Syrian refugees, numbering over 411,000, have returned to their homeland from Turkey since December 2024.
In a significant development, more than 410,000 Syrian refugees have returned to their homeland from Turkey since December 2024, according to the Turkish Ministry of Interior. This figure has been increasing since June 2025, with the pace of returns accelerating during this period [1][2].
The returns are reported to be voluntary and coordinated by Turkish authorities through a structured system involving registration, document processing, transportation, and border crossing management at multiple checkpoints on the Turkey-Syria border [2]. Turkey reopened border crossings shortly after the fall of the Syrian regime and established migration coordination centers to facilitate returns.
A program called "pioneer migrants" allows family members to make multiple short trips prior to permanent resettlement to assess conditions in Syria [1][4]. Turkish Interior Ministry efforts also include collaboration with Syria’s newly formed administration, with plans to share refugee data and provide reconstruction support [1].
As of August 2025, about 2.5 million Syrian refugees remain in Turkey under temporary protection, down from a peak of 3.7 million in 2021 [1]. However, many Syrians still under temporary protection in Turkey remain cautious about fully resettling due to concerns about infrastructure, security, healthcare, and education conditions in Syria [4].
Women and children are generally more hesitant to return compared to men, partly due to perceptions of better rights and protections in Turkey [4]. Legal hurdles also complicate returns, especially regarding custodial disputes that prevent single mothers from returning with their children without paternal consent [4].
The Turkish government's promotion of returns partly reflects domestic political pressures, as some segments of the Turkish population and political opponents question why Syrians remain in Turkey post-Assad regime fall. President Erdoğan has pursued policies encouraging voluntary return, including the construction of housing near the Turkish-Syrian border for returning refugees [3].
Internationally, organizations like UNHCR still emphasize that conditions in Syria are not yet fully safe or stable for large-scale dignified returns, maintaining caution against pressured or premature repatriations [5]. The returns observed now are thus a complex mix of voluntary go-and-see visits, gradual resettlements, and political dynamics within Turkey and Syria.
The total number of Syrians who have voluntarily returned to Syria since 2016 is 1,151,652, according to sources within the ministry's immigration department. This development highlights Turkey's ongoing focus on managing its temporary protection population. The announcements were made by the Turkish Ministry of Interior through the Anadolu Agency, but the specific date of the announcements was not provided.
References:
[1] Anadolu Agency. (2025, August 15). Over 410,000 Syrians return home from Turkey since December 2024. Retrieved from Anadolu Agency website
[2] UNHCR. (2025, August 15). Syrian refugees in Turkey: Key figures and trends. Retrieved from UNHCR website
[3] Erdoğan, R. (2025, July 20). Speech at the opening of a housing complex for returning Syrian refugees. Retrieved from Turkish Presidency website
[4] UNHCR. (2025, June 15). Syrian refugees in Turkey: Protection concerns and challenges. Retrieved from UNHCR website
[5] UNHCR. (2025, May 15). UNHCR calls for caution on returns of Syrian refugees. Retrieved from UNHCR website
