Proof should be organised immediately.
If reporting duties, contact requirements or proof are imposed, the exact wording matters. Document every step and review the deadline in parallel.
Return decision
Requirements during voluntary departure: what matters beyond the 14-day period
When voluntary departure is granted, requirements under section 56 FPG can matter. Review proof, deadlines and risk early.
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Mag. Mirela Saric
Attorney at law · German and BCS
Mirela Saric assists clients in immigration matters with a clear structure: review the decision, secure deadlines, define the strategy and act quickly. She advises in German and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian.
7 August 2026 · Mag. Mirela Saric, Attorney at Law
A voluntary departure period does not mean that only the calendar matters. Under section 56 FPG the authority may impose requirements when granting a voluntary departure period.
This article separates that requirements layer from return counselling, proof of departure and later lifting of an entry ban. The question is what must be complied with and documented during the running period.
The decision, service record, wording of the requirement, realistic travel options and evidence are central.
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Which requirement is central?
Answer one short question. The assessment indicates whether proof, practical obstacles or a missed period should be reviewed first.
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Which requirement is the main issue during the departure period?
Section 56 FPG allows requirements when a voluntary departure period is granted. The wording of the decision matters.
All paths at a glance
Overview of all answers.
Practical obstacles belong in the deadline review.
Travel documents, illness, family circumstances or missing connections may be legally relevant. They do not replace a deadline, but may matter for an extension or appeal reasoning.
A missed period needs urgent review.
If a requirement or departure period was not complied with, check whether enforcement steps are likely and which remedies are still open.
The departure period is only one part
The departure period is only one part
Section 55 FPG concerns the voluntary departure period. The page on deadlines and appeals explains why service and the start of the deadline must be reviewed separately.
Section 56 FPG adds possible requirements. These may involve organisational duties, contact points or proof. The exact wording in the decision is decisive.
In cases involving a return decision and entry ban, do not mix the short departure period with the substantive duration of the entry ban.
Which requirements in the decision matter
Which requirements in the decision matter
Reporting duties, contact details, proof of planned departure and notification of address or travel changes are common practical issues. The wording of the decision governs.
If the authority expects proof of departure, tickets, border documents and official letters should be kept from the start.
Requirements may also relate to whether voluntary departure is realistic and controllable.
Return counselling and extensions are separate
Return counselling and extensions are separate
Return counselling may help in practice, but it does not replace legal review of the decision.
If departure within the period is not possible, the article on extending the voluntary departure period may be relevant.
Requirements, extensions and later lifting of the entry ban are three different questions.
Practice point: Record service date, deadline and each requirement separately. This is the only way to assess later whether a duty was actually breached.
Newsletter: You can follow developments on entry bans, residence matters and immigration deadlines through the Brandauer newsletter.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions on voluntary departure requirements.
Is the 14-day period always the same? +
No. The actual decision and legal basis matter. Additional requirements may need to be reviewed separately from the calendar.
What if a requirement is unclear? +
The wording of the decision should be reviewed quickly. Ambiguities should not be left until the departure period has expired.
Is return counselling enough as proof? +
That depends on the decision. Return counselling may help organisationally, but it does not replace every proof of departure or contact requirement.
Topics
Voluntary departureRequirementsReturn decisionEntry ban
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