The present paper studies the impact of returning migration in five cases. First, the recent case of Afghanistan is analyzed, then the Chinese case. The paper con-tinues to evaluate the impact of returning migration in the Indian, the Irish and finally the Italian case. Specific policy recommendations for the phenomenon’s occurrence in Colombia are drawn based upon the case analysis. The results sug¬gest among others that effective mechanisms for management and monitoring migration flows should be created and the linkages of the Government with its Diaspora should be improved.