Return and reintegration assistance schemes

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Summary

  1. Voluntary return procedure
  2. Are you concerned by the assisted voluntary return procedure?
  3. Steps in the assisted voluntary return procedure
  4. The procedure for reintegration assistance in the country of origin
  5. Are you concerned by the reintegration assistance procedure in the country of origin?
  6. Steps in the procedure for reintegration assistance in the country of origin

Voluntary return procedure

Foreigners who wish to return to their country of origin can request the assistance of the French Office for Immigration and Integration.

The OFII organises the return to the home country of the applicant (travel fees, financial support, administrative assistance for travel preparations). You can return to the region of your choice in your home country.

In order to benefit from the programme, you should visit the OFII headquarters. An advisor will assist you every step of the procedure such as obtaining travel documents. The Office also pays your travels fees from France to your country of origin.

Does this procedure affect you?

To be eligible for the assistance with return, you must: 

  • be undocumented in France or,
  • have lodged an application for asylum which you wish not to pursue,

    and

    • have received an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF).

    Procedure steps

    How do I apply for assisted voluntary return?

    Step 2

    Provide your passport to the advisor. If you do not have a passport, the advisor will help you obtain a travel document.

    Step 3

    The OFII will pay for your plane ticket as well as your transportation fees from your place of residence in France to the airport.

    Step 4

    Receive your summon from the advisor and check your baggage allowance. You must not exceed your baggage allowance.

    Step 5

    On the day of your departure, an advisor will welcome you at the airport and accompany you as far as the departure lounge. The OFII will give you a document with a code that you should keep.

    Step 6

    Once you arrive in your country, you will withdraw the money yourself, with your photo ID, at a Western Union Quick Cash location.

    The reinsertion procedure in your country of origin.

    In addition to financing your voluntary return or independently from it, the OFII is able to provide reinsertion support that can be divided into three levels depending of the applicant’s needs: social reinsertion, employment and professional training and business creation.

    Does this procedure affect you?

    The assistance with reinsertion is destined for:

    • Citizens of the following 23 countries: Armenia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Congo DRC, Ivory Coast, Gabon,  Georgia, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
    • Applicants whose project in their home country was approved by the selection committee of the OFII.
    • Students, young professionals, volunteers for civic service or international solidarity (VSI), nationals of certain countries, whose stay in France is coming to an end (residence permit expiring in 3 months maximum).

    Procedure steps

    How to apply for reintegration assistance in the country of origin?

    In addition to financing your voluntary return or independently from it, the OFII is able to provide reinsertion support that can be divided into three levels depending of the applicant’s needs:  

    Level 1: social reinsertion

    Once he returns to his country of origin, the OFII can help the applicant and his family settle by: paying the rent, buying the furniture and home appliances, paying for medical care and children’s school registration fees. Citizens of certain countries can also be provided with support at the airport, legal aid as well as psychological follow-up.

    Level 2: employment and professional training

    For this level of assistance, the OFII can help the applicant in his search for employment and partially finance his professional training or their salary for one year.

    Level 3: business creation

    Level 3 offers financial support and assistance in creating a business. 

    To benefit from the assistance with return and reinsertion and to find out more about it, you can contact an advisor at the OFII headquarters.

    Click here to find the nearest OFII headquarters to your place of residence.

    Watch our video to learn more about voluntary return

    Miniature de la vidéo

    Documentation