Refugee Council of Australia
Tents in Manus Island regional processing centre

Offshore processing statistics

Returns from Australia and offshore processing centres

As at 31 March 2023,Ā  958 people had been returned or removed to their country of origin (both ‘voluntarily’ and involuntarily) since the beginning of offshore processing, with less than five returned to a third country.

The Department’s monthly updates (from January 2014) show that there has been a small number of people who ‘voluntarily’ leave the offshore processing centres over time.

This graph shows the number of involuntary (forced) returns and 'voluntary' returns by nationality of those transferred to offshore processing since 19 July 2013.

This graph shows the number of people who have been 'assisted' in voluntarily returning to their country of origin. This means they were provided with assistance (including financial assistance), funded by the Australian government, to return.

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