The framework linking migration, migration, urban governance and policy planning is a complex one. For this reason, the present paper, rather than being exhaustive, aims to provide an overview of the main challenges and opportunities-and importance-of linking migration related policies with urban and local governance. It draws on the experience of IOM and the concepts developed in the context of the 2015 World Migration Report, which covers the theme of migrants and cities and will feed into the discussions of the Conference on Migrants and Cities. More specifically, the paper presents IOM’s understanding of migration as a complex issue that affects and is affected by, both positively and negatively, a vast array of policy areas at the local level. Therefore, linking migration with urban policies requires not only the recognition of the complexities inherent to migration, but also coordination between multiple stakeholders, including migrants themselves, and at all levels ranging from the local to international level.