Family Assistance Programme

Since 28 February 2017, IOM manages a Family Assistance Program (FAP) service centre in Erbil, in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, in partnership with the German Consulate General in Erbil, to offer a wide range of support services to both Syrian and Iraqi families applying for a family reunion (FR) visa to a sponsor who has protection status in Germany. IOM and the German Federal Foreign Office have jointly established the FAP to facilitate the orderly and safe reunification of Syrian and Iraqi families in Germany. IOM also operates FAP centres in Turkey (Istanbul) and Lebanon (Beirut), Germany (Berlin), Jordan (Amman), Iran (Tehran), Pakistan (Islamabad), Kenya (Nairobi), Ethiopia (Addis Ababa), Sudan (Khartoum).

FAP contributes to the achievement of the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) objectives 3, 5, 7, 12, 14 and 16. It also closely aligns with target 10.7 of the SDGs to facilitate orderly, safe and responsible migration and mobility. Additionally, it reflects IOM’s Migration Governance Framework, precisely principles 1 and objectives 2 and 3.

The overall objectives of the FAP are:

Provide regular and safe pathways for the reunification of vulnerable migrant families in Germany
To uphold the basic right of family unity through facilitated visa processing, protecting families from misinformation and exploitation by unscrupulous visa brokers and smugglers.
To empower families with Arabic and Kurdish language information and visa-related support services.
To effectively support Recognized Refugees and Subsidiary Protection Holders in Germany with arranging and attending scheduled appointments in advance

All services provided by FAP are completely free of charge and include:

Creation and verification of visa application forms
Verification of documents submitted for family reunification application
Appointment scheduling, passport return, and file organizing.
Facilitation of the family registration of Syrian families for legalization purposes in Lebanon.
Biometrics enrolment, visa fees collection, and transfer of files to the German Mission-
Return of visa decisions to applicants
Escort services for minors to Germany
Child-friendly space for accompanying children during the waiting time inside the office
Case management and referral of the most vulnerable beneficiaries