Voluntary return or voluntary repatriation is the return of a displaced person, a rejected asylum seeker, a refugee, a victim of trafficking or a stranded migrant who is unable or unwilling to remain in the host country and who volunteers to return to their country of origin.
The terms are used in slightly different contexts and can refer to:
The voluntary return of asylum seekers who no longer want to wait for a decision on their asylum application or who have changed their mind about the application and rather want to go back to their country of origin.
Destitute migrants, such as homeless people, who cannot afford the journey back home. Some homelessness charities provide funding for these journeys.
The "voluntary" return of rejected asylum seekers or irregular migrants to their countries of origin. Leaving voluntarily in this context is a bit euphemistic as the alternative to it is immigration detention and deportation.
The most preferred of the UNHCR's three durable solutions for refugees. Once the reasons for being displaced or having fled have disappeared and it is save again to live in this country refugees are free to go back to their country of origin. The so-called returnees are still people of concern to the UNHCR and are as such under their legal protection. The UNHCR is monitoring returnee operations and offers support to returnees even after they have arrived in their countries of origin.
Some voluntary return programmes offer assisted voluntary return (AVR) and some voluntary return is spontaneous and independent without assistance.
The concept of voluntary repatriation was first developed in the 1969 Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. It was agreed that:
"The sending state, in collaboration with the receiving state, must make adequate arrangements for the safe return of refugees who request repatriation, while the country of origin must facilitate their resettlement and grant them the full rights and privileges of nationals of the country, and subject them to the same obligations."
The UNHCR and the hosting countries usually encourage the refugees to return voluntarily. The 1969 Refugee Convention expects states of origin to advertise repatriation, by using the news and media as well as Organisation of African Unity, in order to invite refugees back home. Equally the host countries are expected to spread such information and to ensure it is received. However, the information that is spread about the improved and safer situation in the country of origin may be exaggerated, blurred or untrue and refugees may be encouraged to return home before the dangers and risks are fully removed.
As refugees are protected from deportation (or refoulement) by the 1951 Refugee Convention some host countries may indirectly force them to leave by gradually decreasing refugees' living standards and living conditions or by spreading lies about them to make them feel less welcome. This is similar to self-deportation.
Some countries offer financial support to refugees in order to facilitate the process of starting a new live in their country of origin. This could be considered as residency buyouts. Recent examples include Denmark offering £12,000 each to immigrants for their return, Switzerland offering around 6,500 Francs, targeted for business startups upon returning home, as well Ireland. Germany in 2016 allocated €150 million over three years for migrants willing to return, and the Swedish government began offering £3,500 each.
The UNHCR and the IOM offer assistance to refugees who want to return voluntarily and to other people in need of support for returning to their home countries. This includes administrative, logistical, financial and reintegration support. Many developed countries also provide assistance and voluntary return programmes independent from the IOM and the UNHCR. Support includes making travel arrangements and paying for the journey. Support may also include financial support so that returnees can make sustainable investments and can build their lives again. Connecting people with networks and groups in the country of origin so that they will get support from local organisations.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) offers Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) to migrants whose application for asylum was rejected or withdrawn, stranded migrants, victims of trafficking, and other vulnerable groups, such as unaccompanied children, or those with health-related needs.
