Sweden offers up to 350,000 SEK (≈€32,000) for voluntary return
New rules from 1 January 2026 allow protection-status residents to apply for up to 350,000 SEK (≈€32,000); household cap is 600,000 SEK.
Sweden has increased its voluntary return payments for migrants, offering up to 350,000 Swedish kronor (about €32,000) to an adult and a household maximum of 600,000 kronor (about €55,000). The change — which took effect on 1 January 2026 — quickly drew interest from eligible residents.
Who qualifies and how much they get
The payment is available only to people with a valid Swedish residence permit granted on protection grounds, such as refugee status or subsidiary protection. As a rule, the permit must have been issued no later than 12 September 2024. Funds can be used to move back to the country of origin or to another state where the person has a lawful right to live, but not for relocation to an EU member state, the European Economic Area or Switzerland.
Under the new rules a single adult may receive up to 350,000 Swedish kronor (≈€32,000). A married or cohabiting couple can get up to 500,000 kronor, while the household ceiling is 600,000 kronor (≈€55,000). Each child adds 25,000 kronor (≈€2,300), though the household total cannot exceed the stated maximum.
The increases are large compared with previous levels: before the change a single adult could receive only 10,000 kronor, so the new top individual payment is 35 times higher.
According to figures from the Swedish Migration Agency, by mid-February authorities had received 272 applications, of which 82 were rejected; within weeks that number rose to about 370 and the first applications under the new rules were approved.
The government says the aim is to give people who have not integrated a chance to start over in their country of origin and to produce beneficial effects for labour markets in those countries. Critics, however, have warned about possible negative consequences and pointed to concerns raised in an earlier government analysis. The voluntary return programme has existed since 1984, but uptake was previously low — prompting the dramatic increase in payment levels to boost interest.
Photo: press material from the event
