The ZIRF-Counselling project provides you with information in order to support you in making an informed decision or to prepare a potential voluntary return.
Through authorised counselling centres you can obtain up-to-date information researched by the IOM on-site regarding medical care, the labour market, the housing situation, education and trainings or social welfare. The IOM-project is part of the information centre for voluntary return (ZIRF) of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and is financed by the German federal government and federal states.
The ZIRF-Counselling consists of two information services:
Country Fact Sheets:
The IOM missions compile up-to-date country information sheets (CFS) every year. These provide return-related information on the following topics: health care, labour market, housing, social services, education, children and further contact information on governmental and non-governmental bodies. They are available in German, English and the respective national languages.
Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, Chad, China, Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kosovo, Lebanon, Mauritania, Republic of Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nigeria, Northern Macedonia, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Senegal, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Türkiye, Viet Nam
Individual Return-related Inquiry (IRI):
If you have concrete, case-specific questions about your destination country in the context of your voluntary return, an authorized counselling centre can submit an individual ZIRF request. This is done via the OAM. The answer is researched and answered locally by the respective IOM mission and then forwarded to the advice center. Individual inquiries that have already been answered are anonymized and can be viewed in the ZIRF database. You can use the search mask to search for specific inquiries on certain countries and subject areas.
Family Assessment:
In the case of voluntary return of unaccompanied minor migrants, the IOM offers a family assessment. For this purpose, the IOM contact the relatives/ legal guardian in the country of destination and visits them on site. This aims on the one hand to ensure the best interests of the child and to determine the best interests of the minor and to support the guardian in deciding regarding the voluntary return of the child. The Family Assessment can be applied for via the OAM.