Return - IOM Publications - International Organization for Migration

Return Migration: Policies and Practices
Operational Steps for Voluntary Return
Asylum seekers may withdraw their asylum application at any time during the procedure if they
wish to leave the country voluntarily, by asking for financial assistance towards return to their
home country. Other irregular migrants and failed asylum seekers may leave the country voluntarily
within 14 days after notification of expulsion has been served. In such cases, migrants
cover the travel costs themselves and are not escorted to the border, hence it is difficult to assess
whether they actually leave the country.
The Office for Repatriation and Aliens covers the cost of the cheapest transport back to country
of origin. The return of failed asylum seekers is usually financed by IOM.
Migrants who leave the country voluntarily are prevented from re-entering the country for three
years, instead of the five-year ban applicable to migrants who are deported.
Framework Agreements with Countries of Origin and Transit
See section on involuntary return.
No statistics are available.
2.3 STATISTICS ON VOLUNTARY RETURN
2.4 BEST PRACTICES AND LESSONS LEARNED
Why Programmes Have or Have not Worked
The inadequate utilization of the assisted voluntary return mechanism, despite its establishment
in Polish immigration legislation has been partly attributed to the lack of agreement with relevant
partners involved in voluntary repatriation on implementation of the programme.
The activities of the Office for Repatriation and Aliens have been restricted in the amount of
assistance it can provide to returnees due to a lack of funding. The fate of this department hangs
in the balance as attempts were made to abolish it completely in 2001, when the Polish government
faced a huge budget deficit. Its continued existence indicates an appreciation of the work
being carried out, albeit with limited success at present, and efforts are being made to boost its
role.
302