Returning to Syria

If you are thinking of returning to Syria from abroad, here you’ll find reliable information and organizations that may be able to help you and your family re-establish your home.

Is it safe to return to Syria?

Returning home is a personal decision that should be fully informed, voluntary and take place in conditions of safety and dignity. It is a choice only you and your family can make.

  • UNHCR continues to call on countries and local authorities to allow those who fled to access their place of origin/residence, and to refrain from returning anyone against their wishes. 
  • UNHCR stands ready to support as conditions allow. 
  • Every refugee has the right to return home voluntarily, in safety and dignity.  

To help you make informed decisions about returning to Syria, UNHCR created Syria is Home, where you can find information on legal steps, documents, housing, healthcare, and education.

Syria is Home website

Who can help me return to Syria from Finland?

The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) offers support and assistance that may be relevant to you if you choose to return to Syria. Voluntary return is not arranged to all countries. At the moment assistance for voluntary return is not being granted for returning to Syria. You can check the situation of a country by asking your reception centre, or contacting Finnish Immigration Service directly

Finnish Immigration Service provides more information on how the situation in Syria affects customers of the Finnish Immigration Service. The page has been published also in Arabic and in Kurmanji. 

You can also find more general information on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service on voluntary return.  You can find the information in the following languages: Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Sorani Kurdish, Somali, Spanish, and Russian. 

The Finnish Immigration Service may advise you further on voluntary return:

IOM provides information and advice about Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR). You can get guidance from IOM:

  • Phone +358 (0)9 684 11588 / 040 350 1758 (Viber or WhatsApp)
  • E-mail to [email protected].

If you are outside of Syria and not in Finland, please contact our offices in the country you are in:

Select the country you are in to find out how to contact us >

Attention! All UNHCR services are FREE!

What will happen to my legal status in Finland if I return to Syria?

If you have refugee status in Finland, you may lose your refugee status if you voluntarily return and settle in your home country.

To be eligible for assistance for voluntary return, the Finnish Immigration Service requires you to cancel all pending asylum, residence permit or alien passport applications. See further at Cancelling an application.

If you have international protection status and you move permanently to your country of origin, you can ask the Finnish Immigration Service to cancel your residence permit. Subsequently, your protection status will end as well. For further information see Withdrawal of residence permits and Ending of refugee status and subsidiary protection.

Can I get legal assistance?

If you are in Finland and you need legal counselling, please contact the Finnish Refugee Advice Center.

Contact them at: 

    •       Phone: +358 9 2313 9325, Monday to Friday, 10–12.

You may also contact Finnish Immigration Service for information on legal assistance.

Phone +358 (0)2 95 790 600
Monday to Friday at 8.30–12 and 13–15.30. On the last Thursday of each month at 10–12 and 13–15.30.

Phone: +358 (0)2 95 790 603

Will the current situation in Syria impact my family reunification process in Finland?

Please contact Finnish Immigration Service directly for information on how this will affect your family reunification application:

  • Phone: +358 (0)2 95 790 603
    Monday to Friday at 8.30–12 and 13–15.30. On the last Thursday of each month at 10–12 and 13–15.30.

Can UNHCR help me with transport to Syria?

The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) offers support and assistance that may be relevant to you if you choose to return to Syria. At the moment assistance for voluntary return is not being granted for returning to Syria. UNHCR does not offer support with transport to Syria from Finland.

Finnish Immigration Service provides more information on how the situation in Syria affects customers of the Finnish Immigration Service. The page has been published also in Arabic and in Kurmanji.

You can also find more general information on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service on voluntary return.

The Finnish Immigration Service may advise on voluntary return:

    • Phone +358 (0)50 413 8625 (also WhatsApp)

IOM provides information and advice about Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR). You can also get guidance from IOM:

    • Phone +358 (0)9 684 11588 / 040 350 1758 (Viber and WhatsApp)

Is there shelter and temporary housing available to those that choose to return to Syria?

You can check out UNHCR’s Syria is Home page for information about housing and shelter in Syria here: Housing and shelter, land and property.

Can I come back to Finland if I go visit Syria?

If you have refugee status in Finland, you may lose your refugee status if you voluntarily return and settle in your home country. See the page Ending of refugee status and subsidiary protection for more information about ending your protection status.

The Finnish Immigration Service cannot grant you a residence permit if you have been granted assistance for voluntary return on 1 September 2024 or thereafter and apply for a residence permit to Finland within 5 years of the return. However, you still have the right to apply for asylum.