Last year, 3,122 persons decided to return voluntarily to their country of origin, including 219 Syrians.
The number of returnees is slightly down compared to 2024 (-4.5%) but up compared to 2023 (+6%).
Countries of destination
The top 5 destination countries in 2025 was: Brazil, Moldavia, Syria, Colombia and Turkey. Syria is the latest addition to this list. In 2025, no fewer than 219 Syrians returned to their country, compared with 6 in 2024. This significant increase is explained by the fall of the Assad regime.
As in 2024, Brazil and Moldova retain the first and second place respectively. For these two countries, the Minister for Asylum and Migration has decided to end reintegration assistance.
Which profiles?
Around half of the returnees were migrants without a residence permit. The remaining persons were applicants for international protection (27%) and persons at the end of the procedure (27%).
Nearly half the returnees were families (parents and children). The other half were single men or women and a few unaccompanied minors. In terms of age, the largest group was the 25 to 44-year-olds.
Reintegration assistance after the return
Fedasil not only offers support before and during the return, but also reintegration assistance after the arrival in the country of origin. Not all returnees are entitled to it, depending on their personal situation. The assistance can include setting up a micro-business, renovating or renting a home, reimbursing medical expenses or helping to find a job or a training.
In 2025, 2,481 migrants, or 79% of returnees, benefited from reintegration assistance in no fewer than 87 different countries around the world.
The voluntary return programme is co-financed by the European Union.