Germany Supports Over 8,200 Voluntary Migrant Departures in 2024
A federal program allocated €8.2 million to assist rejected asylum seekers and other migrants with voluntary return, with significant EU funding offsetting costs.
- The REAG/GARP program provided financial aid for 8,263 voluntary migrant departures from Germany between January and October 2024.
- The program offers funds for travel and medical expenses to migrants with rejected asylum claims or low chances of approval.
- The total approved funding this year amounts to €8.2 million, with the EU covering up to 90% of eligible costs.
- Voluntary returns are significantly less expensive than deportations, with federal and state governments each contributing only 5% of costs.
- Bavaria recorded the highest number of voluntary departures (1,803), while Brandenburg had the lowest (16).
Junge Freiheit 
Stern 
Die Rheinpfalz 
Die Zeit 
Der Tagesspiegel 
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 