Sweden will offer migrants as much as 30,000 euros to encourage their voluntary return to their home countries.
The Swedish administration is looking to significantly boost the incentive for voluntary migrant departures to their native lands. Starting from 2026, potential payouts of up to 350,000 Kronor (roughly 30,700 Euros) are under consideration, the administration publicized. "We're experiencing a fundamental shift in our migration strategy," stated Migration Minister Johan Forssell.
At present, migrants are eligible for approximately 880 Euros per adult and 440 Euros per child if they choose to leave voluntarily, with the maximum payout per family being around 3,500 Euros.
These payments have been in existence since 1984 but have been largely overlooked and used by a relatively small number of people, according to Ludvig Aspling, a Sweden Democrat party member. This planned rise aims to alter this trend.
The proposed increase was set in motion despite a recent government-commissioned study recommending against a substantial increase, as the predicted efficacy did not warrant the potential expenses.
Sweden's conservative Premier Ulf Kristersson took office in 2022, pledging to curtail immigration and combat crime within the nation. His coalition government relies on the Sweden Democrats, who emerged as the second-largest party in the parliamentary election with 20.5%.
Sweden has witnessed a substantial influx of migrants since the 1990s, chiefly from war-torn and crisis-stricken countries like former Yugoslavia, Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, and Iraq.
After the proposed increase, migrants who voluntarily return to their homeland might receive a significantly higher incentive of up to 350,000 Kronor, encouraging more departures. Following this policy shift, Sweden aims to reduce the reliance on these financial incentives over time.
