The aim of this policy brief is to facilitate a better understanding of the return aspirations and motivations of Syrians residing in Sweden and the broader EU. It uses the Delmi research overview The Role of European Host Countries in Voluntary Return Migration (Voyer, Nelin, & Zethraeus, 2025) as its point of departure, and builds upon the findings in the report by incorporating a case study of Syria following the fall of the Assad regime. It is based on a review of all available published reports (to the best of the author’s knowledge) from recognized organisations, covering the period from December 2024 to April 2026, and examining the return aspirations and motivations of Syrians residing in the EU. It emphasizes the need for evidence-based policies that account for the complexities of voluntarily returning to a country that continues to exhibit significant vulnerabilities.

Key conclusions and recommendations 

  • Allow for Syrians to retain legal status in the host country while they explore potential return opportunities in Syria. Maintaining legal status in the host country is crucial for Syrians exploring voluntary return options. Being able to keep this status while exploring opportunities in Syria enables flexible, transnational arrangements that can benefit both countries, such as professionals contributing to both places. Clear and reliable information is essential so individuals understand how travel to Syria or changing conditions might affect their residence rights. This includes guidance on legal risks, possible status changes, and whether return support programs allow temporary retention of residence permits if they reconsider their initial decision. 
  • EU host countries should continue to monitor the humanitarian crisis in Syria, in order to adhere to a practice where safe, voluntary and dignified returns includes not only safety from state violence, but equally the ability to rebuild livelihoods. Many Syrians displaced in the EU cited challenges to rebuilding livelihoods in Syria as a major barrier to return. As stressed by Nimer and Rottmann (2026), the concept of “safety” cannot solely be equated to “the absence of violence” or “safety from state violence” as a prerequisite for governments encouraging return. Safe returns should entail “...more than just surviving” and thus the ability to rebuild livelihoods.
  • Voluntary return policies and practices need to take into consideration the experiences of displaced ethno-religious/ethnic minorities, in order to further explore what a safe, voluntary, and dignified return would mean for them. Fear of targeted violence against ethno-religious/ethnic minorities in Syria remains a key concern among respondents, according to recent UNHCR and IOM reports. However, this issue is not extensively studied, and there is a lack of data on how many displaced Syrians in the EU belong to such minority groups. It is therefore unclear whether policy changes—such as recognizing Kurdish as a national language and restoring citizenship—affect minorities’ willingness to return.
  • Surveys on return intentions should broaden their scope to include questions on dignity, restored national belonging, and freedom from authoritarian control (as recommended by Zeyn, 2026). Zeyn’s research suggests that return programmes tend to focus on economic factors while neglecting psychological needs, which can strongly influence return decisions. Earlier studies also show that conditions such as PTSD play a significant role in whether displaced Syrians consider returning. Despite this, psychological aspects remain underexplored and should be more systematically included in research and surveys.

About the author

The policy brief’s author is Anna Hammarstedt, PhD in International Relations and Research Coordinator at Delmi.

The policy brief was published on 18 June 2026.

Photo: Omar Ramadan via Unsplash.