The Steering Group is comprised of governments that are firmly committed to offer sustained political and conceptual support to the Forum process and to the Chair-in-Office, and to ensure continuity of the process. It is regionally balanced, and its composition takes into account different migration perspectives. For further information please refer to the GFMD Operating Modalities.

In Brussels, about 20 governments comprised the Steering Group. In Manila, the Steering Group membership was expanded to 30. In Athens, 34 countries constituted the Steering Group, including Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States of America. On 28 April 2010, Israel joined the Steering Group which now consists of 35 UN Member States.