'Common principles of return' statement
Published 9 September 2025
© Crown copyright 2025
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/five-country-ministerial-2025-communique-and-statement/common-principles-of-return-statement
The rise in regular and illegal and irregular migration poses a complex set of challenges for origin, transit, and destination countries, and places a strain on the capacities and integrity of immigration systems around the globe. The Five Countries remain committed to providing protection consistent with their domestic and international legal obligations. They also recognise, that to ensure the continued integrity and security of our immigration systems, including the solvency of our protection systems, effectuating the legal, safe and orderly removal of individuals with no legal basis to remain in our countries is crucial.
The Five Countries recognise the following principles as cornerstones to efficient and effective removals:
- A fundamental principle of the global migration system is that States have a sovereign right to determine which foreign nationals may enter and which may remain within their respective borders.
- Individuals with no legal basis to remain may avail themselves of the opportunity to voluntarily depart, where they are eligible to do so under the applicable national law, or where a determination has not been made for enforced removal. A country also has the right to effect removal through enforced means. This should be done with adherence to its domestic laws and respecting its international obligations.
-
States have an obligation to recognise their citizens and issue travel and other identity documents where required, without undue delay. Where responsiveness and cooperation of receiving states is lacking, consequences may include appropriate adjustments to visa issuance to reflect this change to immigration risk, and other appropriate and measured action may be taken to preserve the integrity of our migration systems.
- Removing and receiving States should endeavour to adopt clear and consistent processes and methods that supports the timely, safe and legal removal/reception of individuals.
The Five Countries are committed to the ongoing sharing of best practice and lessons learned in respect of removals. We will also continue exploring new and emerging opportunities for cooperation – including mutually reinforcing and coordinated activity with regard to uncooperative removals countries.
International organisations and standards should assist States to address and reflect the challenges and realities of today in returning nationals to their home countries. To that end, we will engage with organisations, on the standards of returns, including expectations on the expeditious issuance of travel documents and acceptance of their nationals who have no lawful basis to remain in another country.
We encourage our international partners to support these principles, sending a clear message on expectations on removals, for States and for individuals without a legal basis to remain.
Disclaimer: This statement is not intended to be legally binding, but rather provide an informal international framework for returns.