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The Effect of Visas on Migration Processes

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  • Mathias Czaika
  • Hein de Haas

Abstract

The effectiveness of migration policies has been widely contested. However, because of methodological and conceptual limitations, evidence has remained inconclusive. Moreover, prior studies focus on the effects of policies on inflows and fail to assess the simultaneous effect of policies on outflows. This is essential from a theoretical point of view as immigration restrictions may reduce both inflows and outflows and, hence, overall circulation. This renders the effect of immigration restrictions on net migration theoretically ambiguous. To fill this gap, and using unique migration and visa data from the Determinants of International Migration (DEMIG) project, this paper assesses the short†and long†term effects of travel visa policy regimes on bilateral immigration and emigration dynamics. The results suggest that travel visa policies significantly decrease inflows, but this effect is undermined by decreasing outflows of the same migrant groups. This confirms that migration restrictions decrease circulation and tend to encourage long†term settlement, and thereby sharply reduce the responsiveness of migration to economic fluctuations in destination and origin societies. We also identify asymmetric policy effects with migration flows declining only very gradually after a visa introduction but increasing almost immediately after visa removal.

Suggested Citation

  • Mathias Czaika & Hein de Haas, 2017. "The Effect of Visas on Migration Processes," International Migration Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(4), pages 893-926, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:intmig:v:51:y:2017:i:4:p:893-926
    DOI: 10.1111/imre.12261
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    Cited by:

    1. Murat, Marina, 2021. "Emigration and development. What are the links?," GLO Discussion Paper Series 747, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    2. repec:ces:ifodic:v:16:y:2018:i:1:p:50000000001958 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Simone Bertoli & Jesús Fernandez-Huertas Moraga, 2018. "The Effect of Visa Policies on International Migration Flows," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 16(01), pages 38-41, May.
    4. Ben Atta, Oussama & Chort, Isabelle & Senne, Jean Noël, 2022. "Immigration, integration, and the informal economy in OECD countries," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1197, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    5. Zane Varpina & Kata Fredheim, 2022. "Ukrainian asylum seekers in Latvia: the circumstances of destination choice," SSE Riga/BICEPS Occasional Papers 17, Baltic International Centre for Economic Policy Studies (BICEPS);Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga).
    6. Michel Beine & Ilan Noy & Christopher Parsons, 2021. "Climate change, migration and voice," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 167(1), pages 1-27, July.
    7. Beine, Michel & Noy, Ilan & Parsons, Christopher, 2019. "Climate Change, Migration and Voice: An Explanation for the Immobility Paradox," IZA Discussion Papers 12640, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Soudalay Phommahaxay & Peerasit Kamnuansipla & John Draper & Phouthakkannha Nantharath & Eungoo Kang, 2019. "Preparedness of Lao People¡¯s Democratic Republic to Implement ASEAN Common Visa (ACV)," Research in World Economy, Research in World Economy, Sciedu Press, vol. 10(3), pages 419-430, December.
    9. Michel Beine & Joël Machado & Ilse Ruyssen, 2020. "Do potential migrants internalize migrant rights in OECD host societies?," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 53(4), pages 1429-1456, November.
    10. Hilary I. Okagbue & Pelumi E. Oguntunde & Sheila A. Bishop & Patience I. Adamu & Elvir M. Akhmetshin & Chukwuemeka O. Iroham, 2021. "Significant Predictors of Henley Passport Index," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 21-32, March.
    11. Marina Murat, 2020. "Emigration and development. What are the links?," Department of Economics (DEMB) 0181, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Economics "Marco Biagi".
    12. Bruno Schoumaker & Mireille Le Guen & Louise Caron & Wanli Nie, 2022. "Multiple (il)legal pathways: The diversity of immigrants' legal trajectories in Belgium," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 47(10), pages 247-290.
    13. Kuhnt, Jana, 2019. "Literature review: drivers of migration. Why do people leave their homes? Is there an easy answer? A structured overview of migratory determinants," IDOS Discussion Papers 9/2019, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    14. Mariele Macaluso, 2022. "The influence of skill-based policies on the immigrant selection process," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 39(2), pages 595-621, July.
    15. Chen Chen & Aude Bernard & Ryan Rylee & Guy Abel, 2022. "Brain Circulation: The Educational Profile of Return Migrants," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(1), pages 387-399, February.
    16. Marina Murat, 2020. "Emigration and development. What are the links?," Department of Economics 0181, University of Modena and Reggio E., Faculty of Economics "Marco Biagi".

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