All Roads Lead Home – A Report on Return Migration

All Roads Lead Home is a research study developed in collaboration with the ILO Regional Office for Arab States (منظمة العمل الدولية – المكتب الإقليمي للدول العربية) that explores how migrants and refugees experience belonging, identity, and connection across borders. The study examines how individuals maintain ties to both their countries of origin and their countries of residence, and how these experiences shape their perspectives on returning home.

Drawing on survey responses from 59 migrants and refugees living across multiple countries, the research highlights how displacement, migration pathways, and everyday social and economic realities influence people’s sense of home and their future aspirations. Participants come from diverse national backgrounds and migration statuses, offering a broad perspective on the challenges and opportunities associated with return migration.

The findings show that while many migrants consider returning to their countries of origin, the decision is complex and shaped by multiple factors, including family ties, cultural connections, economic opportunities, safety, and the conditions in both host and origin countries. The report also explores the psychological and social realities of return, including identity shifts, reintegration challenges, and the phenomenon of “reverse culture shock.”

In addition to highlighting challenges, the study emphasises the potential contributions of returnees, including entrepreneurship, skills transfer, and social and economic development within their home communities. The report also identifies the support many migrants say they would need in order to return sustainably, such as access to employment, affordable housing, recognition of qualifications, and community support.

By centring the lived experiences of migrants and refugees, All Roads Lead Home contributes to ongoing discussions on return migration, reintegration, and the importance of policies that ensure returns are safe, voluntary, and dignified.

Photograph © Elisa Oddone. Used with permission

Read the full report here: All Roads Lead Home