France allows Syrian refugees temporary return to Syria
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The French Ministry of the Interior announced on Tuesday that Syrian refugees in France may soon be eligible for special permits allowing them to temporarily return to Syria for “exceptional purposes.”
According to the ministry, the evolving situation in Syria may warrant humanitarian exceptions, permitting exploratory visits for reconnecting with family or inspecting properties left behind.
These visits would be authorized under a specific permit, valid for up to three months. Interested individuals must submit their applications, along with supporting documents, to the local administration at their place of residence.
While the legal status of international protection beneficiaries in France generally prohibits travel to their home countries, these exceptional permits would be granted exclusively for humanitarian reasons—not for tourism, commercial, or professional purposes.
Currently, about 45,000 Syrians hold political refugee status in France, including those who fled Syria since 2011, according to the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons.