More refugees return voluntarily in 2025
In 2025, significantly more refugees took advantage of funding programmes for voluntary return from Germany - especially to Syria.
Berlin (d.de) - In 2025, significantly more refugees left Germany voluntarily and with financial support than in the preceding years. In all, 16,576 people took advantage of funding programmes offered for this purpose by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). That’s around 6,200 more than in 2024 – an increase of roughly 60 percent.
One key factor is the resumption of funded voluntary repatriations to Syria. Since January 2025, the BAMF has been offering support to this end again after the programme had been suspended temporarily due to the civil war. By the end of December 2025, 5,976 people had applied to leave Germany to return to Syria; 3,678 of them have already departed. According to the BAMF, there is great interest - especially among Syrians - in the funding on offer.
Known as the REAG/GARP programme, it supports those wishing to return to their home countries voluntarily, among other things by covering the costs of travel and providing a financial start-up aid. Adults receive up to 1,000 euros, while children and adolescents are paid 500 euros.
