Millions of migrants lack recognised and legal identification, limiting their access to support and pathways to protection and resettlement, a conference has heard.

The conference, convened by the UN migration agency IOM in Ankara, Turkey, brought together more than 70 leaders and experts from around the world to address the issue.

The high-level conference, saw representatives from governments, international organizations, the private sector and academia meet to find solutions to the crisis around legal identity, seen as a critical gap in migrant protection.

“This conference comes at a critical moment as governments transition toward digital identity systems, especially in Africa and the Middle East,” said Nelson Goncalves, IOM Head of Legal Identity Unit.

“We see strong interest in learning and exchanging experiences to ensure these systems are inclusive, secure, and benefit the most vulnerable.”

He said legal identity was a fundamental human right and a key enabler of safe, orderly and regular migration.

Yet millions of migrants worldwide still lack recognized identification, restricting access to essential services, legal pathways and protection. Participants focused on how practical, secure and inclusive digital identity systems can help reduce these risks, particularly for people affected by displacement, conflict or administrative barriers.

Serving as a global platform for exchange, the conference examined how digital identity systems can strengthen migration governance systems while contributing to broader development goals.

Participants focused on real-world solutions, including biometrics, mobile-based identity and other digital tools, while emphasizing the safeguards needed to ensure these systems are inclusive, rights-based and used responsibly.

Attendees included government officials from Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, and Syria, alongside experts from Europe and the Middle East.

An exhibition of private sector solutions allowed participants to see these technologies in action and explore how they can be adapted across different contexts.

The event was the second global conference on legal identity under the COMPASS program, and it contributed to identifying best practices, identifying barriers to accessing legal identity, and promoting context-specific and scalable solutions that enhance migrant protection and migration governance.

It also provided space for countries to share experiences and lessons, helping shape the next steps for strengthening legal identity systems.

The COMPASS program (Cooperation on Migration and Partnerships to Achieve Sustainable Solutions) is a strategic cooperation between IOM and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Currently in its second phase, the initiative supports strengthening migration governance systems while protecting and upholding the rights of migrants.