Returns: the EU’s new approach to sending migrants back
The EU is looking to make the repatriation of irregular migrants more effective. Find out about the measures and key figures on returning migrants.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of non-EU nationals are ordered to leave the EU due to having an irregular status. However, just over 20% of them actually leave the EU. That is why the EU wants to introduce common and effective rules about managing migrants with no right to stay.
About the EU Return Directive
dates back to 2008 and according to an in 2013, had an overall positive effect on return policy in Europe, by introducing a maximum limit on the length of detention and promoting voluntary departures and return.
These rules define 'illegal stay' as the presence on EU territory of non-EU citizens who do not fulfil, or no longer fulfil the conditions of entry, stay or residence. However, these conditions may differ between countries, leading to situations where non-EU citizens in similar situations may be or become irregular in one EU country, but not in others.
Improvements to the Return Directive: What’s in the pipeline
The EU has been working to make sure that people who have no right to stay in the European Union are returned more quickly and more effectively. This is one of the objectives behind the Migration and Asylum Pact adopted in 2024.
In March 2025, the European Commission put forward with swifter, simpler and more effective return procedures across the EU.
The proposal aims to:
- ensure that a return decision issued in one EU country is recorded in a European Return Order and visible in the , so that even if the migrant moves to another EU country, the return decision can be carried out.
- strengthen measures to prevent migrants from escaping during the return process. Migrants could be detained for up to 24 months when their return is obstructed or when there is a security risk. At the same time, the rules should prioritise voluntary returns when migrants cooperate.
- establish a legal framework for return hubs - these would be centres in non-EU countries, created through bilateral or EU-level agreements, where individuals with final return decisions could be transferred.
Ϸվ must now review the proposal before coming to an agreement on the final version of the legislative text with the Council.
Returning irregular migrants: key facts
While statistics on irregular migration are available, researchers caution that it may be incomplete, inconsistent and insufficient.
Records show that in 2023, 118,935 . The main reasons for the refusal were not having a valid visa or residence permit (in 23.3% of the cases) or not being able to justify the purpose and conditions of stay (22.5%).
In 2023, EU countries issued 484,160 return decisions.
The main nationalities of the people ordered to leave in 2023 were Moroccan, Algerian and Afghan.
The number of non-EU citizens who actually returned to another country following an order to leave in 2023 increased by 25.1% compared to the previous year, totalling 111,185 returnees. Over four-fifths of the returned people (91,465) were sent to countries outside the EU.
Voluntary repatriations vs. forced returns
If an individual co-operates with the authorities willingly after receiving a return decision, the repatriation is known as voluntary; otherwise, it is known as a forced return. A voluntary return may be assisted (with financial/logistical support from the host country) or non-assisted.
According to Eurostat, 43.1% of all returns were voluntary in 2023.