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).

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 in a legal situation in France,

or

  • have lodged an application for asylum which you wish not to pursue.

or

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

Procedure steps

How do I apply for assisted voluntary return?

Step 1

Go to the OFII headquarters. The advisor will request an interpreter for facilitating the dialogue.

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.

Step 6

Once you arrive in your home country, you be given a single payment of a financial support.

N.B: The amount of the financial support varies depending on your country of origin. You can return to the region of your choice within your country.


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. This programme is reserved for citizens of 28 countries, to applicants who fulfil the selection conditions within their countries of origin, to students or young professionals who hold a residence permit.


Does this procedure affect you?

The assistance with reinsertion is destined for:

  • Citizens of the following 28 countries: Armenia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Congo DRC, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Guinea Conakry, Haiti, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan and Russia.
  • Applicants whose project in their home country was approved by the selection committee of the OFII.
  • Students, young professionals or community service volunteers who are citizens if certain countries (click here to get the list of those countries), and who hold a residence permit expiring in three months maximum.

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.

More information can be found on www.retourvolontaire.fr

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


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 such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Sri Lanka, 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. The business creation must be validated by the selection committee in order be eligible for this assistance level.

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.

More information can be found on www.retourvolontaire.fr

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