Few Obligated to Leave Germany Accept Departure Aid

In the first six months of 2026, Germany saw a significant drop in voluntary departures among foreigners obligated to leave the country. Out of 17,892 individuals who departed, only 9,276 accepted federal funding for voluntary emigration, indicating a reluctance to utilize these programs.

This trend coincides with a broader decline in asylum applications since early 2025. Deportations also saw a notable decrease of 18.2% compared to the same period in the previous year, with 9,663 deportations carried out. The government attributes this decline partly to the reduced number of asylum seekers.

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Only about half of the foreigners obligated to leave Germany have recently taken advantage of federal funding for voluntary departure.

As of mid-2026, approximately 259,000 individuals were obligated to leave Germany, with 77% holding a temporary suspension of deportation (Duldung) due to reasons like missing travel documents or health issues. Rejected asylum seekers constituted over 60% of this group.

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The number of deportations fell by 18.2 percent in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year.

Planned deportations are frequently hampered by individuals being difficult to locate. Legal or health-related issues also contribute to failed deportations. In the first half of 2026, 130 deportations failed due to resistance, and 56 due to medical concerns.

An emerging challenge is the increasing refusal of pilots to transport deportees on commercial flights. In the first half of 2026, there were 280 such cases, a significant rise from 514 cases in the entire previous year. The government does not track the reasons behind these refusals. Physical force was used as a 'tool' in 786 deportations during the first half of 2026.

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Pilots are increasingly refusing to transport deportees on the scheduled flights they are operating.