The article describes the background and the reasons of return of ethnic Germans who emigrated to Germany in the 1990s and 2000s to Russia. The article analyzes the works of Russian and foreign scholars who researched the theoretical aspects of re-emigration. The scholars note that the re-emigration factors can vary widely and its study is important for implementing efficient migration policy in Russia. The article reviews the results of the research project regarding the re-emigration of the ethnic Germans from Russia to the Altai Territory. The immigrants’ personal characteristics were proved important in the process of decision-making concerning re-emigration. It was indicated that the emigrants face difficulties in adaptation: «longing for home», poor command of the language, lack of occupational work, reduced financial support, etc. It is obvious that the existing self-identity plays a certain role in preventing the emigrants from full integration into the new cultural community. The scholars suppose that the main reasons of re-emigration are not haphazard but they are typical for this group of emigrants as they are determined by the history of the studied ethnic group and current ethnic and cultural politics of Russia and Germany.