Sweden to boost repatriation aid to £28,000 amid migration tensions
Sweden is seeking to address challenges with migrant integration. Previously, some migrants were offered £800 to encourage them to leave. The country now plans to significantly increase this amount.
What do you need to know?
- New amount for migrants: From 1 January 2026, Sweden intends to raise the incentive to £28,000 for migrants who choose to leave the country.
- Adopting Denmark's strategy: Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson acknowledges that Sweden is following Denmark's example, where 22,000 people accepted financial assistance to depart.
- Shift in migration policy: Kristersson insists that individuals with rejected asylum applications should not remain in Europe.
Swedish Prime Minister: We have an integration problem
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that he does not think it is a method effective for very many people, but they have an integration problem. If someone has the legal right to reside in Sweden but is not integrating and does not embrace the Swedish way of life, they should at least consider returning to their own country. In this way Prime Minister defends the decision to increase the financial incentive for migrants to leave Sweden.
At present, migrants choosing to depart can receive £800. However, this offer has not led to significant change. According to the Swedish Migration Agency, in 2023, only one out of 70 applications was approved. Consequently, the government has decided to considerably raise this amount from 1 January 2026. Those who decide to leave will be eligible to receive up to £28,000.
Kristersson admitted that Sweden is learning from Denmark's experiences, where 22,000 people received money for leaving the country.
"This is unacceptable"
The Prime Minister stressed that individuals with rejected asylum applications should not remain in Europe.
He added that currently, around 80 per cent of people who received a negative asylum decision still remain in Europe. In his opinion this is simply unacceptable. In Sweden, they have managed to reduce this figure – now only about 20 per cent of those who were not granted asylum remain there, although they should not. Sweden must decisively take control of migration.
