REAG/GARP 2.0: Updated procedure for people travelling alone with children

We would like to inform you that the procedure in cases where individual parents wish to voluntarily leave the country with their child or children has been simplified as part of the REAG/GARP 2.0 application and processing.

Below we are sending you a description of the most important case scenarios as well as a short list of the evidence that the application submitting entities (AÜS - antragsübermittelnde Stelle) must provide when submitting the application.

Overall, it is therefore no longer necessary in every case to obtain the consent of the immigration authorities if the second parent does not consent in some cases.

a) Application by a parent with child(ren), there is no contact with the second parent
• The parent submitting the application must obtain confirmation of the situation from the AÜS, which must be attached to the REAG/GARP 2.0 application in the OAM.
• In addition, the AÜS must tick the corresponding box on the application form to confirm that the AÜS has no information that speaks against the departure of the persons concerned.

b) Application from a parent with child(ren) who is in contact with the second parent and the second parent is in Germany (and is not leaving the country) or has the citizenship of an EU state
• It is mandatory to obtain the consent of the second parent in the form of a separate confirmation from the AÜS and to attach it to the REAG/GARP 2.0 application. The confirmation, which proves that the second parent agrees to the departure, can be written in German or English and must be submitted to the BAMF with the signature of the second parent together with a copy of the parent's ID document.

c) Application from a parent with child(ren) who is in contact with the second parent but who is not in Germany or the EU (e.g. because the person has already left the country or is already in the destination country)
• The AÜS must tick the relevant box on the application form to confirm that the AÜS has no information that speaks against the departure of the persons concerned.
• No separate confirmation from the second parent that he or she agrees to the departure is required.

d) Application from a parent with child(ren) for whom the departing parent has sole right to determine the place of residence or custody
• Proof of sole right to determine the place of residence or custody of the departing parent must be obtained from the AÜS and attached to the REAG/GARP 2.0 application.

The field mentioned, which must be checked in individual case constellations, was added in the course of the last update of the REAG/GARP 2.0 application in the OAM. A blank version of the adapted application is now also available in the Download area (under point 1.1.1 REAG/GARP 2.0 and StarthilfePlus - Application).

If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact our functional mailbox RG2.0-Info@bamf.bund.de

Your REAG/GARP 2.0 development team