Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration - ARVoRe IX

Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Support Programmes (ARVoRe) are essential for comprehensive migration management. These Programmes aim to protect the rights of migrants, including the right to return safely to their countries of origin. In particular, this support is aimed at people who are unable or unwilling to stay in the host or transit country, and who choose to return to their countries of origin or to a third country, where they have a legal right to enter and stay but lack the necessary financial means to do so.

The return can be a difficult decision. By providing up-to-date information and individual advice, IOM seeks to empower migrants in the decision-making process and in exercising their rights in relation to their return to their country of origin. For them to make informed decisions about whether or not to participate in voluntary return programmes, informing and advising is a fundamental step and a prerequisite for a safe and dignified return to the country of origin. Respect for the free and prior consent of the migrant is a fundamental requirement for any kind of IOM operational support at the level of return and reintegration.

In Portugal, IOM has been implementing Voluntary Return and Reintegration Support Programmes (PRV/ARVoRe) since 1997 in cooperation with the Government of Portugal. Since 2007 the Programme has been cofinanced by Community Funds - initially by the European Return Fund, then under the SOLID p-Framework and, more recently, under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), by the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) and currently by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA). IOM is currently implementing the ARVoRe IX Project, co-financed by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, which will be implemented by December 2026.

The Programme provides information and counselling, psychosocial support, logistical and administrative assistance in preparing for the trip, as well as operational assistance at the airport until boarding. It also includes a component of support for individual reintegration, according to the needs of migrants, which has a limited number and is awarded upon application by the beneficiaries.

The successful implementation of the ARVoRe Programme requires the cooperation and participation of a wide number of actors, namely: migrants, the Portuguese Government, AIMA, the wide network of local partners, CLAIMS and countries of origin. The partnerships created by IOM and the different national and international stakeholders are essential for an effective implementation of the Programme, from the pre-departure phase to reintegration in the country of origin.

The Programme is based on a set of principles defined in the Policy and contributes to Targets 10.2., 10.7., 17.9., 17.17. of the Sustainable Development Goals; it also contributes to Goal 3 of the IOM Governance Framework and Goal 21 of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

Services provided under the ARVoRe Program

IN PORTUGAL:

• Individualised information and advice on voluntary return and reintegration assistance, including information on country of origin;

• Specialized assistance and referral to reference services in cases of vulnerability

• Virtual Counselling provided by the IOM Mission in the country of origin to strengthen the counselling process and clarify doubts about arrival and reintegration in the country of origin;

• Possibility of psychosocial support;

• Organisation of the journey to the airport closest to the final destination;

• Support and referral in obtaining travel documents;

• Organization of accompaniment during the trip, if necessary;

• Assistance at Lisbon airport from departure to boarding.

 

IN THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

• Assistance at the transit airport, whenever possible.

 

IN THE COUNTRY OF TRANSIT:

• Assistance on arrival, if necessary and possible;
• Possibility of assistance in reintegration in the country of origin, depending on needs and possibilities;
• Monitoring and follow-up, in the case of beneficiaries of reintegration support;
• Referral to local support services complementary to reintegration support according to availability and if necessary.

Information and advice for migrants

IOM, together with State and non-State actors distributed throughout the territory, informs and advises all migrants individually before enrollment in the Program and throughout the pre-departure phase. Individual counselling allows migrants to consider all available options and inherent rights, to be informed about the support they will receive and the conditions of the Programme and, consequently, to decide in a more informed way whether or not this will be the best alternative. Whenever justified, IOM Portugal works in collaboration with missions in the countries of origin to be able to inform about concrete issues related to return.

Information and advice are available both at IOM, and through the network of partners and state and non-state actors with whom we collaborate throughout the national territory. The focal points of this network, distributed throughout the country, can inform, advise and register migrants in the Programme: where can I apply.

 

How does ARVoRe Program Works

1. CONTACT US

The decision to return to your home country can be difficult to make. If you feel that this is the best option for you and/or your family, the IOM team is available to explain how the Program works, what support you can receive and answer your questions, contributing to an informed and voluntary decision. Advice is given on an individualized and confidential basis. You can contact IOM's office in Lisbon via our phone, email, Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp.

 

2. DECISION

Once you have been explained all the procedures regarding our services, you will have as much time as you deem necessary to think about the next step. It is important for you to know that you can change your mind at any stage of the process, even after you have registered. In addition to the advice provided by the Project team, you may also benefit from virtual advice provided by the IOM Mission in the home country.

 

3. ENROLLMENT IN THE PROGRAM

You can schedule your registration with IOM in Lisbon, or with any entity directly involved in the Project. If you do not live in Lisbon, you can contact the organization closest to your place of residence (where I can register). The network of institutions involved has several partners throughout the Portuguese national territory, including the Regions of Madeira and Azores, and who are available to receive you, provide all the necessary information and register your registration in the Programme.

 

4. PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT

Once enrolled in the Programme, you can apply for psychosocial support before returning to your country of origin. The Programme may refer you to a partner organisation specialising in psychosocial support in Portugal.

If you return to Brazil, you can additionally request this support after arrival and the Program will refer you to a partner organization specialized in psychosocial support in Brazil. This support is individual and confidential.

We are currently completing the formalization of these partnerships, and therefore psychosocial support is not yet available.

 

5. ASSISTANCE ON THE DAY OF TRAVEL

After approval of your application to enroll in the Program, we will contact you to find out if you are ready to travel and then book your trip. The support of the Programme provides:

• An airline ticket, according to the most direct and economical route to your country of origin or to a third country where your admission is guaranteed;
• €70 of pocket money on the day of the trip to support other expenses that may arise during the trip or on arrival.
• On the day of the trip we will be at Lisbon airport, we will have your plane ticket and we will accompany you in all boarding procedures, from check-in to the boarding gate.
• If justified or necessary, we will coordinate with the mission in the country of transit and/or on arrival so that you can also be assisted at these times.

 

6. SUPPORT FOR REINTEGRATION IN THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

Before your departure, our team will be able to help you obtain the necessary information for your reintegration in the country of origin. You can discuss your individual reintegration plan with our team.
In some cases, and depending on your needs, there is also the possibility of obtaining financial support in your country of origin with a view to setting up a small business or taking a technical course, for example. Financial support varies according to the needs of each person and can go up to a maximum of €2000.
Applications for reintegration support must be made prior to travel. Each application is assessed individually and, if your application is approved, the decision will be communicated to you before your return. Each case of reintegration support is followed up individually, from the preparation of an Individual Reintegration Plan to the monitoring and follow-up already in the country of origin during the first 6 months after return.

Reintegration support is limited and not available to all enrollees in the Programme.The allocation of this support depends on the analysis of each application submitted in the pre-departure phase and also on the availability of funds. For this reason, it will always be necessary to consult IOM about the possibility of support and the submission of an application for this support.

Psychosocial support for migrants enrolled with the program

Migrants enrolled in the Programme can request psychosocial support while waiting to return. Psychosocial support is free, individual and confidential. It is done remotely via internet/mobile phone and consists of 6 sessions, at least, according to the individual needs of each migrant. This collaboration aims to improve psychosocial well-being and reduce any possible distress associated with the return process.

In Brazil, under the ARVoRe IX Project, IOM will provide post-arrival psychosocial support to beneficiaries of the Program's support. It also works remotely, enabling the participation of returnees, regardless of the State and Municipality to which they return.

We are currently completing the formalization of these partnerships, and therefore psychosocial support is not yet available.

Psychosocial support activities contribute to the goals 10.2. and 17.17. the Sustainable Development Goals, goal 3 of the Migration Governance Framework (MiGOF) and goal 21 of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

 

Information and clarification sessions for staff

IOM in Portugal also organizes information and clarification sessions in order to promote a greater dissemination of information about the Programme. These sessions seek to involve local organisations, municipalities, outreach support services and other institutions that directly or indirectly work with migrants in each region. The Organization also maintains regular contact with Embassies and Consulates in order to inform and clarify about the option of assisted voluntary return, information channels and referral for more comprehensive support.

If you think that the organization, institution, company where you work or the community in which you are located would benefit from an information and clarification session about the Support Program for Voluntary Return and Reintegration, please contact us and we can schedule a session.

Satisfaction Survey

Fill  the AVRR  Satisfaction Questionnaire available here.

IOM team thanks you for your trust and for having travelled with ARVoRe VIII.  Your feedback is very important and your answers to this questionnaire will help us to improve the programme.

Legislation

ASSISTED VOLUNTARY RETURN

Portugal is framed in Article 139 - Support for Voluntary Return, and Articles 33 (2)  and 33 A (1) of  Law No. 23/2007 of 4 July, as amended.

Article 139 - Support for Voluntary Return:

1 - The State may support the voluntary return of foreign nationals who meet the conditions required of their countries of origin, within the framework of cooperation programmes established with international organisations, namely the International Organisation for Migration, or non-governmental organisations.

2 - Foreign nationals benefiting from the support granted pursuant to the preceding paragraph, when holding a residence permit, shall surrender it at the border post at the time of boarding.

3 - For a period of three years after abandonment, beneficiaries of voluntary return support may only be admitted to national territory and to that of Member States of the European Union or States party or associated States to the Implementing Convention if they repay the amounts received, plus interest at the legal rate.

4 - The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be without prejudice to the possibility of exceptional issuance of short-stay visas, for humanitarian reasons, as defined in article 68.

5 - Citizens who have benefited from a temporary protection regime shall not be subject to the requirement provided for in paragraph

 

 

 RETURN TO PORTUGAL AFTER VOLUNTARY RETURN SUPPORT BENEFIT

Law no. 23/2007, of 4 July, defines that foreign citizens who leave the National Territory, under the ARVoRe programme and who wish to re-enter Portugal, during the period of validity of the entry ban (3 years), may request the elimination of the measure, subject to reimbursement from the State Portuguese, (under the terms of article no. 139,  Law No. 23/2007 of 4 July, amended by Law 29/2012, of 9 August, which approves the legal regime for the entry, stay, exit and removal of foreigners from national territory and under the terms  of Regulatory Decree No. 02/2013, of 18 March, article 80, which establishes the requirements and conditions for the admission into national territory of foreign citizens who,  having left the national territory after benefiting from support for voluntary return, intends to return to Portugal before the end of the Entry Ban period).

Contacts

Telemóvel/whatsapp: +351 915 030 860 | +351 913 590 368

Email: arvore-portugal@iom.int

Attendance at the IOM office by appointment only and subject to the availability of the team.