The Swedish government has announced plans to significantly increase financial grants for immigrants who voluntarily choose to return to their home countries, despite a recent inquiry advising against such a move. Starting in 2026, immigrants who opt to leave Sweden voluntarily will be eligible for up to 350,000 Swedish kronor (around $34,000), a substantial rise from the current maximum of 10,000 kronor.
Under existing laws, migrants returning home can currently receive up to 10,000 kronor per adult or 5,000 kronor per child, with a family cap of 40,000 kronor, according to local broadcaster SVT Nyheter.
Ludvig Aspling, from the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats, noted that this grant has been available since 1984, though it remains “relatively unknown and underused by a small number of people.” He believes that heavily promoting the enhanced financial offer could encourage more people to take advantage of the opportunity to return home.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who took office in 2022, leads a minority right-wing coalition backed by the populist Sweden Democrats. During his campaign, Kristersson pledged to address issues around immigration and rising crime rates.
Sweden, historically known for its open-door refugee policy and narrative of “Swedish Exceptionalism,” has welcomed many migrants since the 1990s, including those fleeing conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, and Iraq.