<\/p>\n
A new study published by the European Migration Network (EMN) offers a comparative overview
\nof the experiences and existing practices in the EU Member States* Norway and Switzerland
\nregarding the possible consequences on international protection status for individuals who travel
\nto or contact the authorities in their country of origin.<\/p>\n
A beneficiary of international protection is a person who has been granted refugee status or
\nsubsidiary protection status. Beneficiaries of international protection have the right to travel outside
\nthe State that granted them protection, under certain conditions. They also have the right to travel
\nto their country of origin. However, obtaining a national passport or travelling back to the country of
\norigin could, in certain circumstances, indicate that the grounds for granting international protection
\nno longer apply. This EMN study explores the policies and practices in 24 EU Member States, Norway
\nand Switzerland regarding beneficiaries of international protection who travel back to their country
\nof origin, or who have contact with authorities from these countries. The study also examines the
\nmotivations of the individuals in question, and how such cases would be assessed by the national
\nauthorities in the countries that granted them refugee status.
\nIncreased attention given to this issue in some of the countries taking part in the research have
\ncontributed to changes to national policies and practices, as well as changes in legislation to provide
\nnational authorities with supplementary means of monitoring the situation. The study found that
\nmost countries participating in the research did consider travel to the country of origin as an
\nindication that protection may no longer be needed, which could lead them to examine the purpose
\nof the travel or contact with the authorities, and to reassess the international protection status.
\nHowever, the act of travel alone would not automatically lead to cessation.
\nLittle public information is available at EU or national level on the number of protection statuses
\nwithdrawn because of travel to the country of origin. The scale of beneficiaries travelling to their
\ncountry of origin remains difficult to estimate, but where data is available the numbers overall seem
\nlow. According to the study, the most common reason to travel stated by BIPs related to family-
\nrelated issues, followed by marriage in the country of origin and business activities. Generally,
\ncontact with authorities of the country of origin in the State of protection was not contentious,
\nexcept in cases where the contact led to the allocation or renewal of a passport.
\nAll countries participating in the study reported informing beneficiaries of international protection of
\nthe possible consequences of either travelling to or contacting authorities in their country of origin.
\nThe study also found that these countries faced challenges in assessing cases where such
\nbeneficiaries did travel to their country of origin and its impact on the international protection
\nstatus, due to the complexity in obtaining evidence and to verifying the reasons.
\nIn all States, the withdrawal of protection status can have consequences for the right of residence of
\na (former) beneficiary of international protection, depending in most cases on the individual circumstances of the person concerned, and may also affect the protection status and right to
\nresidence of family members and dependants.<\/p>\n