I Need to Return Home
What to do if you need to return home urgently, whether due to injury, an unsafe workplace, family emergency, or the end of your contract.
There are many reasons a worker may need to return home earlier than planned — injury, an unsafe workplace, a family emergency, or simply the end of a contract. Whatever the reason, a safe and well-organised return protects both your health and your finances.
What to do now
- Tell the ILSI helpline you need to return, and explain why — the right support differs depending on whether the return is urgent for safety reasons or planned.
- Before you leave, try to resolve any unpaid wages — see I have not been paid — since it is much harder to pursue a wage claim after you have left the country.
- Make sure you have your passport and all your documents — see passport taken if your employer is holding them.
- Keep copies of your contract, payslips, and any medical or police records connected to why you are leaving.
- Contact your embassy if you need an emergency travel document or if your employer is obstructing your departure.
What not to do
- Do not leave without your documents if you can avoid it — plan the departure with ILSI or your embassy if documents are being withheld.
- Do not sign a settlement or release of claims under pressure at the airport or before departure without review.
- Do not assume a case is closed just because you have left the country — many wage and injury claims can still be pursued from home with ILSI's support.
What ILSI can do
ILSI can help arrange a safe return, coordinate with your embassy, and continue any wage, injury or legal case after you arrive home. On arrival, our return and reintegration support helps you plan the next stage of your life.
If your employer is pressuring you to leave
Sometimes an employer pressures a worker to leave quickly to avoid dealing with a wage dispute, an injury claim, or a complaint. If you feel pressured to depart before you are ready or before an outstanding issue is resolved, contact the ILSI helpline before agreeing to a departure date.
Returning after a positive contract
Not every early or planned return follows a problem. If your contract simply ends as planned and you are returning in good standing, you can still use this guidance to organise your documents and finances well, and to connect with our reintegration support as soon as you arrive home.