International organisation for Migration - IOM

Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration

Through the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Program (AVRR), IOM assists you to return to your country of origin.

The program will assist with a return only if it is determined safe. Check with IOM about your case.

You can apply for assisted voluntary return and reintegration if:

• You are residing in Bulgaria without the necessary legal documentation
• Your legal stay in Bulgaria has expired
• You no longer want to stay in Bulgaria, even if you are a refugee who has been granted international protection
• Your request for asylum is pending or has been rejected
• You have voluntarily withdrawn your asylum application

The AVRR program assists with the following:

• Getting travel documents
• Buying flight tickets and giving some money for the journey
• Being able to travel safely as a flight passenger
• Supporting you during the journey and when you arrive in your country of origin

You will receive special assistance if you are a victim of trafficking, an unaccompanied minor or a single parent, or if you need medical help.

Assistance for human trafficking survivors

Human trafficking is when someone uses force, threat, deception or similar methods to force a person into labor, sexual exploitation, begging or committing crimes.

Victims of human trafficking can be women, children and men of all ages.

You may be in a situation of human trafficking if:

• You are forced to do something you don't want to do
• You are abused, beaten and/or tortured
• You are touched against your will
• You are held captive and isolated, or kept under surveillance
• Your documents were taken away from you by someone other than the authorities
• You were sold and bought
• You are enslaved

If you recognize any of these situations, call or visit IOM for support:

• Identification and assistance for human trafficking victims
• Shelter
• Psychological support
• Legal counseling
• Medical assistance
• Social support
• Counseling on family reunification or voluntary return to your country of origin
• Reintegration assistance
• Referrals to other services

Services for people fleeing the war in Ukraine 

In response to the crisis in Ukraine, IOM Bulgaria provides the following types of support:

• Access to healthcare services (e.g., payment for interventions and medication and accompaniment)
• Emergency accommodation (for up to 5 days)
• One-time financial support  based on a set of vulnerability criteria
• Social counselling and support in accessing social services; 
• Administrative support in accessing education services - kindergarten, childcare services and schools
• information sessions, individual and group counselling;
• support in accessing employment - job search and facilitation of access to the labour market in Bulgaria;
• Bulgarian language courses
• Food vouchers for families with children (for people coming from the worst affected areas in Ukraine and who have not previously received financial aid from IOM Bulgaria)

Legal, social and psychological support

• Legal counseling
• Social support
• Psychological counseling
• Referrals for services
• Transport to services (social services, hospitals, visits to doctors/specialists, etc.) and interpretation during these visits (This service is provided based on a needs assessment) 

Language classes

IOM conducts Bulgarian language classes for people fleeing the war in Ukraine for the levels A1 and/or A2. 

The classes are appropriate for migrants who are residing legally in Bulgaria as well as for asylum seekers and people who have received international protection in the country.

The training consists of 120 academic hours and each participant receives a Bulgarian language proficiency certificate for the relevant level after successfully passing an exam at the end of the course.

The classes are free of charge and are conducted online!