|
Poland |
2025 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
Amendments to the Act on Foreigners introduced changes to speed up return procedures. Foreigners are informed faster by email about the obligation to leave the territory. In addition, for the return, Polish authorities do not need to issue their own return decision when a return decision has been issued by another EU Member State. According to the new law, a return decision is issued to every foreigner listed in SIS, regardless of the residence status. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Switzerland |
2025 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
SEM announced an adjustment to its asylum and deportation policy on Afghanistan. Starting in mid-April 2025, in certain exceptional cases, single Afghan men whose asylum applications were rejected could again be returned to Afghanistan under specific conditions. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Sweden |
2025 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
A new government ordinance, in force as of January 2026, increased the financial incentive for voluntary repatriation. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Sweden |
2025 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
A legislative amendment was made to the Aliens Act to abolish the possibility of 'track change', which allowed rejected applicants who worked during the asylum procedure to apply – under certain conditions – for a residence permit without having to leave the country. The amendments also introduced new rules for the statute of limitations and re-entry bans, which are now valid for 5 years from the date the person can show that they did actually leave Sweden. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Portugal |
2025 |
Institutional |
|
Return of former applicants |
The National Unit for Foreigners and Borders was created within the Public Security Police, with consolidated responsibilities for immigration control, border management, and enforcement of removal and expulsion orders. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Portugal |
2025 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
A legislative reform was proposed to reshape return procedures by extending and restructuring detention and alternatives to detention. It aims to centralise return responsibilities and reinforce a faster and more coherent system. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Norway |
2025 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
The government introduced the new 2025–2030 return strategy. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Norway |
2025 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
New regulations strengthened the best interests of the child in expulsion cases. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Italy |
2025 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
Law No 75/2025 expanded the categories of people who can be transferred to detention facilities in Albania to include irregular migrants subject to an expulsion order. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Iceland |
2025 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
A draft law established the legal basis for administrative detention centres for rejected applicants waiting to be returned. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Greece |
2025 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
In September 2025, the plenary session of the Greek Parliament approved the bill "Reform of the framework and procedures for the return of third-country nationals - Other regulations of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum". Key amendments included faster and monitored voluntary departures, tougher entry bans and penalties, expanded detention, and new legal barriers for long-term undocumented migrants. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Finland |
2025 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
The Finnish Immigration Service launched a pilot return centre in Vantaa. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Finland |
2025 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
Amendments to the Aliens Act introduced an obligation for persons subject to a return decision to cooperate with the authorities and depart voluntarily within a prescribed period. The time limit for a voluntary return may be extended on special grounds, subject to a EUR 100 administrative fee. The reform clarified that entry bans may be imposed through a separate and independent decision for individuals residing either in Finland or abroad, for a fixed duration or until further notice. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Denmark |
2025 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
The Repatriation Act was amended to extend the grounds for mandatory expulsion when a foreigner is sentenced for a criminal act. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Croatia |
2025 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
Co-financed by AMIF, an agreement was signed to train border police officers in applying return procedures for third-country nationals, in line with EU and national laws. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Croatia |
2025 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
The AMIF-funded project “Translation and Free Legal Aid in the Return Procedure” was expanded to contract more translators. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Austria |
2025 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
Focus continued on returns, and the first removal since 2011 was carried out to Syria and to Afghanistan since 2021. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2026 |
|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
From June 2024, the Federal Council is able to contribute to the operating costs of cantonal departure centres when there is a high volume of illegal entries. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Sweden |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
In January 2025, the government adopted a bill to ensure that more people with a removal order are returned to their country of origin. A removal order will apply for 5 years from the date a third-country national leaves the country or longer if a re-entry ban is in force, which may be issued if a third-country national does not leave the country by the indicated deadline. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Sweden |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
A new legal position was published on voluntary repatriation allowing individuals without a passport or proof of identity to apply. The grant is only given if the person cannot afford the trip, and the applicant can request to retain their permanent residence permit upon a return. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Sweden |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
A new legal position was published which provides that a removal order with a re-entry ban is time-barred 4 years after the decision becomes final, while a ban longer than 4 years is time-barred until the ban period ends, starting from the person's departure date. If no departure occurs, the order remains in force and the time limit does not begin. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Slovakia |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
A new project for the implementation of forced returns of illegally-staying third-country nationals was approved within the AMIF framework. It aims to identify and process travel documents, and provide services such as accommodation, food and interpretation. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Romania |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
The government approved an Emergency Ordinance which changed the time limit to appeal a return decision from 3 days to 10 days. It also established that the court would examine the appeal within 5 days from the date of its receipt and the decision is final. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Norway |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
A proposal for amendments to the Immigration Act was approved by the Council of State. It aims to facilitate the return of foreign nationals with illegal residence and possibly prevent their return. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Norway |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
The Directorate for Immigration offered additional funding for initiatives that inform individuals without legal residence about assisted returns, specifically targeting those living outside asylum reception centres. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |