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]()
Individuals and employers navigating the paperwork around voluntary departures or potential future re-entry can streamline the process by using a specialised visa service. VisaHQ, for example, offers a dedicated portal for Germany (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) that explains exit requirements, outlines available visa categories for skilled workers and family members, and provides real-time consular updates—saving both migrants and HR teams valuable time.
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.
Individuals and employers navigating the paperwork around voluntary departures or potential future re-entry can streamline the process by using a specialised visa service. VisaHQ, for example, offers a dedicated portal for Germany (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) that explains exit requirements, outlines available visa categories for skilled workers and family members, and provides real-time consular updates—saving both migrants and HR teams valuable time.
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.
