General Guidance

While recent rapidly changing events in Syria present a remarkable opportunity for Syria to move toward peace and for millions to begin returning home,

UNHCR maintains its position that all refugees have the fundamental right to return to their home country freely and voluntarily, at a time of their choosing. It is not up to UNHCR or anyone else to make the decision on return on behalf of refugees. Refugees are best placed to make that decision, based on their individual situation, that of their family and their homes in Syria.

UNHCR continues to call on States not to forcibly return Syrian nationals and others that used to live in Syria, including Palestinians, to any part of Syria.

If you are considering returning to Syria:

• UNHCR is actively working with authorities in Lebanon and Syria to ensure that refugees who voluntarily choose to return to Syria, may do so in a safe and dignified manner.
• UNHCR will assist with practical support including a one-time return cash grant, guidance on exit procedures, advice on essential documents to carry, and recommendations on how to prepare for the journey.
• Inside Syria, the security situation continues to change. While we cannot provide confirmed information about the security situation, UNHCR is present on the ground through more than 100 community centers across the country. UNHCR is providing awareness raising sessions, psychosocial and legal assistance for forcibly displaced Syrians returning home (for information on services in Syria, see question 4).

If you have not taken a decision to return to Syria:

UNHCR continues to work with Lebanese authorities and partners to ensure you can continue to stay in Lebanon until you are able to return home in safety and dignity.

For questions and counselling about return to Syria:

• Call the UNHCR National Call Center: 📞04726111
• Message the Online Contact Form

A UNHCR staff member will call you back to answer your questions and discuss your needs. While UNHCR cannot currently advise on the situation in your area of intended return, we can provide advice on exit procedures, important documents to take to Syria, medical issues, vaccinations and education records, the status of your UNHCR file in Lebanon if you decide to return, etc.

Yes. UNHCR continues to schedule and uphold appointments for all refugees in Lebanon. As Reception Centers have been impacted by the recent conflict in Lebanon, your appointment may be conducted remotely.

If your UNHCR appointment is cancelled (due to road closure/security constraints), your appointment will be re-scheduled on a priority basis as soon as possible and you will be informed via call or SMS.

If you have a UNHCR appointment but are concerned about travelling: Prioritize your safety. Contact UNHCR’s National Call Center. Your appointment will be re-scheduled on a priority basis as soon as possible and you will be informed via call or SMS.

[FOR REFUGEES IN THE SOUTH AND NABATIYEH ONLY]: The UNHCR Reception Center in Tyre has closed permanently. All future in-person appointments scheduled with UNHCR will take place at the UNHCR Reception Center in Beirut. Remember access to the Reception Center is only granted to those with pre-scheduled appointments. If you cannot come to Beirut, inform UNHCR when you are called to schedule your appointment or contact us for support. Access to all other services for refugees in the south and Nabatiyeh remain unchanged.

Yes. If you make the decision to voluntarily return to Syria with the intention of re-establishing yourself permanently in Syria, assistance that you may have been receiving in Lebanon will be discontinued and your file with UNHCR will be closed.  However, this will only happen after UNHCR has verified that you no longer live in Lebanon.

If you or your family member have already returned to Syria spontaneously, meaning at your own initiative or with the support of your community, UNHCR may be informed of your return to Syria by the Government authorities or through its verification activities such as the ongoing Presence Verification exercise.

If UNHCR tried to contact multiple times to confirm your presence in Lebanon but you were unreachable, your individual file will be closed and you will no longer be eligible for assistance in Lebanon.

Members of your family who remain in Lebanon and currently receive assistance will maintain active UNHCR files and may continue to receive assistance in accordance with the size of the remaining family in Lebanon, if they continue to regularly complete the card validation, redeem their assistance, and attend verification activities with UNHCR.

If you or your family member is a Syrian refugee who has already voluntarily returned to Syria and your individual file has been closed by UNHCR in Lebanon, your personal data will be processed by UNHCR in Syria for the purposes of identifying beneficiaries for basic needs assistance. Your personal data may also be shared with UNHCR’s trusted partners in Syria, including WFP and UNICEF, for the same reason.

UNHCR will process the following personal data:

• Biographical data (such as full name, date of birth, nationality and family composition)
• Necessary information about any specific needs (e.g. health condition) that you or your accompanying family members may have, to allow for assistance and support.
• Contact information (e.g. phone number) to allow contact with you to deliver assistance and services.

If you or your family member have already voluntarily returned to Syria spontaneously, meaning at your own initiative or with support of the community, and your individual file with UNHCR in Lebanon was closed, you may be eligible for a one-time reintegration cash grant of USD 400 per family provided by UNHCR in Syria. This one-time reintegration cash grant in Syria is intended to support you to re-establish yourself in your home country.

If found eligible, you will be contacted by UNHCR in Syria via WhatsApp from the number +41 22 355 0561 with details about when and where to collect the assistance. Please note you cannot apply for this one-time reintegration cash grant in Syria from UNHCR in Lebanon.

The reintegration cash grant provided by UNHCR in Syria is only payable one-time per family. This means that if a member of your nuclear family registered on your UNHCR file in Lebanon has already returned to Syria and has received the reintegration cash grant from UNHCR in Syria, you and your remaining family members in Lebanon will not be eligible for another reintegration cash grant from UNHCR in Syria if you later decide to return to Syria.

Once your individual UNHCR file in Lebanon is closed, it cannot be reopened, and you will not be eligible for assistance in Lebanon even if you decide to return to Lebanon in the future.

For more information on services and assistance available in Syria for returnees, visit Syria is Home.

If you are a refugee in Lebanon with an active UNHCR file and you are planning to spontaneously return to Syria at your own initiative or with support of your community, please contact UNHCR’s National Call Center at 04726111 to close your file with UNHCR in Lebanon. UNHCR will conduct a short interview with you, collect information on your plans for return and if needed update your contact details. Your individual file with UNHCR in Lebanon will be closed as per your request, and you will no longer receive assistance from UNHCR in Lebanon.  Your personal information will be shared with UNHCR in Syria to assess whether you are eligible for the one-time reintegration cash grant by UNHCR in Syria.

If you are a refugee in Lebanon with an active UNHCR file and you are planning to return to Syria through UNHCR’s supported voluntary return program, please contact UNHCR’s National Call Center at  04726111 to register your interest in one of the programs. A UNHCR staff member will call you back to answer your questions and discuss your needs. If you decide to participate in UNHCR’s voluntary return program, you will receive a return cash grant of USD 100 per returning family member from UNHCR in Lebanon. With your consent, your information will be shared with UNHCR in Syria to assess whether you may also be eligible for a one-time reintegration cash grant from UNHCR in Syria of USD 400 per family.

Remember, once you have collected your cash grant from UNHCR in Lebanon, your individual UNHCR file in Lebanon will be closed. It cannot be reopened, and you will not be eligible for assistance in Lebanon even if you decide to return to Lebanon in the future.

Members of your family who remain in Lebanon and currently receive assistance will maintain active UNHCR files and may continue to receive assistance in accordance with the size of the remaining family in Lebanon, if they continue to regularly complete the card validation, redeem their assistance, and attend verification activities with UNHCR.

UNHCR’s position is that all refugees have the fundamental right to return to their home country freely and voluntarily, at a time of their choosing. It is not up to UNHCR or anyone else to make the decision to return on behalf of refugees. Refugees are best placed to make the decision about returning to Syria, based on their individual situation, that of their family and their homes in Syria.

UNHCR does, however, stand ready to support refugees who voluntarily decide to return to Syria. The return cash grant provided by UNHCR in Lebanon is intended to support your immediate needs to travel to Syria, such as by covering the cost of transportation. The reintegration cash grant provided by UNHCR in Syria is also intended to support your initial living costs and reintegration inside Syria. However, you may use the cash grants as you see fit to support your return and reintegration.

UNHCR provides you with this information to support your decision-making about whether to return home to Syria or to stay in Lebanon and to make sure that you are fully aware of the implications on your UNHCR file status and access to services in Lebanon, if you choose to return to Syria.

For more information and individual counselling on return to Syria, please contact UNHCR’s National Call Center at 04726111.