EU departure-order figures rose 93% for seven visa-exempt nationalities in 2025, according to SchengenVisaInfo’s analysis of Eurostat data. The count increased from 3,165 in 2024 to 6,095 in 2025, covering nationals of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea.
The Netherlands accounted for 3,555, about 58% of this seven-nationality total. Across the EU, the US figure was 2,350 and the British figure 1,750. Japan’s total rose from 150 to 600 over the same period. The report describes the increase partly as a rebound after lower post-pandemic totals, with 2024 representing the group’s low point. The US figure remained below the 2,505 recorded in 2019. It also says the data do not explain individual decisions, so these totals cannot establish how many cases involved overstaying, unauthorized work or a refused residence application.
Eurostat’s official methodology separates people ordered to leave from people who actually return. The first category concerns non-EU nationals whose stay has been found unlawful and who receive an administrative or judicial requirement to depart. A person receiving several notices is counted once during the reporting period.
Return statistics separately count recorded departures following such decisions; an order may have been issued in an earlier year. Returns cover enforced departures and assisted voluntary departures, plus unassisted voluntary departures where recorded reliably. Consequently, return totals and order totals for the same year need not describe an identical group.
Conclusion
The reported increase is substantial and concentrated in the Netherlands, but it is not a deportation count. Understanding the statistics requires separating an obligation to leave from a recorded departure.
Discuss
Which aspect of these figures would you like explained further?
Sources: SchengenVisaInfo report; Eurostat methodology
The Netherlands accounted for 3,555, about 58% of this seven-nationality total. Across the EU, the US figure was 2,350 and the British figure 1,750. Japan’s total rose from 150 to 600 over the same period. The report describes the increase partly as a rebound after lower post-pandemic totals, with 2024 representing the group’s low point. The US figure remained below the 2,505 recorded in 2019. It also says the data do not explain individual decisions, so these totals cannot establish how many cases involved overstaying, unauthorized work or a refused residence application.
Eurostat’s official methodology separates people ordered to leave from people who actually return. The first category concerns non-EU nationals whose stay has been found unlawful and who receive an administrative or judicial requirement to depart. A person receiving several notices is counted once during the reporting period.
Return statistics separately count recorded departures following such decisions; an order may have been issued in an earlier year. Returns cover enforced departures and assisted voluntary departures, plus unassisted voluntary departures where recorded reliably. Consequently, return totals and order totals for the same year need not describe an identical group.
Conclusion
The reported increase is substantial and concentrated in the Netherlands, but it is not a deportation count. Understanding the statistics requires separating an obligation to leave from a recorded departure.
Discuss
Which aspect of these figures would you like explained further?
Sources: SchengenVisaInfo report; Eurostat methodology
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