Sweden Offers $34,000 for Voluntary Migrant Return

Sweden is implementing a significant shift in its migration policy, offering migrants up to $34,000 to voluntarily return to their home countries starting in 2026. This initiative, announced by Migration Minister Johan Forssell, aims to address long-standing integration challenges as the country faces rising anti-immigration sentiment following a recent political shift to a right-wing government. The new policy significantly increases the financial incentive from the current maximum of about $4,000, which saw minimal uptake, with only one participant in 2023. Supporters believe this will appeal to unemployed migrants relying on state benefits, while critics highlight the potential costs and effectiveness of the program. Sweden's stricter asylum policies are expected to lead to the lowest number of asylum applications since 1997, alongside commitments to deport unauthorized migrants. The government emphasizes the need to combat illegal immigration and the so-called 'shadow society' of undocumented migrants.