The number of non-EU citizens returned to third countries following an order to leave the European Union rose sharply in the third quarter of 2025, highlighting a renewed

acceleration in return enforcement across the bloc.

Between July and September 2025, a total of 115,440 non-EU citizens were ordered to leave an EU Member State. Of these, 34,155 people were effectively returned to third countries, according to the latest quarterly figures. While the number of return orders increased only modestly, the execution of returns showed a far stronger upward trend.

Compared with the same period in 2024, orders to leave rose by 2.7%, while returns to third countries jumped by 14.6%, indicating a growing gap between decisions issued and decisions enforced in previous years is beginning to narrow. On a quarter-to-quarter basis, the contrast is even clearer: orders to leave fell slightly by 0.9% compared with Q2 2025, yet returns increased by 5.0%, suggesting improved coordination or implementation mechanisms at national level.

A breakdown by nationality shows that Algerian citizens were the most frequently ordered to leave the EU in the third quarter, with 12,325 orders, followed by Moroccans (6,670) and Turkish nationals (6,350). However, when looking at actual returns, Türkiye topped the list, with 3,625 citizens returned, ahead of Georgia (2,835) and Albania (2,055). This divergence reflects differences in return agreements, cooperation with countries of origin, and logistical feasibility.

Significant disparities were also evident among EU Member States. France recorded the highest number of non-EU citizens ordered to leave, issuing 33,760 orders, far ahead of Germany (12,510) and Greece (10,175). In terms of returns carried out, Germany led with 7,190 people returned, followed by France (3,760) and Cyprus (3,000), underlining differing national capacities and enforcement priorities.

Overall, the Q3 2025 data point to a continued strengthening of return enforcement across the EU, even as the number of new orders stabilises. The sharp rise in returns suggests that policy measures, bilateral agreements, and operational tools—such as identification and fingerprinting procedures—are increasingly translating decisions into action. Whether this trend will persist into the final quarter of the year remains to be seen, but the latest figures mark one of the most pronounced increases in returns recorded in recent years. Photo by Bőr Benedek, Wikiedia commons.