voluntary return

Ad Hoc Query on voluntary return of Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection

Publication date: 07 March 2025

This ad hoc query examines the voluntary return procedures for Ukrainian nationals granted temporary protection in EU Member States, focusing on the support provided for their return and reintegration. The aim is to understand the various national approaches to facilitating voluntary returns, including whether reintegration assistance is offered and how these programmes are funded.

Main theme: Temporary protection, Return & Readmission

Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries

Keywords: beneficiary of temporary protection, voluntary return, reintegration, Ukraine

Annual Report 2023 (Fedasil)

Publication date: 21 June 2024

In its 2023 Annual Report, Fedasil reviews the key events of the year and provides an overview of the reception network for international protection applicants, the resettlement of refugees, and voluntary returns. The report also presents key statistics that offer valuable insights into these areas, helping to illustrate both the challenges faced and the progress made.

Main theme: Reception

Publication Type: Report

Keywords: annual report, Fedasil, reception capacity, resettlement, voluntary return, reintegration assistance

Ad Hoc Query on supporting measures for Ukrainians wishing to go back to Ukraine on a voluntary basis

Publication date: 26 October 2022

Are the Member States providing any support measures to Ukrainian citizens wishing to go back to Ukraine on a voluntary basis? This ad hoc query launched by Estonia examines the current measures as well as possible plans, including to develop long-term support measures/programs for Ukrainians who wish to voluntarily go back to Ukraine.

Main theme: Temporary protection

Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries

Keywords: voluntary return, Ukraine

Return counselling (EMN Informs)

Publication date: 30 March 2020

These three EMN Informs look into i.a. possible approaches for return counselling, support for return counsellors, and information provision for the return of migrants.

Main theme: Return & Readmission

Publication Type: Informs

Keywords: voluntary return

Family Matters. A Study into the Factors Hampering Voluntary Return of Migrants Residing at Family Locations (IOM)

Publication date: 24 August 2018

This study provides insight into the decision-making process of migrant families in family locations in the Netherlands, whose legal remedies in most cases have been exhausted, but nevertheless decide not to return.

Main theme: Return & Readmission

Publication Type: Study

Keywords: voluntary return, families

Incentives to return to a third-country and support provided to migrants for their reintegration (EMN Inform)

Publication date: 08 June 2016

This EMN Inform provides an overview of the results of the review of 87 programmes implemented by 23 Member States and Norway to assist migrants to return and to support their reintegration.

Main theme: Return & Readmission

Publication Type: Informs

Keywords: financial assistance, reintegration programmes, voluntary return

Awareness and image of voluntary return - the perspective of irregular migrants and their representatives in Belgium (KUL)

Front page - Study on awareness and image of voluntary return (KUL)

Publication date: 10 May 2016

What image do irregular migrants and their representatives have of voluntary return? Is voluntary return well-known? These topics are the focus of a study carried out by the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL).

Main theme: Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission

Publication Type: Study

Keywords: voluntary return

Dissemination of Information on Voluntary Return: how to reach irregular migrants not in contact with the authorities (EMN Inform)

Cover Image EMN Inform Dissemination of information on voluntary return

Publication date: 03 November 2015

This EMN Inform summarises the main findings of the EMN Study "Dissemination of Information on Voluntary Return: how to reach irregular migrants not in contact with the authorities".

Main theme: Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission

Publication Type: Informs

Keywords: voluntary return

Dissemination of information on voluntary return in Belgium and in the EU: how to reach irregular migrants not in contact with the authorities (EMN)

Cover image EU synthesis on dissemination of information on voluntary return

Publication date: 17 September 2015

This EMN study analyses and compares the different approaches used by Member States to ensure irregular migrants are informed of options for return.

Main theme: Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission

Publication Type: EMN Reports & Studies

Keywords: voluntary return

Challenges and good practices in the return and reintegration of irregular migrants to Western Africa (EMN Inform)

Publication date: 01 January 2015

This EMN Inform provides information concerning EMN national Contact Points’ practices on return and reintegration to Western Africa.

Main theme: Return & Readmission

Publication Type: Informs

Keywords: assistance, reintegration programmes, voluntary return

EMN Return Experts Group (REG) Directory

Publication date: 01 October 2014

The REG Directory “Connecting Return Experts across Europe” gives an overview of the programmes across Europe to support return and reintegration in third countries.

Main theme: Return & Readmission

Publication Type: EMN Reports & Studies

Keywords: reintegration programmes, voluntary return

A brief overview of recent findings on return (EMN Inform)

First page of EMN inform on recent findings on return

Publication date: 19 November 2013

This EMN Inform provides an overview of current aspects of return in EU Schengen Member States and Norway, including statistics.

Main theme: Return & Readmission

Publication Type: Informs

Keywords: forced return, return directive, voluntary return

Ad Hoc Query on removal policies

Publication date: 09 August 2013

10 Member States provided detailed information and statistical data on their removal policy, forced returns and assisted returns. This query was launched by the French EMN NCP

Main theme: Return & Readmission

Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries

Keywords: forced return, Frontex, return policy, voluntary return

Year Report 2012 (IOM Brussels)

Publication date: 03 July 2013

This very first edition of the IOM Brussels Country Office (CO) Year Report will give you a brief overview of activities undertaken in 2012 allowing a focus on specific areas of interest linked to the Belgian and Luxembourg migration context and more broadly to the European and global context.

Main theme: External Dimension, Family reunification, Return & Readmission

Publication Type: Report

Keywords: voluntary return, development, reintegration

Overview of Belgian Figures on Asylum and Migration (EMN)

Snapshot of one page with tables and figures

Publication date: 25 June 2013

In order to satisfy the large demand for detailed figures on asylum and migration, the Belgian Contact Point of the EMN compiled in August 2012 a series of figures on asylum and migration.

Main theme: Data & Statistics

Keywords: asylum decisions, asylum applications, residence permit, forced return, voluntary return, work permit

Ad Hoc Query on the return of unaccompanied minors

Publication date: 17 January 2013

This compilation of responses to a French ad hoc query provides information on the removal of unaccompanied minors in the EU Member States.

Main theme: Vulnerable groups, Return & Readmission

Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries

Keywords: age assessment, family tracing, forced return, unaccompanied minors, voluntary return

Fedasil communicates its statistics and analyses concerning voluntary returns

Publication date: 29 February 2012

The Belgian Federal Agency for Reception of Asylum Seekers presents the statistics of voluntary returns performed from Belgium in 2011.

Main theme: Return & Readmission, Data & Statistics

Keywords: migration statistics, voluntary return

Annual Report: Return and Emigration of Asylum Seekers Ex-Belgium (REAB)

Publication date: 04 May 2011

IOM published in cooperation with Fedasil the annual REAB-report 2010

Main theme: Return & Readmission

Publication Type: Report

Keywords: IOM, REAB program, reintegration programmes, voluntary return

Voluntary Return Programmes: Could they Assuage the effects of the Economic Crisis?

Publication date: 30 March 2011

To what extent the Voluntary Return Programmes for foreign workers can be helpful in order to decrease unemployment pressures in a context of economic crisis? In the background of lessons provided by experience in other countries, this paper analyzes the Spanish policy in that field.

Main theme: Return & Readmission

Publication Type: Study

Keywords: foreign workers, Spain, voluntary return

Over 101.500 Ukrainians received temporary protection in Belgium

Publication date:

Four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Belgium has granted more than 101.500 temporary protection certificates to people fleeing the conflict. Today, around 70.600 of these displaced Ukrainians remain in the country. While the temporary protection scheme has been extended until March 2027, uncertainty remains over what will happen afterwards, raising questions for both the authorities and Ukrainian beneficiaries.

Main theme: Temporary protection

Keywords: beneficiary of temporary protection, accommodation, transition, legal status, voluntary return, reintegration

EMN Belgium attends mutual learning seminar on transitioning out of temporary protection

Publication date:

On 19 February 2026, EMN Belgium attended a Mutual Learning Seminar organised by ECRE (European Council on Refugees and Exiles) within the framework of the INNOVATE project, supported by EU funding under the Horizon 2020 programme.Held in Brussels, the seminar brought together experts, civil society representatives and policymakers to assess the state of preparedness across EU Member States for transitioning out of temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive, currently extended until March 2027.

Main theme: Temporary protection

Keywords: beneficiary of temporary protection, transition, legal status, voluntary return, reintegration

3.122 people choose voluntary return in 2025, according to Fedasil

Publication date:

On 3 February 2026, Fedasil published its statistics on voluntary returns for 2025. A total of 3.122 people chose to return to their country of origin. The number is slightly lower than in 2024 but higher than in 2023. The top destination countries include Brazil, Moldova, Syria, Colombia, and Turkey.

Main theme: Return & Readmission

Keywords: voluntary return, reintegration assistance

New Myria thematic booklet examines return policy and expanded coercive measures

Publication date:

Myria, the Federal Migration Centre, has published a new thematic booklet as part of its annual report "Migration in figures and rights 2025". The publication presents recent figures on return, detention and removal, while analysing major legislative developments in Belgian return policy. It also examines the situation of detainees without legal residence in Belgian prisons and reviews the creation of the National Preventive Mechanism against ill-treatment in detention. According to Myria, return indicators have continued to rise after the pandemic, while new laws significantly expand the use of control and coercive measures.

Main theme: Return & Readmission

Keywords: return policy, detention, voluntary return, forced return, National Preventive Mechanism, Convention against Torture

Anneleen Van Bossuyt confirms Belgium’s participation in exploratory administrative mission to Afghanistan

Publication date:

Belgium has confirmed its participation in an exploratory administrative mission to Afghanistan, representing 20 European Union Member States. The announcement was made by Minister of Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt. The mission, organised by the European Commission, aimed to establish technical administrative contacts with Afghan authorities. The initiative has drawn attention from refugee organisations, which have expressed concern about engagement with the Taliban regime.

Main theme: Return & Readmission

Keywords: voluntary return, forced return, illegally staying person, Afghanistan, identification, criminal foreigner

Anneleen Van Bossuyt aims to boost voluntary return of Syrians with enhanced reintegration support

Publication date:

During the informal European Justice and Home Affairs Council in Cyprus on 22 January 2026, Minister of Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt announced targeted measures to encourage the voluntary return of Syrian nationals. The plan includes enhanced reintegration assistance for Syrians choosing to return to their country, while continuing to implement forced returns for non-cooperating individuals in general, prioritising those irregularly staying in Belgium with criminal convictions.