Voluntary return places emphasis on the person’s free will to return. Applicants have the possibility to return voluntarily at any time during their asylum procedure. 

The EUAA Operational Standards and Indicators on Reception including Vulnerability-related Aspects, 2026, highlight that applicants have access to voluntary return options in line with the national legislation and that they receive adequate information about this option on a regular basis (Section 5.9 Preparing the end of reception: measures oriented towards the applicant’s integration or towards voluntary return, Standard 131, page 171).

In the context of the end of reception, voluntary return might apply both to applicants who have opted to do so while still awaiting a decision on their application as well as to applicants who received a negative decision on their application and a return decision as a consequence. 

Once the person receives a return decision, depending on the situation, they might be given the possibility to opt for voluntary return, which takes the form of voluntary departure, regulated by the Return Directive (2008/115/EC). 

Voluntary departure implies that the person complies with the obligation of leaving the country within the time limit specified in the return decision. Member States are encouraged to prioritise voluntary over forced return and regularly propose this option to persons obliged to leave their territory (Article 3(8) and Article 7(1) return directive). 

In line with the return directive (Article 7), the period between the issuing of a return decision and the person’s departure should be 7-30 days. It could be:

• extended, depending on individual circumstances, such as the duration of the person’s stay, the presence of children attending school or strong family and social ties in the country
• shortened or not granted at all, if there is a risk of absconding, if the application for legal stay was rejected as manifestly unfounded or fraudulent, or if the person poses a threat to national security or public order.

To reduce the risk of absconding, Member States may impose certain obligations, such as requiring regular reporting to the authorities, the deposit of financial guarantees or travel documents, or residence in a certain location.

The 2024 Pact on Migration and Asylum strengthens, among others, the management of irregular flows at the external borders, through screening and asylum and return border procedures. Under the Return Border Procedure Regulation (2024/1349/EC), voluntary return/departure can also take place during the border procedures, within a framework that requires close coordination between screening, asylum and return authorities.

Third-country nationals or stateless persons who are channelled to border procedures (asylum or return) are not allowed to enter the Member State’s territory. They may also return voluntarily, but a period of up to 15 days for voluntary departure is granted only upon request and only if there is no risk of absconding, the claim was not manifestly unfounded or the person poses no threat to national security or public order. During this period, they must hand over any valid travel documents to the authorities to prevent absconding (Article 4(5) return border procedure regulation). 

To assist persons in leaving the Member State concerned through voluntary return, logistical, financial and/or other material support can be provided. This includes assisted voluntary return and reintegration schemes and the EU Reintegration Programme). These programmes constitute a central element of the information provision discussed in this section. It is important to note that eligibility for pre-return and reintegration support from Frontex is conditional upon the returnee having a return decision issued by the national authorities.