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France Raises Voluntary Return Aid to €3,500 in Response to Channel Crossings

A decree in the Official Journal broadens access by removing timing limits tied to expulsion orders to encourage returns among nationalities prevalent on small‑boat routes.

Overview

  • The new ceilings set the flat allowance at €2,200 and the higher cap at €3,500, up from €1,200 and €2,500 respectively.
  • The measure applies to migrants readmitted to France under the summer Franco‑British “one‑for‑one” arrangement.
  • Payments will be made regardless of when an obligation to leave French territory was notified, ending the previous time‑degressive formula.
  • Since January 1, 2025 nearly 40,000 people have landed on English shores, already surpassing the 2024 total of 36,816.
  • OFII recorded 6,908 voluntary return aids in 2024, largely to Georgian and Albanian nationals, as NGOs and political critics question the policy’s deterrent effect.