In a bold move, Sweden’s government announced plans to significantly increase financial assistance for immigrants who choose to return to their home countries. Starting in 2026, eligible immigrants can receive up to 350,000 Swedish kronor ($34,000), a substantial increase from the current maximum of 40,000 kronor per family.
Migration Minister Johan Forssell stated, “This marks a significant change in our migration policy.” He emphasized the government’s goal of incentivizing more migrants to return home voluntarily.
Ludvig Aspling of the Sweden Democrats noted that the grant, available since 1984, is not well-known and has low uptake. He suggested that raising awareness and increasing the grant size could lead to more people accepting the offer.
However, this announcement comes despite a government-commissioned study advising against a significant increase in the grant amount, citing concerns about effectiveness and potential costs.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who pledged to address immigration and crime upon taking office in 2022, is supporting this initiative. The Sweden Democrats, who emerged as the second-largest party in Sweden, have been pushing for stricter immigration policies.
Sweden has been a destination for many migrants since the 1990s, but integrating them has been a challenge. This new policy aims to encourage voluntary returns and address these integration issues.
