Forced return: deportation

What is meant by deportation?

If you do not have a residence permit and are required to leave Germany, you may be deported. This will have serious consequences for you, your family and your friends: you will be prohibited for a limited period of time from reentering Germany and will also have to pay the costs of your return journey yourself. If you opt to return to your home country voluntarily, on the other hand, you can claim support.

How will you be notified of your deportation?

The Aliens Authority responsible for you will notify you in writing of the decision to deport you and will set you a deadline for leaving Germany of your own accord. You will also have time to appeal to an administrative court against the deportation decision. If you allow the deadlines to elapse or if your appeal is rejected by the court, you will face deportation.

Which country will you be deported to?

Normally you will be deported to the country of which you are a national. If another state is willing or even obliged to take you in, you may under certain circumstances also be deported to this state.

Temporary suspension of deportation in exceptional cases

Not all persons who are obliged to leave the country are allowed to be deported. If certain conditions are met, a suspension of deportation may be granted for a limited period.

This applies to you if you

• fall seriously ill
• are an unaccompanied minor - and no child-appropriate supervision can be ensured in your country of origin
• have begun a state-recognised programme of vocational training
• are the parent of a German child
• do not have the necessary identity documents or first need to obtain these
• if your travel routes to your country of origin are blocked

Other constellations and hardship cases give the authorities some scope for tolerating your continued presence in Germany - for example to complete a school year that is already underway.