Post-Return Practices and Experiences of Returnees in Tunisia

Authors:

Manel Kacem, Hassen Boubakri | University of Sousse

Executive Summary:

This survey country report analyses the post-return practices and experiences of 164 Tunisians returned from European countries as part of the GAPs WP8 survey (2025). It first situates return within Tunisia’s broader migration context and details the non-probability survey design implemented across 66 sites in 18 governorates. Findings show that return is largely shaped by external constraints—especially deportation, failed attempts to secure legal status, and arbitrary detention—rather than voluntary choice, and that more than two-thirds of respondents experienced detention abroad. Socio-demographic profiles point to young, predominantly male returnees with low-to-medium education, concentrated in low-skilled work and facing persistent economic vulnerability despite incomes often just above the minimum wage. Reintegration is hindered by limited institutional and financial support: most respondents self-financed their return, a minority accessed assisted return or post-return aid, and access to credit and business start-up support is very restricted. Psychosocial measures reveal moderately high levels of hope and resilience alongside notable depressive symptoms, indicating that individual coping resources coexist with significant emotional distress in a structurally adverse environment. The report concludes that effective reintegration in Tunisia requires better-aligned and better-coordinated return programmes, stronger psychosocial and socio-economic support, and integration of return policies into broader national development and welfare strategies.

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