Abstract This study investigates the difference in cancer mortality rates between migrant groups and the native Dutch population, and determines the extent of convergence of cancer mortality rates according to migrants' generation, age at migration and duration of residence. Data were obtained from the national cause of death and population registries in the period 1995–2000. We used Poisson regression to compare the cancer mortality rates of migrants originating from Turkey, Morocco, Surinam, Netherlands Antilles and Aruba to the rates for the native Dutch. All‐cancer mortality among all migrant groups combined was significantly lower when compared to that of the native Dutch population (RR = 0.55, CI: 0.52–0.58). For a large number of cancers, migrants had more than 50% lower risk of death, while elevated risks were found for stomach and liver cancers. Mortality rates for all cancers combined were higher among second generation migrants, among those with younger age at migration, and those with longer duration of residence. This effect was particularly pronounced in lung cancer and colorectal cancer. For most cancers, mortality among second generation migrants remained lower compared to the native Dutch population. Surinamese migrants showed the most consistent pattern of convergence of cancer mortality. The generally low cancer mortality rates among migrants showed some degree of convergence but did not yet reach the levels of the native Dutch population. This convergence implies that current levels of cancer mortality among migrants will gradually increase in future years if no specific preventive measurements are taken. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.