Since June 1, 2022, the "Bavarian Return Program" has been offering voluntary returnees monthly support for reintegration in their country of return. The financial support is available for six months following their arrival.

On behalf of the Bavarian state government, the Bavarian State Office for Asylum and Return (LfAR) has drawn up guidelines for promoting voluntary return to the country of origin or a third country that is willing to receive asylum seekers.

Read more: Which voluntary return schemes exist for migrants in Germany?

Who is eligible for voluntary return?

On a national level, the Federal Republic of Germany, together with various partners, already supports people who wish to voluntarily return to their home country. Those who do not have the financial resources to leave can apply for financial assistance. The Bavarian program also expands to offer medical support and assistance in rent payments as well as more general financial support.

People who choose to return to their country of origin are eligible for the program, but also those whose application for asylum has been rejected and are obligated to leave have the possibility to leave voluntarily within a certain period of time via this program.

Aside from the Bavarian return program, migrants in Europe considering returning to their country of origin can benefit from a variety of initiatives designed to give people a new start back in their home countries:

• The Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR), a program run by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has assisted more than 1.6 million migrants worldwide since 1979.
• The Perspektive Heimat ("Returning to New Opportunities"), is a joint initiative by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Association for International Cooperation (GIZ) and currently assists people who wish to voluntarily return to the following countries: Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, The Gambia and Tunisia.
• StarthilfePlus ("start-up support plus"), provides reintegration assistance to returnees in over 40 countries of origin including Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Cameroon, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo and Tunisia.

Read more: Voluntary return from France: How does it work?

Read more: Voluntary return from Libya: How does it work?

Flat-rate funding for voluntary returns

With the so-called "Bavarian Return Program", which came into force on September 1, 2019, the funding options already granted in the Free State of Bavaria were brought together. As part of the return assistance program, the individual needs of the returnees are assessed and possible support is determined at the same time.

Since June 1, 2022, the "Bavarian Return Program" has additionally provided to all those entitled, with personal reintegration assistance with flat-rate funding for the first six months after their return.

"This ensures that returnees have a fixed monthly contribution to cover the costs of daily needs, such as food, a rented apartment or furnishings, during the reintegration phase," explains President of the Bavarian State Office for Asylum and Return Axel Ströhlein.

In addition, there is support for luggage transport, the possibility of a subsidy for setting up a business, medical aid and other support modules.

Read more: New reintegration center opens in Ghana with German support

Support for a new start

The "Bavarian Return Program" supplements the existing funding programs (such as REAG/GARP, StarthilfePlus, Frontex-JRS, ...) and is geared towards the individual needs of people interested in leaving the country. Since the "Bavarian Return Program" came into force on September 1, 2019, the LfAR has already been able to support 3,412 people with their return and reintegration in the country of return.

Generally those who choose voluntary return are returning to safe countries and are not at risk of persecution. With financial support and assistance they are able to build a new life in their home country or a third country.

The Bavarian return counselors, who advise people on their return, speak positively about the "Bavarian Return Program." People who have already received support through the program have confirmed in a survey that the assistance they received for a new start in their country of return has proven to be of great importance to them.