European Migration Network

Broadly, the movement of a person returning to his/her country of origin, country of nationality or habitual residence usually after spending a significant period of time (i.e. excluding holiday visits, business meetings and typically considered to be for a period of time of more than three months) in another country. This return may or may not be voluntary.


In the context of the Return Directive (2008/115/EC), the process of going back - whether in voluntary compliance with an obligation to return, or enforced - to:
- one's country of origin; or
- a country of transit in accordance with EU or bilateral readmission agreements or other arrangements; or
- another third country, to which the third-country national concerned voluntarily decides to return and in which he/she will be accepted.


Synonym: Return Migration


Narrower Terms: Forced Return, (Assisted) Voluntary Return


Related Terms: Re-admission Agreement, Reintegration


Note:
From the IOM definition, this could be within the territorial boundaries of a country, as in the case of returning IDPs and demobilised combatants; or from a host country (either transit or destination) to the country of origin, as in the case of migrant workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and qualified nationals. There are subcategories of return which can describe the way the return is implemented, e.g. voluntary, forced, assisted and spontaneous return; as well as sub-categories which describe who is participating in the return, e.g. repatriation (for refugees).

Source:
IOM Glossary on Migration

Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals)