Getting a villager to move back in via invite

[Jesibie]

I just had a villager move out without me knowing they were planning to somehow.
A friend of mine has the same villager in thier town and has offered to cycle them out for me so that I can invite them back to my town, thus effectively "replacing" them... sort of.
My question is this; I know you have to move out 16 villagers in your town for a past villager to randomly move back in on their own, but does the same rule apply to inviting that villager in from another town? Would I still have to cycle out 16 villagers before I could go to my friends town to invite my wanted villager?

 

[Story]

Yes, same rules apply sadly.

 

[Jesibie]

*sigh*
Well at least it's not out of the question for me to have this villager again. Time to get to cycling I suppose.

 

[Chocoroko]

By any chance, how could I get a villager to return? I'm certain that at least 16 have moved out (I'll have to check). I'd really like to bring Hamlet or Poppy back.

 

[Zane]

By any chance, how could I get a villager to return? I'm certain that at least 16 have moved out (I'll have to check). I'd really like to bring Hamlet or Poppy back.

I think you might have to invite them from another town in your case, as I've heard animals you've had in your town already can't appear in the campsite even if you cycle 16. (Not sure if they can randomly spawn again either but it seems unlikely to me.)