The voluntary, subsidized return of Syrian nationals to their home country remains slow, nearly a year and a half after the collapse of the regime. According to figures reported by the “Spiegel” as of March 27, only 9,867 Syrians have left voluntarily since 2024.
Currently, 844 applications, representing 1,517 people, are pending review at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and are seeking funding from a designated federal-state pool. In response to the low turnout, the BAMF President, Hans-Eckhard Sommer, recently suggested that the current subsidy premiums should be increased, noting that the standard payment of roughly €1,000 per adult is not sufficiently attractive. Furthermore, it is reportedly a well-known issue within the BAMF that calculating the return premiums on a case-by-case basis causes too much administrative strain, leading to internal calls for adopting simpler, lump-sum payments.
When approached for comment, the Interior Ministry confirmed that they are aware of both the payment structure and the need for process simplification, stating that they are evaluating both issues continuously. The Ministry confirms that approximately 500,000 Syrians currently reside in Germany under temporary protection status. These efforts have recently been complicated by confusion following a meeting between Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Syria’s leader, Ahmed al-Scharaa, regarding an alleged statement suggesting that 80 percent of Syrians should return to their homeland.