Return - IOM Publications - International Organization for Migration

Return Migration: Policies and Practices
2.2 ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROCEDURAL ARRANGEMENTS
Institutions Responsible for Voluntary Return
The Migration Board of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is responsible for the implementation
of all return policies, including assisted voluntary return. The Nordic governments also
have a consultation group for refugees (NSHF), and subsidiary working group, on which the
Board is represented.
The Migration Board works in collaboration with a range of governmental, NGO and national
bodies such as SIDA, Caritas Sweden, the Swedish Association of Local Authorities, the
Advisory Office for Asylum Seekers and Refugees, the Social Mission in Stockholm, the
Gothenburg Initiative as well as the Swedish Red Cross, in various areas of the return process,
from providing advice to actual return and reintegration.
IOM also provides voluntary returns through its AVR programme. Its services with Sweden are
mainly limited to special/difficult target group initiatives, such as elderly and medical cases,
returns to Bosnia, Somalia and more recently humanitarian returnees to Iraq.
Operational Steps for Voluntary Return
All asylum seekers are allocated a social worker, who provides guidance on the asylum procedure,
the different possible outcomes and the option of voluntary return. Following an unsuccessful
application for asylum, and a formal notification to the individual of his/her obligation to
leave the country, a number of motivation talks are initiated by the assigned social worker to
encourage voluntary return. According to the Migration Board, these motivation talks are most
successful during the first ten days following the issuance of a negative asylum decision.
When a person who has been refused entry or is in receipt of an expulsion order indicates that he/
she is willing to leave the country of his/her own accord, the Swedish Migration Board will
assist in organizing the return. A recommendation to begin formal deportation orders is only
made where the individual refuses to leave voluntarily.
Non-IOM Implemented AVRs
In general, a person who wishes to return contacts the Swedish Migration Board for return
assistance. The beneficiaries of return assistance are:
Individuals with residence permits;
Refugees;
Persons who have been granted residence for other humanitarian reasons;
Persons accepted as part of the refugee quota.
The programme’s services involve information and financial support to facilitate return. Applicants
may apply for an allowance and, to receive it, must prove that they are unable to pay the
travel expenses. The maximum grant awarded is SEK 10,000 for each adult and SEK 5,000 for
each child under the age of 18. The maximum allowance for one family is SEK 40,000. 12
362