Sweden is set to offer immigrants up to $34,000 (350,000 kronor) to voluntarily return to their home countries starting in 2026, a substantial increase from the current $976 or 10,000 kronor.
Migration Minister Johan Forssell emphasized Sweden’s shift in migration policy. “We are in the midst of a paradigm shift in our migration policy,” he remarked, referring to the country’s historical role as a humanitarian refuge.
The grant, which has existed since 1984, is intended for refugees, people needing subsidiary protection, or their families. “The grant has been around since 1984, but it is relatively unknown, it is small and relatively few people use it,” Ludvig Aspling of the Sweden Democrats told reporters. Only one person had accepted the offer last year, Forssell said.
Sweden offers $34,000 incentive for immigrants to return home
Starting in 2026, immigrants who choose to return will be eligible for up to 350,000 Swedish kronor ($34,000), according to the government. The ministry believes the incentive is likely to attract hundreds of thousands of migrants who are long-term unemployed, jobless, or reliant on state benefits due to low incomes.
Currently, migrants returning home can receive a maximum of 10,000 kronor ($976) per adult, or 5,000 kronor per child, with a maximum of 40,000 ($3,900) kronor available per family.
The latest move, backed by the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, aims to alleviate the integration challenges the nation has faced for decades. Despite a government inquiry advising against the grant’s hike, officials believe the incentive will appeal to long-term unemployed migrants or those reliant on state benefits.
Although Sweden was once seen as a haven for displaced populations, recent migration waves have strained its welfare system, leading the current conservative government to take tougher stances on immigration and crime.
Despite concerns that such a large financial incentive could signal immigrants as undesirable, Ludvig Aspling of the Sweden Democrats believes the increased awareness of the grant will encourage more migrants to return voluntarily. Sweden has joined several other European countries in offering financial incentives for voluntary repatriation.
Sweden’s multibillion budget to restrict migration
Sweden has unveiled a significant plan to allocate over 4.4 billion kronor to curbing migration over the next three years. The proposal, part of the autumn budget, includes 513 million kronor in 2025, rising to over 2.5 billion kronor by 2026, with 1.4 billion allocated to return migration.
“More needs to be done,” stated Johan Forssell, Sweden’s new migration minister. The funds will also target fraud reduction, system misuse, and enhance checks on foreigners. The return migration scheme offers up to 350,000 kronor per person from 2026.