Overview

• The German government is negotiating a policy to permit Syrian refugees to visit their home country for up to four weeks or two two-week periods without losing their asylum protection.
• The proposed visits must be registered with local authorities and solely aim to assess conditions for potential voluntary return.
• Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann has criticized the plan, warning of potential abuse and calling for a unified European approach.
• Since January 2025, 464 Syrians have returned home with financial support from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
• Consultations between the federal government and German states are ongoing, with no set date for implementing the proposed framework.