The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees BAMF published a brief analysis on the intentions to stay in Germany or to return to the country of origin in case of asylum seekers from West Africa with tolerated stay status in Germany.
The brief analysis is based on the findings through an app-based survey conducted with persons from Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia and Sierra Leone with tolerated stay in Germany combined with findings from qualitative interviews. The analyses show that an improved situation in the country of origin leads to a significantly increased intention to return.
On the other hand, there is a tendency to stay, particularly if people have employment in Germany and if their children also live in Germany. Previous research on the intentions to stay or return has largely overlooked the group of applicants with tolerated stay in Germany. One reason for this is that this group is difficult to reach for scientific surveys. Innovative methods were therefore used for this study.
The results of the Brief Analysis reveal that the intentions to stay in Germany or to return to the country of origin among persons with tolerated stay should not be looked at one-dimensionally. Instead, multiple factors exert influence on these intentions. The brief analysis concludes that a well-coordinated combination of measures encouraging the return and options of legal residence are necessary to prevent long-term toleration. At the end of 2024, around 180,000 people were living in Germany with a tolerated status.
The brief analysis is part of the MIMAP research project "Feasibility Study on the im-/mobility of people obliged to leave Germany".