Paid departure.. Sweden offers money for the return of migrants
The Swedish government has announced a new plan aimed at encouraging immigrants who are facing difficulties in integration to leave the country by offering an amount of up to 32,000 euros to anyone who agrees to voluntarily return to their home country, starting from January 1, 2026. Previously, Sweden only offered 900 euros, which did not lead to significant results.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that this measure comes as part of a comprehensive review of the country's immigration and integration policy. He explained that the model is inspired by the Danish experience, where more than 22,000 migrants in Denmark received financial amounts in exchange for returning to their countries. Kristersson confirmed that the Swedish government seeks to address what he described as the "integration problem" that the country has been suffering from for years.
Kristersson added: "I don't think this solution will be effective with large numbers, but we are facing a real problem with integration. If a person is legally residing in Sweden but does not integrate or accept the Swedish way of life, they should at least consider returning to their home country."
The Swedish government indicated that most of those who received rejection decisions for their asylum applications do not leave Europe, which Kristersson described as unacceptable.
It was stated that about 80% of rejected applicants in Europe remain within the continent, while Sweden has succeeded in reducing this percentage to about 20%. He emphasized the need for more control over immigration policy in the country.