EU Non-EU Departure Orders Down 12% in Q2 2026 as Returns Rise
- EU member states issued departure orders to 110,335 non-EU citizens during the second quarter of 2026, marking a 12% decline compared to the same period in 2025, according...
- The latest figures from Eurostat show shifting patterns across the European Union when compared against the first quarter of 2026.
- Citizenship data for the second quarter identifies specific non-EU nationalities receiving the highest volume of departure directives.
EU member states issued departure orders to 110,335 non-EU citizens during the second quarter of 2026, marking a 12% decline compared to the same period in 2025, according to Eurostat data released on September 30, 2026. At the same time, authorities returned 36,825 individuals to third countries, representing a 9.7% increase year-over-year.
Quarter-Over-Quarter Trends in Orders and Returns
The latest figures from Eurostat show shifting patterns across the European Union when compared against the first quarter of 2026. The number of non-EU citizens ordered to leave decreased by 3.9% from the previous quarter. Meanwhile, actual returns to third countries increased by 5.9% over the same three-month timeframe.
Primary Nationalities Affected by Departure Orders
Citizenship data for the second quarter identifies specific non-EU nationalities receiving the highest volume of departure directives. Algeria led the totals with 10,390 citizens ordered to leave an EU member state. Morocco followed with 6,200 departure orders, while Syria accounted for 5,180 notices.
Top Destinations for Enforced Returns
For individuals actually returned to third countries between April and June 2026, Türkiye was the most frequent destination with 3,765 returns. Syria accounted for 2,770 returns, and Georgia registered 2,140 individuals sent back from the bloc.
Member States Recording Highest Volumes
Enforcement activity varied significantly across individual EU nations during the quarter. France issued the highest number of departure orders at 32,420, followed by Portugal with 11,190 and Germany with 8,160. On the execution side, Germany carried out the most returns to third countries with 8,400 people, ahead of France with 3,825 and Poland with 3,005.