Sweden is offering foreign-born residents from outside the European Union up to 350,000 Swedish crowns, roughly $37,000, to voluntarily leave the country under a new government scheme aimed at curbing immigration ahead of the September 13 election, according to Reuters reports.
Sweden Remigration Grants and Political Stakes
The coalition government, which took power in 2022 on promises to cut immigration and crime, launched the remigration grant program at the start of 2026. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has stated that improving re-migration is high on his government’s agenda, backed by a budget of 1.3 billion Swedish crowns according to Reuters. The policy has found strong support from the right-wing Sweden Democrats, who are not officially part of the ruling cabinet but back it in parliament.
As part of the campaign leading up to the September 13 election, the Sweden Democrats placed public transport advertisements targeting Somali immigrants with the slogan, “Do you miss Mogadishu? The remigration grant will help you get home.” Opinion polls cited by Reuters show a tight race between the governing coalition and the center-left opposition in the country of 10.6 million residents, where 2 million people are foreign-born.
European Reactions and Symbolic Policy Analysis
Governments and political parties across Europe are closely watching the Swedish shift, which contrasts sharply with the country’s intake of 163,000 asylum seekers in 2015. Mary Khan-Hohloch, a European Parliament lawmaker for Alternative for Germany (AfD), welcomed the Swedish initiative in an email to Reuters, noting that interest in effective return programs is growing due to the social and financial burdens of past migration policies.
Bram Frouws, director of the research body Mixed Migration Centre, told Reuters that there is no evidence such schemes produce a significant increase in voluntary emigration. “This is one of those policy proposals where this doesn’t even matter, it’s mainly symbolic, it’s about signaling how tough they are on migration,” Frouws said.
Did you know?
Sweden’s asylum seeker intake dropped by 96% between 2015 and 2025 following a series of border shutdowns and increasingly restrictive immigration policies, according to Reuters reporting.
Immigrant Responses and Stiffened Citizenship Rules
In a working-class Stockholm suburb, immigrants gathered at a community center expressed zero interest in the cash payout. Elena Ibrahim, a Sudanese woman who fled religious oppression eight years ago and now works as an artist, told Reuters, “I want freedom, to be able to work and live a good life… I will not go back.” Mahmoud Khalfi, imam at the Stockholm Mosque, added that the rhetoric causes anxiety among the Muslim population, noting to Reuters that while highly educated professionals have options to move elsewhere, those with less education have no choice but to stay.
Alongside financial incentives, Sweden has tightened broader integration rules. The government eliminated permanent residency awards, requiring immigrants to reapply after three years. In August, authorities launched citizenship tests in Stockholm, evaluating applicants on Swedish history, the monarchy’s line of succession, and cultural holidays. Migration Minister Johan Forssell defended the tests to Reuters, stating it is unreasonable that individuals could previously gain citizenship without knowing anything about Sweden or speaking the language.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Sweden’s remigration grant?
The Swedish government offers residents with permits from outside the European Union up to 350,000 Swedish crowns, or about $37,000, if they voluntarily leave the country, according to Reuters.
How many people have accepted the cash-to-leave offer?
Reuters reports that only 171 people have taken up the financial incentive to leave Sweden since the program launched at the start of the year.
What are the new citizenship requirements in Sweden?
Sweden introduced citizenship tests in August, requiring applicants to demonstrate knowledge of Swedish society, culture, and the language, alongside replacing permanent residencies with three-year renewable permits, according to Reuters.
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