Find support here with returning to your home country

You do not want or are unable to stay in Germany any longer - but lack the financial means to return to your country of origin? If so, you can receive organisational and financial support.

Who offers advice about returning home voluntarily?

There are more than 750 places in Germany that offer advice about returning to your home country voluntarily. These are either state agencies (Social Welfare Office, Aliens Authority) or non-state organisations (welfare associations, non-governmental organisations). The consultations do not oblige you to leave Germany and also have no bearing on your asylum procedure. For an overview of the various counselling centres, use the search function on the website returningfromgermany.de. Your return counsellor can also help you obtain any travel documents you may be lacking.

Is an online consultation possible?

Yes, the International Organization für Migration (IOM) offers virtual counselling for more than 20 countries of origin, designed to provide you with some initial orientation. Check here to see which countries and languages virtual counselling is available for.

Who can help me with returning home?

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees organises and supervises your departure from Germany via the REAG/GARP programme. The programme helps you with returning to your country of origin. It supports you with organising the journey and covers the cost of your travel.

What support is on offer?

The assistance available to you depends on your nationality and other factors. This is checked on a case-by-case basis when you apply.

Funding is available to cover:

• a flight or bus ticket
• the costs of travelling from the place you live to the airport or (bus) station
• a travel allowance of up to 200 euros per person (up to 100 euros per person under the age of 18)
• medical assistance: during the journey (e.g. wheelchair assistance, medical assistant to accompany you) and in your destination country (up to a maximum of 2,000 euros for up to three months after arrival)
• one-off start-up assistance if you are a national of one of the following countries:
  (1,000 euros per person or 500 euro per person under the age of 18, up to a maximum amount of 4,000 euros per family):
  Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iraq, Iran, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Vietnam, Yemen

Further support with reintegration is available for many countries, for example via the StarthilfePlus programme. You can find out on the page for your country whether you are eligible for StarthilfePlus.