Swedish Government has announced a significant increase in financial incentives for immigrants who choose to return to their home countries.
Gatekeepers News reports that starting in 2026, immigrants who voluntarily leave Sweden will be eligible for grants of up to 350,000 Swedish kronor (approximately $34,000).
Migration Minister Johan Forssell revealed the new policy during a press conference, stating, “We are in the midst of a paradigm shift in our migration policy.”
The increased grant is designed to encourage more immigrants to opt for voluntary repatriation.
Previously, the grant was limited to 10,000 kronor per adult and 5,000 kronor per child, with a maximum of 40,000 kronor per family. The new policy aims to address integration challenges and manage migration more effectively.
Ludvig Aspling from the Sweden Democrats commented on the change, saying, “The grant has been around since 1984, but it is relatively unknown. It is small and relatively few people use it.”
Aspling suggested that the increased visibility and value of the grant could lead to a higher number of immigrants taking up the offer.
Despite advice against the increase from a recent government-appointed inquiry, the government has moved forward with the policy change. The inquiry found that the benefits of the increase did not justify the cost.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who came to power in 2022 with a minority coalition supported by the Sweden Democrats, has made immigration and crime reduction central to his agenda. The Sweden Democrats, now Sweden’s second-largest party, have influenced the government’s stance on immigration.
Sweden has welcomed a large number of migrants since the 1990s, and the country faces consistent challenges in integrating immigrants into its society.
