Sweden to pay migrants up to $36,000 to leave country

The Swedish government has launched a financial incentive program for foreign nationals with residence permits from non-European Union countries to leave the country. Under the program, each eligible person may receive up to 350,000 Swedish kronor, or approximately $36,000.

Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the program took effect at the beginning of 2026. The government has presented the initiative in several languages on its official websites.

Sweden received 163,000 asylum seekers in 2015 and ranked second in Europe in terms of asylum applications per capita. By 2025, however, the figure had fallen by 96 percent.

The government came to power promising to reduce crime and migration.

The program has a total budget of 1.3 billion Swedish kronor, or approximately 100 million pounds, and provides financial assistance to people who voluntarily leave the country.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said increasing returns from Sweden was one of the government’s key priorities.

The right-wing Sweden Democrats, which provides parliamentary support to the government, also backs the program. The party wants to further expand policies encouraging migrants to voluntarily return to their countries of origin.

Under the program, people aged 18 and over may receive up to 350,000 Swedish kronor, while minors will be eligible for lower amounts.

The Swedish government says the financial incentive could increase the number of voluntary returns and help reduce the migration burden on the country.