Here, we show that the IGF-1R regulates the migration of cortical pyramidal neurons. Neurons electroporated with a shRNA targeting IGF-1R (shRNA-IGF-1R) fail to migrate to the upper cortical layers and accumulate at the ventricular/subventricular zones. Co-electroporation with a constitutively active form of PI3K rescued migration. Knocking down IGF-1 abrogated the morphological change from multipolar to bipolar and cells were arrested as multipolar forming heterotopic tissue. This correlates with the disruption of the typical orientation of the Golgi complex towards the marginal zone found in control migrating bipolar neurons. The cells electroporated with the shRNA-IGF-1R were unable to form an axon. In summary, the results indicate a necessary role of IGF-1 signaling in migration and the dynamic changes in neuronal polarities that occur at the SVZ/IZ during cortical development.