IOM plays a key role in global resettlement. Providing essential support to States in resettling refugees and other humanitarian entrants is a fundamental purpose and among its largest ongoing activities. Along the resettlement continuum – from identification to integration – IOM works in four main areas: (a) case management; (b) health assessment and related assistance; (c) movement management and operations; and (d) addressing integration pre-departure and post-arrival.

Resettlement is a protection tool to meet the specific needs of refugees and a durable solution and demonstration of international solidarity and responsibility-sharing. It allows people to begin life anew who would otherwise have neither home nor country to call their own. Annually, IOM supports some 30 States to carry out resettlement, relocation and humanitarian admissions schemes for refugees and other vulnerable persons. During 2021, IOM supported over 27 countries to conduct resettlement, humanitarian admissions, voluntary EU relocation and other pathways for a total of 64,406 refugees and other vulnerable persons, with significant operations out of Afghanistan, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The top three resettlement countries were the United States of America, Canada and Germany.  Given the increased needs and lack of available places for resettlement, IOM continues to engage with actors on increasing accessibility to safe and legal pathways.