Sweden to Pay Immigrants up to $34,000 to Leave

The Swedish government announced on Thursday that it will increase grants for immigrants who choose to return to their home countries voluntarily, despite a government-appointed inquiry's recommendation last month against a significant increase, Anadolu Agency reports.

Starting in 2026, immigrants who choose to leave the Nordic country voluntarily will be eligible for financial assistance of up to 350,000 Swedish kronor (approximately $34,000), up from the current 10,000 kronor.

Under the current law, migrants returning home can get a maximum of 10,000 kronor per adult, or 5,000 kronor per child, with a maximum of 40,000 kronor per family, according to local broadcaster, SVT Nyheter.

"We are in the midst of a paradigm shift in our migration policy," Migration Minister, Johan Forssell, said at a press conference in Stockholm.

According to Ludvig Aspling of the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats, the grant has been available since 1984 and "is relatively unknown, small, and used by a few people".

However, he now believes that heavily promoting substantially increased financial assistance would encourage more people to accept the offer to leave the Scandinavian country.