The Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum has reported 1,203 revocations of refugee status for Syrian nationals between 1 March 2026 and 9 April 2026, according to official data released as part of its policy implementation review.
The revocations were carried out by the Revocations Department of the Returns Directorate of the Asylum Service, which operates under the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. The Ministry stated that the decisions followed case re-examinations and were made in accordance with the applicable legal framework.
In its announcement, the Ministry said the development formed part of a systematic effort to ensure the proper implementation of international protection procedures. It also reported measurable progress in voluntary return programmes to Syria, highlighting what it described as the effectiveness of its migration policy and Greece’s role at European level.
Within the framework of the “Implementation of Assisted Voluntary Returns and Reintegration Measures” programme, which is co-financed by the European Union and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Greece, the Ministry stated that Greece recorded the highest performance among EU member states.
According to official figures, from October 2025 to the present, Greece ranked first in voluntary returns to Syria, with 89 returns. This figure represented approximately 50% of all returns recorded across the European Union, which totalled 178.
The Ministry noted that although overall return numbers from the European Union to Syria remained low, the process had restarted after a 10-year suspension, with Greece playing a leading role.
It also added that the voluntary return programme was still in an early stage of implementation and that further improvements were expected in the coming period. The Ministry further emphasised the continuation of a comprehensive migration policy aimed at strengthening the credibility of the asylum system and Greece’s position in managing migration flows at European level.
