Abstract Migration policies are shaped by multiple actors, including politicians, business sectors, civil society and the courts. Literature has to date elucidated the role and agency of each of these actors in order to theorize the policy‐making process and its interplay with the lives of migrants. Nevertheless, the institutional functions of government officials, namely bureaucrats, have been significantly understudied, although they are the primary decision‐makers in framing and implementing regulations. Drawing on in‐depth qualitative research conducted in Japan, this article sheds light on the organizational culture of administrative elites in designing migration policies. The findings show that human resource practices and organizational positions predicate risk averse behaviour, consequently limiting the development of innovative policies. The paper finally argues that a paradigm shift in migration policy‐making is required in tackling the communal challenges of wealthy states.