A story first reported by Welt am Sonntag and confirmed by the news-ranking service News Minimalist shows that Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) recorded more than 16 500 applications for its voluntary-return programme in 2025—a 40 percent jump on the previous year. The most significant increase came from Syrians, who once again have the option of state-organised charter flights to Damascus and Aleppo after the Federal Government quietly resumed the route in January 2025.
Under the REAG/GARP scheme, single adults can receive up to €1 000 in start-up aid and have their travel costs covered; families qualify for larger grants. BAMF officials told reporters that demand picked up after social-media campaigns clarified that accepting the package does not automatically bar re-entry under future skilled-migration channels. Still, the absolute numbers remain modest compared with the roughly 890 000 Syrians who hold residence status in Germany.
![BAMF sees surge in voluntary-return requests to Syria and Turkey]()
For policy-makers the rise is politically useful: Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition has vowed to increase “returns, both forced and voluntary”, to free capacity in municipal reception centres. Human-rights groups, however, question whether Syria can be considered safe and warn that financial incentives risk pushing vulnerable families into dangerous situations.
Business-immigration practitioners should note that employees whose residence status depends on family members’ asylum claims could be indirectly affected if relatives opt to leave; companies may need to adjust family-support policies. Relocation vendors may also see new demand for exit-logistics services.
Under the REAG/GARP scheme, single adults can receive up to €1 000 in start-up aid and have their travel costs covered; families qualify for larger grants. BAMF officials told reporters that demand picked up after social-media campaigns clarified that accepting the package does not automatically bar re-entry under future skilled-migration channels. Still, the absolute numbers remain modest compared with the roughly 890 000 Syrians who hold residence status in Germany.
For policy-makers the rise is politically useful: Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition has vowed to increase “returns, both forced and voluntary”, to free capacity in municipal reception centres. Human-rights groups, however, question whether Syria can be considered safe and warn that financial incentives risk pushing vulnerable families into dangerous situations.
Business-immigration practitioners should note that employees whose residence status depends on family members’ asylum claims could be indirectly affected if relatives opt to leave; companies may need to adjust family-support policies. Relocation vendors may also see new demand for exit-logistics services.
Source: News Minimalist (citing Welt)
