Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan announces new incentive to encourage Voluntary Returns
- Published on: 29 September 2025
- Last updated on: 29 September 2025
Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan has today (Monday) announced higher levels of reintegration assistance for people who withdraw their International Protection application and leave Ireland voluntarily.
Voluntary Return is an option that is open to people who have no legal status in Ireland or who have withdrawn their application for International Protection or have had it refused. Voluntary Returns is a widely used mechanism by governments across Europe and internationally to support people to return in a safe and dignified manner, sustainably reintegrate into their communities, and receive support where necessary.
For a limited time, people who were in the International Protection process before 28 September 2025, will be offered increased reintegration assistance if they choose to avail of voluntary return at an earlier stage in the process. This offer is not open to new International Protection applicants from 29 September.
When implementing returns and removals it is the preferred option that people leave voluntarily, and the Department has a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to the issuance of a deportation order. Already this year nearly 1, 200 people have left Ireland by way of voluntary return; a significant increase compared to the 550 who left in the same period in 2024.
Part of the Voluntary Return process is reintegration assistance. The current level of reintegration assistance offered is up to €1,200 per person and €2,000 per family unit. This assistance can only be availed of once and is offered to support people and families to re-establish themselves, access education or set up a small business when they return home.
Making today’s announcement Minister O’Callaghan said:
“We need to relieve pressure from our International Protection System by reducing the number of people in the process who are not going to be successful. This limited time measure is targeted to incentivise people in the earlier stages of the process to avail of voluntary return and to be supported to leave.
I have been stepping up enforcement measures this year with the use of charter flights and that will continue. This incentive will be applied in tandem with enforced returns. Voluntary Returns is the more favourable option in the returns process as it is significantly quicker and cheaper than removing people through enforced deportations.”
The changes announced today mean that if a person decides to opt for voluntary return either before receiving a first instance decision or before appealing a negative first instance decision their assistance will be increased to €2,500 per person to a maximum of €10,000 per family unit.
If they are in the appeals process and decide to voluntary return before the appeal decision issues their assistance will increase, but to the lower amount of €1,500 per person and to a maximum of €6,000 per family unit. If they receive a final decision on their application assistance will only increase for families to a maximum of €3,000 per family unit.
Minister of State for Migration, Colm Brophy welcomed the announcement, saying:
“Voluntary return offers people the opportunity to leave Ireland with the assistance of a reintegration grant. They can return home with dignity and with the means to re-establish themselves in their home country; to build their future there.
I continue to appeal to those who are given the opportunity of voluntary return to avail of it.”
There are safeguards in place for vulnerable people and requests for return can be refused if it would be unsafe for the person to return home.
On this point, Minister O’Callaghan added:
“I have been increasing resources in my Department’s Voluntary Return Programme which has resulted in almost 1,200 people leaving voluntarily so far in 2025. I will be carefully monitoring this incentive to ensure it is working effectively and as planned. It will be limited to people who have applied before 28 September 2025 so it is not taken advantage of.
“Strict safeguards are in place under this programme to prevent abuse. People are only permitted to access the reintegration assistance once their departure is confirmed by my officials and it will not be offered to those convicted of a serious crime.”
Currently it is estimated to cost €122,000 per person to process an average international protection application. This includes costs for accommodation and food, social protection payments, health care and education. Increasing reintegration assistance for those at an earlier stage in the process is aimed at reducing the pressure on the system from the high numbers of applications received in 2023 and 2024.
The purpose of the International Protection system is to give protection to people who are fleeing war, torture and oppression. This targeted measure aims to help people leave the process who are not at risk.
ENDS //
Notes to Editor
The higher level of grants will only be available to those in the International Protection process before 28 September 2025.
The table below details the number people who departed the State by way of Voluntary Return without being issued a deportation order, from 2020 to 26 September 2025. It is the case that the majority of people leaving have been refused International Protection.
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Total Number of Voluntary Returns | 201 | 132 | 91 | 215 | 934 | 1,188 |
*as of 26/09/2025 *Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
International Protection Voluntary Return Process Overview
- People can apply for voluntary return at any stage in the International Protection process.
- People are offered the option to voluntary return at each stage of the International Protection process if they receive a negative decision. After a final refusal of International Protection, applicants are offered voluntary return and have 5 days to accept. If they decline, a deportation order is issued.
- Those arranging their own departure have 30 days to leave. If assistance is needed, they can be helped with organising documents, flights, and transport. They must depart to their home country or where they have legal residence.
- Returnees must provide proof of their departure within 3 days of arrival (e.g., tickets, boarding passes, passport bio-data page, stamped passport). Further evidence may be requested if information supplied is not sufficient. In many cases, officials at Dublin Airport will confirm departures in person.
- Access to reintegration assistance is only provided after a person’s departure is confirmed.
- Reintegration assistance can be used by the person to re-establish themselves, access education or set up a business in their home county; reintegration assistance allows them to do this sustainably and this reduces the need to re-migrate.
- These higher levels of support will only be available to those in the process before 28 September 2025; it will not be available to those who apply after this date.
- The Department will still reserve the right to refuse financial assistance to those with a history of criminality in the State or if there is reason to believe providing reintegration assistance application is not appropriate.
Further information about making an application for voluntary return is available here: