Syrians continue to return from Jordan to their country, but at a slower pace than in the first months after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Tens of thousands still live in the Zaatari and Azraq camps, amid concerns about economic conditions and stability inside Syria.
Jordanian Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Karim Abu Dalou said around one million Syrians are in Jordan, adding that 231,720 people returned to Syria to settle there between December 8, 2024, and September 12, 2026. According to Youssef Taha, spokesman for the UN refugee agency in Jordan, 77,054 refugees live in the kingdom’s camps, equal to 21% of the 366,077 registered refugees.
Refugee numbers in camps and slowing returns
Refugees have differing views on leaving: some have made up their minds, while others are waiting for conditions inside Syria to become clearer. Syrian refugee Mohammad al-Deiri said he looks forward to returning, stressing that his decision is not linked to a bad experience in Jordan. He added: "Jordan received us, welcomed us and sheltered us in times of hardship, but one’s homeland remains one’s homeland."
Al-Deiri also links his decision to the possibility of resuming work and meeting his family’s needs, while his concerns focus on economic conditions and the possibility of renewed internal conflict. His experience reflects the considerations of many Syrians weighing their desire to return against the conditions they may face after returning.
Syrian departures affect housing and the labor market
The effects of Syrian departures have begun to appear in sectors linked to their presence in recent years, particularly in Irbid and Mafraq governorates and the city of Ramtha in northern Jordan. Some areas have seen weaker demand for rentals after apartments occupied by Syrians outside the camps were vacated. The returns have also affected the labor market in restaurants, construction, painting and confectionery, where Syrians made up part of the workforce.
The economic impact of the departures has centered more on reduced labor and demand for housing, some services and local activities than on capital flows. To facilitate travel, Jordan’s Interior Ministry allowed Syrians in July 2026 to submit applications to leave for and return from Syria without requiring a security card or work permit, regardless of how the applicant entered Jordan or whether they were registered as a refugee.
Conditions for exit applications and support for voluntary returns
To be accepted, applicants must be over 18 and hold a valid Syrian passport. Applications can be submitted electronically, with approval expected to take about one working week. The agency said it supports refugees who choose to return voluntarily and provides them with advice and information about related challenges, including documentation.
Since September 1, 2026, refugees registered in Jordan, both inside and outside the camps, have been eligible to receive 70 Jordanian dinars per person to support their return.
Some households classified as being at heightened risk receive an additional one-time payment of 210 dinars per household, in addition to the 70 dinars allocated to each member.
