This report is part of a series of Syria COI reports produced in 2021. The reports provide information relevant for international protection status determination for Syrian applicants, and in particular for use in updating EASO’s country guidance development on Syria.


In both January and February 2021, Syrians lodged more than 10 000 applications for international protection in the EU+.^[1] While these were the highest numbers since 2016, they included close to 5 000 repeated applications (in the same reporting country) in both months, which was considerably higher than earlier. Over the last six months (September 2020 – February 2021), total applications by Syrians almost doubled compared to the previous six-month period. Syrian applications pending at first instance have increased by 38 % over the last six months, to over 50 400 at the end of February 2021. Over this period, the EU+ recognition rate for Syrians was 86 % (relatively stable compared to the preceding six months).

The report, EASO COI Report: Syria – Situation of returnees from abroad, focuses on a number of topics relating to the issue of return of Syrians from Europe and Syria’s neighbouring countries (Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan) to government-held Syria, including the consequences of having exited Syria illegally and having applied for asylum abroad, the return procedures for Syrian citizens who live outside Syria, potential obstacles to return, and possible treatment upon return in government-held Syria. The report provides information primarily on recent trends, with updated information on 2020 and 2021 where available.

The report was drafted by the Country of Origin Information (COI) Unit of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs^[2], in accordance with the EASO COI Report Methodology, and was reviewed by Denmark, Danish Immigration Service (DIS), Hungary, National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing Documentation Centre and the EASO COI Sector.