Israel Cuts Voluntary Departure Grants for African Migrants but Departure Rates Increase

In mid-2025, Israel's Population and Immigration Authority halted the payment of the voluntary departure grant to African migrants leaving the country, citing budget cuts. This grant, previously set at $3,500 per person, was intended to provide initial funds for migrants relocating to Western countries, their primary destination. However, reports reveal that the grant had limited impact on encouraging departures to these Western nations.

Data from 2025 shows that during the second half of the year, when the grant was suspended, an average of 274 migrants left monthly (1,644 over six months), compared to only 195 per month (1,170 over six months) in the first half when the grant was paid. Overall, 474 more migrants departed in the latter half of 2025 than in the first half. The migrant population in Israel, mostly from Eritrea and Sudan, has decreased to approximately 17,600.

At the start of 2026, the grant was reinstated but in a limited form: only African migrants returning to their home countries or relocating to a third African country qualify. Migrants traveling to Western countries, who constitute the majority of those leaving, are no longer eligible. The data suggests that departure decisions are influenced more by immigration policies of destination countries than by the financial incentive from Israel.

Another significant but less discussed incentive is the deposit fund, established in 2017, requiring employers to set aside 16% of a migrant's salary into a dedicated fund. Migrants can only access this money upon permanent departure from Israel, providing a financial motivation to leave. In 2025, 1,499 departing migrants withdrew a total of 74.6 million shekels, averaging about 50,000 shekels per person, fully funded by employers.