Turkish Migration Confirms 650,000 Syrians Return to their Country by the End of 2025
The head of the Turkish Immigration Department, Hüseyin Kok, revealed that the number of Syrians who have returned to their country since the end of 2025, after the fall of the defunct regime, exceeded 650,000 people.
He added in statements published by Turkish media that the number of Syrians returning since 2016 has exceeded 1,390,000 people, stressing that the return is carried out "voluntarily, safely and orderly, while ensuring transparency in the procedures."
Speaking about the migration file, he said that his country relies in his administration on a combination of security, human rights and national interests, noting that the fight against irregular migration includes strengthening border security, using modern technologies, and intensifying control within the country.
The number of Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey has declined
The number of Syrians under the temporary protection regime in Turkey has witnessed a significant decline of 38.5% in recent years, after peaking in 2021, with the flow of migration continuing since 2011.
According to data published by the Turkish Anadolu Agency, the number of Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey reached its highest level in 2021, recording 3 million and 737 thousand and 369 people, but this number witnessed a gradual decline during the following years, as it decreased by one million and 440 thousand and 801 people until April 2, 2026.
The figures showed that the number of Syrians reached 3,535,898 in 2022, then declined to 3,214,780 in 2023, reaching 2,901,478 in 2024.
By the end of 2025, the number was recorded at 2,347,756, before decreasing to 2,296,568 people until April 2, 2026.
UN expects one million people to return in 2026
According to estimates by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 2026 is expected to see an additional one million Syrians return to their country, bringing the total number of returnees over the past two years to more than 4 million.
In the same context, the Jordanian government announced last week that some 75,000 Syrian refugees will return from its territory during the same year as part of joint arrangements with Damascus and UNHCR.
In Lebanon, authorities began to gradually revoke the "refugee" status of Syrians from early 2026, in a move they said aimed at regulating the Syrian presence and facilitating voluntary returns.
Government Initiatives
The Syrian government has launched the "Syria Without Camps" initiative as a national plan that aims to end the internal displacement file by securing the voluntary and safe return of displaced people from the camps to their areas of origin, with the ambition to close all camps before the end of 2026.
The initiative is being implemented under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and with the participation of ministries and governors in coordination with UN organizations to support early recovery projects, and officials seek to complete the initiative before the end of 2026 by focusing on rehabilitating homes, providing basic services and providing job opportunities to ensure the stability of returnees.
The "Syria Without Camps" initiative came in parallel with the entry into force of the Recovery Plan 2026 in partnership with the United Nations, with the aim of shifting from the relief track to the development track and opening the door for private sector investments to contribute to reconstruction.
Challenges facing returnees
Despite the political and diplomatic momentum surrounding the return file, several challenges remain for families wishing to return, most notably: identity documents, where a UN report indicates that more than a quarter of returnees lack official papers such as identities and title deeds, prompting UNHCR to launch special programs to support the issuance of documents.
The economic situation is also a major barrier to return, as the costs of return, including transportation and transit, continue to be a burden for many families who suffer from financial instability.
The data indicate that 2026 may be one of the most active years in the return of Syrians, with increasing governmental and international initiatives, and rising UN expectations, in contrast to the continued challenges related to documents, the economy, and borders, which makes the path of return linked to the ability of Syrian and international institutions to provide a safe and stable environment for returnees.