Return - IOM Publications - International Organization for Migration

Return Migration: Policies and Practices
Operational Steps for Voluntary Return
Following the expiration of a residence permit, the local Foreign Office officially informs the
foreigner of the termination and requests that he/she leaves the country. A number of organizations,
including the Foreign Office, Social Security Office, UNHCR or civil society actors such
as churches, counselling agencies and NGOs provide advice on return and reintegration programmes
and the current situation in the country of return. Any of these organizations may file
an application for voluntary return assistance with IOM under REAG/GARP on behalf of the
potential returnee.
IOM assesses the eligibility of applicants, and if they meet the programme criteria, calculates
financial assistance to be provided, assists in obtaining travel documents and makes other logistical
arrangements relating to the travel, such as flight bookings, transit arrangements, and disbursement
of an allowance for out of pocket expenses during travel. IOM also disburses return assistance
grants. Participation in this programme must be voluntary, and the departure intended to be
permanent. If voluntary returnees re-migrate to Germany, to stay permanently, IOM attempts, on
a case-by-case basis, to retrieve the funds expended on the former returnee.
Eligibility Criteria – REAG/GARP Programme
Recognized refugees;
Foreigners residing in Germany who are allowed to stay under international law or for political
or humanitarian reasons;
Former Vietnamese contract workers;
Victims of forced prostitution or trafficking in human beings;
Other foreigners living in Germany willing to return, and who have asked for asylum;
Those in the asylum process;
Those whose asylum application is insignificant or manifestly unfounded;
Those whose asylum application has been finally rejected, or where the asylum application
procedure has been discontinued;
Other foreigners of Afghan nationality or nationals from Serbia and Montenegro (including
Kosovo), as long as they entered Germany before 31 December 2002, as well as Iraqi nationals
who entered the Federal Republic of Germany before 1 April 2003;
Foreign spouses and children of persons leaving Germany can also be supported through the
REAG/GARP Programme;
Unaccompanied minors can be assisted through the REAG/GARP Programme if at least one
parent or legally appointed guardian gives his or her written consent to the transportation, and
minors are collected at the destination by a person with written permission of the parents.
REAG (without GARP)
A prerequisite in all such AVR cases is the willingness of the competent Aliens’ Office to issue
a border-crossing certificate, which is then useful in tracking the actual return of the person.
Programme Services
Pre-departure assistance: information dissemination and counselling in cooperation with
voluntary agencies.
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