Basement membranes (BMs) are specialized extracellular matrices required for tissue organisation and organ formation. Here we study the role of laminin and its integrin receptor in the regulation of tissue migration during Drosophila oogenesis. In the fly, egg production involves the collective migration of follicle cells (FCs) over the BM to shape the mature egg. We quantify laminin and integrin levels to show that laminin contents in the BM increase with time, while integrin amounts in the FCs do not vary significantly. Controlled manipulation of integrin and laminin levels revealed that a dynamic balance of integrin-laminin amounts determines the onset and speed of FC migration. Thus, the interplay of ligand-receptor levels regulates tissue migration in vivo. In addition, reduced laminin contents affect the ultrastructure and biophysical properties of the BM. Finally, laminin depletion results also in anterior-posterior misorientation of developing follicles. Altogether, laminin emerges as a key new player in the regulation of collective cell migration, tissue stiffness and the organisation of anterior-posterior polarity in Drosophila.