long-term experience working with clients who do not have social ties in Czechia, lack awareness of local customs and legal norms, are in a situation that is too vulnerable to claim their rights, or have been exposed to discrimination. The handbook provides information on housing opportunities, details about costs of accommodation, and advice on how to proceed in looking for housing guiding clients through the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords and the ways in which a lease agreement can be terminated.

AI holds transformative potential in the field of migrant integration, offering scalable, personalised, and integrated solutions to the complex challenge of integration. From real-time translation and skills recognition to predictive analytics for better service planning, AI can bridge the linguistic, bureaucratic, and logistical gaps that often hinder integration. However, the move towards digitalisation and online engagement is not without risks in a field where success is defined by social interaction and community engagement. While many migrant groups are well placed to take advantage of the opportunities created by AI, gaps in digital literacy can be large, and some migrant groups may be unable to access to digital services. Moreover, the speed with which the current digital environment is evolving may mean that certain tools may quickly become obsolete and, if not updated regularly, the quality of information can rapidly degrade. As use of digital processes and AI is increasingly adopted in the field of integration policy, these risks must be monitored, and care must be taken to protect data privacy, to ensure that bias arising from the use of historical data is not built in to predictive tools, and to ensure that inequalities in digital literacy and access to digital devices does not undermine the accessibility and quality of integration services.

References

[2] OECD (2025), “AI and the future of social protection in OECD countries”, OECD Artificial Intelligence Papers, No. 42, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/7b245f7e-en.

[1] OECD (2017), Making Integration Work: Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications, Making Integration Work, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264278271-en.