Sweden offers cash incentives to migrants willing to leave the country

Thursday 10 September 2026 - 07:30

By: Azzat Manal

Sweden offers cash incentives to migrants willing to leave the country

Sweden is taking a markedly tougher approach to immigration, offering financial incentives to some foreign-born residents who choose to leave the country voluntarily, in a policy shift that reflects the government’s growing focus on reducing migration and tightening integration requirements.

Since the beginning of 2026, the Swedish government has made available payments of up to 350,000 Swedish kronor, equivalent to roughly $37,000, to eligible residents from outside the European Union who hold residence permits and agree to return to their countries of origin. The scheme is backed by a government allocation of around 1.3 billion kronor.

The initiative has received strong support from the Sweden Democrats, a right-wing nationalist party that is not formally part of the governing coalition but has provided parliamentary backing to the government. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has made what he describes as “remigration” a key element of his administration’s immigration agenda.

Swedish authorities have been promoting the voluntary return scheme through government websites and information campaigns in several languages, seeking to make eligible migrants aware of the financial assistance available to those who decide to leave.

The policy marks a significant departure from Sweden’s approach during the height of Europe’s migration crisis. In 2015, the country received around 163,000 asylum applications, one of the highest per-capita figures in Europe at the time. By 2025, the number of asylum applications had fallen by approximately 96 percent, reflecting a broader transformation in Sweden’s migration policy.

Since the current government came to power in 2022, immigration rules have been progressively tightened. Measures have included making permanent residence more difficult to obtain and introducing changes that require certain migrants to reapply for residence permits after a specified period.

Sweden has also moved toward stricter citizenship requirements. In August, the authorities introduced mandatory tests for citizenship applicants, designed to assess their knowledge of Swedish society and the country.

Despite the potentially substantial financial benefit, the voluntary return programme has so far attracted limited interest. Only 171 people had accepted the offer during 2026, highlighting the difficulty of encouraging large numbers of migrants to leave a country where they have established their lives.

Sweden is home to approximately 10.6 million people, including nearly two million residents born abroad. The government’s latest measures therefore form part of a broader political debate over migration, integration, public finances and social cohesion.

The shift has also become increasingly prominent ahead of Sweden’s upcoming political developments, with immigration and crime remaining central issues in the national debate. For the government and its parliamentary allies, encouraging voluntary departures is presented as one element of a wider strategy aimed at reducing immigration and strengthening integration.

Sweden’s transformation illustrates the broader evolution of European migration policy over the past decade. Once regarded as one of Europe’s most welcoming destinations for asylum seekers, the country is now pursuing a significantly more restrictive model, combining tighter residence and citizenship rules with incentives for certain migrants to return voluntarily to their countries of origin.