Since the Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad’s downfall, many Syrian exiles have been thinking about returning to their country. The Assad family ruled Syria for more than half a century. Many Syrian refugees who benefit from international protection in France are yearning to see family and friends back home. 

Yet those granted refugee status are not allowed to travel back to their country of origin, because the status is granted on the basis that the person is in danger in their country of nationality and therefore needs international protection. 

The situation in Syria is unique because the regime no longer directly threatens the lives of millions of dissidents who sought safety abroad. The Ofpra (Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides), the French office for the protection of refugees, said it is "closely monitoring the situation in Syria" and "temporarily suspending decision-making on certain asylum applications."

The Office has therefore not formally ruled on the country, and Syria is not yet on the list of "safe countries."

By ignoring this rule and returning to Syria, even for a few days, a refugee runs the risks of losing their status upon their return to France. "If Ofpra is informed of this return, it can revoke the refugee status," said Laurent Delbos, a lawyer specialized in the rights of foreigners, adding that if a refugee takes the initiative to return, it is because he or she no longer has a legitimate "fear" for his life in the country.

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Over three million Syrians exiled in Turkey and 45,000 in France

According to the UN, 13 million people – more than half of Syria’s pre-war population – has been displaced since the start of the civil war in 2011. Much of the population moved abroad, especially to neighboring countries. Turkey has hosted more Syrian refugees than any other country in the world. By 2024, it  was home to three million Syrians, representing 3.5 percent of its population.

Germany welcomed the most Syrian refugees in Europe, hosting 781,000 (0.92 percent of its population). In 2024, Sweden hosted 87,700 Syrian refugees in Sweden (0.87 percent of its population) and the Netherlands hosted 79,000 (0.44 percent of its population).

In France, there are approximately 45,600 Syrian refugees, which represent 0.07 percent of its total population.

Besides voluntary returns, there is the issue of "forced returns." Many European countries have paused asylum processing for Syrians after al-Assad’s fall. Austria has even announced plans to deport Syrian migrants. Yet "the question is not limited to the exile's return, but how a country ravaged by war, and which has almost no infrastructure left can reintegrate its population," said Hélène Thiollet, professor at the higher education institute Science Po Paris, in an interview with AFP, referring to problems of housing, services and water supply. Stabilizing the country is necessary before "supporting the return of internally displaced persons, and before a second wave: that of Syrians who emigrated abroad", said the researcher.

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