Federal Government Offers Financial Assistance for 133 Syrian Refugees to Return Home

In a recent initiative, the German federal government has introduced a program designed to assist Syrian refugees wishing to return to their homeland. Launched in January, this program has seen participation from dozens of individuals seeking financial support for their voluntary repatriation.

As of mid-February, approximately 40 refugees have taken advantage of this offer, according to information from the Federal Ministry of the Interior shared with the press. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has been responsible for facilitating these voluntary returns under a federal-state program since January 13.

The assistance is aimed specifically at financially disadvantaged migrants, providing both monetary and organizational support for their return to Syria or another accepting third country. Eligible individuals can receive travel allowances of 200 euros for adults and 100 euros for minors. Additionally, there are provisions for medical expenses up to 2,000 euros, as well as initial financial support of 1,000 euros for adults and 500 euros for children or adolescents. The total aid per family can reach a maximum of 4,000 euros.

Furthermore, various state-level return assistance programs complement the federal initiative. After departing, states can apply to BAMF for reimbursement of the costs incurred in supporting these returns. Preliminary data from the ministry indicates that, in 2024, there were 85 voluntary returns financed through this method, while only eight have been recorded so far in the current year. Together with those benefiting from the new federal program, the total of voluntarily assisted returns stands at 133.

It is important to note that this figure does not reflect the overall number of Syrians returning from Germany, but rather those whose return costs have been formally submitted for state reimbursement. As of the end of December 2024, approximately 975,061 Syrian nationals resided in Germany, with about 10,231 classified as obliged to leave, of which 9,156 were under temporary protection.

The Federal Ministry of the Interior is actively working to establish a framework that allows Syrians to make temporary visits to their home country for the purpose of assessing conditions for a permanent return, all while retaining their protected status in Germany. This initiative comes in the context of significant political changes in Syria, notably following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad by a rebel coalition led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on December 8.