Member States shall enter into SIS alerts on third-country nationals subject to a return decision for the purpose of verifying that the obligation to return has been complied with and of supporting the enforcement of the return decisions. An alert on return shall be entered into SIS without delay following issue of a return decision.

Member States may refrain from entering alerts on return when the return decisions concern third-country nationals who are detained pending removal. If the third-country nationals concerned are released from detention without being removed, an alert on return shall be entered into SIS without delay.

Member States may refrain from entering alerts on return when the return decision is issued at the external border of a Member State and is executed immediately.

The period for voluntary departure granted in accordance with Article 7 of Directive 2008/115/EC shall be recorded in the alert on return immediately. Any extension of that period shall be recorded in the alert without delay.

Any suspension or postponement of the enforcement of the return decision, including as a result of the lodging of an appeal, shall immediately be recorded in the alert on return.