Sweden Is Moving Closer to Denmark’s Hardline Migration Policy
Sweden is offering migrants up to 350,000 kroner to leave, signalling a tougher migration policy and a growing convergence with Denmark’s restrictive approach.
Sweden was once known for its relatively welcoming approach to migration. But after the 2015 refugee crisis, its policies began to shift. Today, the government is encouraging some migrants to leave by offering them financial support to return to their country of origin.
Since January 2026, eligible adults can receive up to 350,000 Swedish kronor (€31,000) to leave Sweden permanently. Families can receive up to 600,000 kronor, while children are eligible for 25,000 kronor each. The policy does not apply to everyone with a residence permit and cannot be used to move to another EU or EEA country.
The Swedish government says the increased grant is intended to help people who have not successfully integrated into Swedish society start a new life elsewhere. But the policy has so far attracted limited interest. According to Reuters, only 171 people had accepted the offer by early September, despite the much larger payment.
For Christian Fernandez, an associate professor at Malmö University who researches migration and integration, the policy reflects a wider change in Sweden’s approach:
“Sweden was much more liberal and Swedish politicians used to talk about Denmark as a bad example.”
He says Sweden has increasingly looked towards Denmark since 2015, adopting some of its stricter migration policies.
The change comes as Sweden has already seen a dramatic fall in asylum applications. The country received around 163,000 asylum applications in 2015, while the number of first-time applicants fell to 4,915 in 2025.
At the same time, Sweden still depends heavily on foreign-born workers. Foreign-born people make up around 22% of employees in Swedish municipalities and 16% of regional employees, raising questions about what a continued push for returns could mean for the country’s workforce.
Sweden’s return scheme therefore represents more than a financial incentive. It is part of a broader political shift, one that is bringing Sweden closer to the restrictive migration model it once criticised in neighbouring Denmark.
This story is for an urban European audience and could be published on bbc.com or politico.com. It has been written for readers interested in European politics, migration and Sweden’s shift towards stricter policies.
