Migrants who are unable or unwilling to remain in their host countries and wish to return to their countries of origin can receive assistance from IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programs. AVRR offers migrants a safe and dignified return and aims to support their sustainable reintegration in the country of origin.

Voluntariness is essential in AVRR. This means that beneficiaries of AVRR programmes should have accurate and objective information to make an informed decision to return, and that they can make this decision without any physical or psychological coercion. Beneficiaries can also cancel their return at any time, even at the airport.

Through AVRR activities IOM aims to:

  • Ensure the dignity and rights of migrants
  • Contribute to a sustainable return through reintegration assistance
  • Increase dialogue between host countries and countries of origin about the return process
  • Encourage regular means of migration

IOM Finland assist migrants with voluntary return from Finland, Iceland, and Sweden. It provides administrative, logistical, and financial support to migrants who wish to return voluntarily to their countries of origin. IOM Finland makes use of the organization’s world-wide network of offices and partners to support this work. IOM’s institutional approach to AVRR is laid out, for example, in the Framework for AVRR and the Policy on Return, Readmission and Reintegration.