The number of voluntary departures of migrants and rejected asylum seekers has risen in Germany. As the newspapers of the Funke Mediengruppe report, citing the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), a total of 9,276 people returned to their countries of origin between January and June 2026 under the state return programs. Compared to the first half of 2025, when 7,348 people took advantage of the offer, this corresponds to an increase of about 26 percent.
The BAMF supports the voluntary departure of asylum seekers and people required to leave the country with its return program. Among other things, the flight costs are covered, as well as a “start-up aid” of 1,000 euros per adult and 500 euros for children and young people. Since January 2025, funded return to Syria has also been possible again, after the program was suspended due to the civil war.
According to the Central Register of Foreign Nationals, a total of 258,845 people in Germany were required to leave the country at the end of June 2026, of whom 199,271 had a temporary suspension of deportation (Duldung). A Duldung temporarily suspends deportation.
Source: www.zeit.de
