Assisted voluntary return

Travel allowance is a pre-departure cash payment intended for purchasing essentials during the travel.

Reintegration support shall promote the successful reintegration of a foreign national into a home or receiving state and support the person in question in establishing his/her own place there again. The grant is generally paid out post-arrival and can be used, for example, for rent, education, employment or other projects in collaboration with an international organisation such as the IOM.

• If the foreign national does not choose to use the support for special reintegration projects, he/she may, with the approval of the relevant international organisation, receive a part of the amount in cash.

• However, no more than half of the amount may be paid out in cash (see table).

• As an exception, reintegration support may be fully paid out in cash, if circumstances in the home or receiving state are extraordinary, for example in cases of hyperinflation or where partners of the Icelandic authorities do not operate in the respective state.

Additional support is paid if return assistance is requested before the deadline for voluntary return has passed.

Amount of support

The amount of reintegration support depends on the return country and at what point of time the return assistance is requested.

Category A

The following countries are in category A: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Palestine, Pakistan and Somalia.

Category B

Category B includes the states that are not in category A or C and are not on the list of safe countries of origin.

Category C

Category C includes countries that do not need a visa to travel to Iceland. Citizens of these countries are not entitled to travel allowance or additional support.

Applicants for international protection from these countries, who were in Iceland when the regulation entered into force on July 12, 2024, will be paid grants according to category B.

Exemptions

In special circumstances, travel allowance and/or reintegration support may be granted to a person returning to a country on the list of safe countries of origin. This shall not apply, however, if the person in question has been granted international protection in a Schengen State.

Such an exemption would be considered in particular in the case of families with children, in which all family members request return assistance. The same may apply to foreign nationals who are considered to be in a particularly vulnerable position, in the opinion of the relevant authority, or if the relevant authority deems that the applicant is in need of special assistance for other reasons in connection with returning. When assessing the eligibility for return assistance the applicant's health and social situation should be considered.