The Organization was established in December 1951 and began its operations in early 1952 as the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration. Its Constitution was adopted on 19 October 1953 and came into force on 30 November 1954. Amendments were made to the Constitution, effective 14 November 1989, and the Organization was renamed the International Organization for Migration. The Organization possesses full juridical personality and has its Headquarters in Geneva. It currently has 125 Member States.

The Organization's organs are the Council, the Executive Committee and the Administration.

The Council

The Council, on which each Member State has one representative and one vote, is the highest authority and determines IOM policies.

The Executive Committee

The Executive Committee, at present comprising 33 Member States elected for two-year periods, examines and reviews the policies, operations and administration of the Organization. The Standing Committee on Programmes and Finance (SCPF), which is open to the entire membership, replaced the Subcommittee on Budget and Finance and will normally meet twice a year to examine and review policies, programmes and activities and to discuss budgetary and financial matters.

The Administration

The Administration, which comprises a Director General, a Deputy Director General and such staff as the Council may determine, is responsible for administering and managing the Organization in accordance with the Constitution and the policies and decisions of the Council and the Executive Committee. The Director General, who is the Organization's highest executive official, and the Deputy Director General are independently elected by the Council for a period of five (5) years.