Germany has reported a significant increase in voluntary returns in 2025, with more migrants choosing to leave the country through assisted return programs rather than facing forced deportation. According to new figures, thousands of people opted for state-supported returns, often with financial assistance and reintegration support in their countries of origin. The trend reflects a broader shift in German migration policy, which increasingly emphasizes voluntary return as a more humane, cost-effective, and politically acceptable tool within a tightening asylum and migration framework. For Germany, this development matters beyond numbers: it signals how domestic political pressure, capacity constraints in the asylum system, and evolving EU-level migration debates are reshaping practical policy choices. It also affects Germany’s diplomatic relations with countries of origin, where cooperation on reintegration and readmission has become a key element of migration diplomacy.
Read the full report on InfoMigrants, with detailed data and policy context focused on Germany.