Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing military actions in Ukraine and the millions of people fleeing the war, IOM continues to provide support for the voluntary return of persons who have expressed a desire to return to their countries of origin.

Since the beginning of 2023, the IOM Bulgaria team has assisted 9 people who have been able to return safely and with dignity to their home countries and the number of people who have benefited from the voluntary return and reintegration programme since the beginning of the project is 87.

For each request for voluntary return, IOM Bulgaria initiates a voluntary return procedure, explains to the applicant the objectives of voluntary return and its advantages over forced return, clarifies the applicant's status, assists with obtaining the necessary travel documents, including medical examinations and PCR tests, arranges transit and landing assistance, and provides reintegration support tailored to the individual needs of the migrant.

Third-country nationals who wish to return voluntarily to their country of origin can contact IOM Bulgaria at  +359 293 94 774, send an e-mail to iomsofia@iom.int or visit the IOM offices in the Sofia or Harmanli.

The voluntary returns are carried out within the framework of the project "Voluntary Return and Reintegration of Third-Country Nationals", implemented by the International Organization for Migration and funded by the National Programme of Bulgaria under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.