In recent years, ASEAN’s cooperation on immigration and consular matters focuses on the exchange of information and best practices as well as capacity building of immigration officers. The annual deliberation of the DGICM in recent years also includes issues such as the operationalisation of the Guidelines on Consular Assistance by ASEAN Member States’ Missions in Third Countries to Nationals of other ASEAN Member State to the ASEAN Member States, development of the Intelligence Data Sharing Protocol (IDSP), and the effective implementation of the ASEAN Lane at Major International Airport in all ASEAN Member States. 

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DGICM also supports the implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework.