The return of refugees to their home countries is often regarded as a desirable outcome in displacement contexts, enabling individuals to rebuild their lives in familiar environments. Nevertheless, returning home remains challenging and infrequent in many contexts. This note reviews the academic literature to identify key factors influencing refugees’ decisions to return, highlights gaps in current research, and suggests directions for future study. The evidence underscores that safety and security are preconditions for return. Beyond security, factors such as economic stability, property rights, access to services, and psychological and social connections to home communities are critical.