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Voluntary Assisted Return Programme: Facilitating Dignified Return of Irregular Migrants from Norway

The VARP project by IOM aids in the voluntary, humane, and dignified return of irregular migrants from Norway to their countries of origin. Collaboration with Norwegian authorities ensures a smooth process for returnees. Services include counseling, travel assistance, and support for reintegration in the homeland. The project aims to provide a better alternative to forced returns, with over 5,000 successful cases since 2002.

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Voluntary Assisted Return Programme: Facilitating Dignified Return of Irregular Migrants from Norway

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  1. IOM Oslo Voluntary Assisted Return Programme (VARP) International Organization for Migration

  2. OBJECTIVE The VARP project provides a mechanism for the voluntary and dignified return of migrants in irregular situation from Norway to their countries of origin.

  3. JUSTIFICATION Voluntary return is: HUMANE DIGNIFIED CIVILIAN

  4. PARTNERS IMPLEMENTED by IOM in close coordination with Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) and National Police Immigration Service (PU)

  5. OTHER COLLABORATING NGOs Norwegian Refugee Council Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers

  6. TARGET GROUPS • Irregular migrants • Rejected asylum seekers • Asylum seekers with pending asylum claim

  7. UDI statistics on asylum applications 2007

  8. Services to voluntary returnees include:

  9. Information to the target group

  10. Counselling

  11. Airport assistance at departure, transit and arrival

  12. Transportation (domestic & international)

  13. Assistance in getting travel documents

  14. VARP Application processing routines:  Approval of applicants by UDI/Police  Status report to applicant/’mottak’ on application  Acquisition of travel documents, if necessary  Travel Booking + travel info to the applicant  Transfer to Torshov ‘mottak’ in Oslo  Transportation to the airport and departure  Notification to Norwegian authorities on departure

  15. IOM Counseling Travel organized until home town Local authorities not informed Travel as a regular passenger No debt to the Norwegian government Better possibilities for legal reentry to Norway (and other Schengen countries) e.g. for work purposes or family reunion Travel notice is given for preparation before departure POLICE No counseling Travel organized until main airport Airline (local authorities) aware of forced return Police escort on travel Debt to the Norwegian government Limited possibilities for legal reentry to Norway (and other Schengen countries) Departure without notice Voluntary / Forced return

  16. Forced return

  17. Forced return

  18. Voluntary return with IOM

  19. Voluntary return with IOM

  20. RESULTS Since May 2002 until 31 August 2008 • 5255 had returned home with IOM • 10083 had applied for IOM • 1874 persons had acquired a travel document with the assistance of IOM from their Embassies

  21. Annual breakdown on applications and departures

  22. Distribution of Applicants by CitizenshipIOM has received applications from 118 nationalities

  23. A SUSTAINABLE HOMECOMING TO AFGHANISTAN: INFORMATION TO, RETURN AND REINTEGRATION OF AFGHAN NATIONALS (IRRANA)Project start: 26th of April 2006

  24. IRRANA

  25. IRRANA “to facilitate voluntary return of Afghani nationals from Norway providing the returnees with sustainable reintegration opportunities” From the project start and until August, 25 2008 • a total of 133 applications from Afghan nationals • 74 persons returned to Afghanistan and received the reintegration services • 2 repatriation returnees

  26. IRRANAsuccess story from Norway

  27. IRRANAsuccess story from Norway MOHAMMAD DAMIM (27) • returned to Afghanistan under IRRANA programme August 2006 • opened Institute of Boxing Jawanan Chardehi (Chardehi Youngsters) • Received cash grant of 15,000 Norwegian Kroner (≈2250 USD) 10,000 Norwegian Kroner (≈1500 USD) for purchasing necessary equipment and toolkits for the center His training center for boxing is registered with Afghanistan’s National Olympic currently, more than 100 trainees get boxing training in two shifts

  28. Information, Return and Reintegrationof Iraqi Nationals to Iraq(IRRINI)

  29. IRRINI

  30. IRRINI Facilitate the voluntary return and sustainable reintegration of Iraqi nationals residing in Norway reinforcing local capacities as contributions to the local economy

  31. IRRINI Project start March, 1st 2008 Until August, 31st: Applications received 113 Returns 57 Repatriation cases 13

  32. IRRINI reintegration assistance • allowance (equivalent of 10000 NOK) paid on arrival in Iraq by IOM Iraq to returnees Repatriants receive an equivalent of 15000 NOK • Individually tailored reintegration plans: - Financial support towards the development of small business start-up projects (proposed maximum amount of 25,000.00 NOK in services) - Assistance in skills development through educational or on-the job training; • Job placement through referrals • Consistent follow-up on regular basis for at least 6 months

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