Return Counseling and Reintegration

The funding program in Schleswig-Holstein is aimed at governmental and non-governmental organizations active in the field of return counseling and reintegration. It supports projects that are mainly carried out in Schleswig-Holstein and whose target individuals or organizations reside or are based there, in order to enable the voluntary return of persons willing or obliged to leave the country and to promote sustainable reintegration in their countries of origin.

Projects focusing on voluntary return counseling and reintegration measures are funded to support foreigners willing or obliged to leave Schleswig-Holstein. This includes both individual counseling and preparatory measures and qualifications for professional re-entry.

The program grants subsidies for projects related to return counseling and reintegration. Funding is provided as co-financing and covers up to 90 percent of the eligible expenses. Approval is generally granted for one calendar year.

For funding, certain legal and substantive requirements must be met, including the primary implementation of the project in Schleswig-Holstein, the implementation of controlling, and compliance with specific personnel requirements. In addition, budgetary provisions must be observed.

The application must be submitted in writing and by email to the Ministry of Interior, Municipal Affairs, Housing and Sport by December 1st of the previous year. A specific application form must be used. Approved funds are usually disbursed quarterly.

Funding is based on the guideline on the granting of subsidies for the promotion of statewide networking of return counseling and reintegration, which was last amended in October 2021. This guideline defines the framework conditions and objectives of the program.