Providing information on voluntary return is not intended to be an encouragement to pursue voluntary return and should not be understood in this way by the applicant. However, voluntary return may respond, for various (personal) reasons, to the need of the applicant, also among those who recently arrived.

Applicants can leave voluntarily at any point during the asylum procedure and return to their country of origin or habitual residence. Applicants may face doubts and uncertainties when it comes to the possibility of return and often receive conflicting information. Timely information about the possibilities of return may prevent persons from staying in the asylum procedure and/or in difficult circumstances on the territory of the host country for an unnecessarily long time after a final decision has been issued.

If the applicant decides to return, depending on the national practice, they may be able to obtain advice and assistance from the administration or other organisations (¹⁸⁰). The authorities can provide:

• general information and advice on voluntary returns;
• procurement of the necessary travel documentation;
• flight booking and travel organisation;
• the financial cost of their travel;
• a small integration grant upon return;
• enrolment in a reintegration programme.

(¹⁸⁰) The International Organization for Migration is one of the most important organisations assisting in returns. Assistance can also be provided by other organisations and non-governmental organisations (e.g. Caritas International) or directly by state authorities, etc