Study: Incentives and motives for voluntary departure

EMN study on the incentives provided by EU Member States and Norway for voluntary departure of migrants from outside the EU to their country of origin, nationality or long-term residence. The study looks at measures in response to an (expected) return decision for a migrant. The study also examines the motives of migrants with a return decision to depart voluntarily and the factors that influence this decision.

Study aim

EU Member States and Norway have several measures in place to encourage voluntary departure of migrants with a return decision. These include financial incentives, for example as part of Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programs, and other forms of return support. The purpose of the study is to identify these measures and to examine the extent to which they influence a migrant's decision to return voluntarily (independently).

Research questions

• What measures are available in EU Member States and Norway to encourage voluntary departure?
• What is the impact of counseling and information provision (on voluntary return and available incentives) on migrants’  decision to leave voluntarily?
• To what extent do the incentives available in EU Member States and Norway influence the motivation to return voluntarily and/or make use of the support from AVRR programmes?
• Do EU Member States and Norway have information on the motives of migrants to return voluntarily, and do they take these motives into account when developing programs to encourage voluntary departure?

Publications EMN Inform 'Incentives and motives for voluntary departure'

• EMN Inform, 'Incentives and motives for voluntary departure', 8 juli 2022
• EMN Press release, 'New EMN inform seeking to understand incentives and motives for voluntary departure', 8 juli 2022