Sweden Offers $34,000 for Migrants to Return Home

Sweden has announced a new initiative to encourage migrants to voluntarily return to their home countries by offering financial incentives.

Starting January 1, 2026, migrants who agree to give up their residency and citizenship in Sweden will receive 350,000 Swedish kronor (approximately $34,000), according to the Swedish newspaper The Local.

Sweden’s Minister for Migration, Johan Forssell, revealed this plan during a press conference on Thursday.

He explained that the "Voluntary Return Support Program" will also apply to those who arrived in Sweden through family reunification programs, meaning each family member who chooses to return will be eligible for the same financial compensation.

Currently, migrants who agree to forfeit their residency or citizenship and leave Sweden are entitled to far smaller sums: 10,000 kronor ($970) for adults and 5,000 kronor for minors, with a family cap of 40,000 kronor, regardless of family size.

This modest incentive has had limited success in encouraging people to leave the country, which has historically been a major destination for migrants, especially since the 1990s.

Sweden has welcomed a large number of migrants over the past decades, with many coming from war-torn or conflict-ridden regions.

According to recent statistics from Sweden's national data agency (SCB), the country is home to about 2.76 million migrants, making up 28% of its population. Among them, Syrians make up the largest group at 244,000, followed by Iraqis at 195,000.

Sweden’s new initiative mirrors similar financial incentives offered by other European countries, although the amount Sweden plans to offer is significantly higher.

Denmark, for instance, provides over $15,000 per person to encourage voluntary returns, while France offers $2,800, Germany $2,000, and Norway $1,400.