Rosenbad, in central Stockholm, has been the seat of the Government since 1981. Source: Wikimedia Commons, Holger.Ellgaard, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Swedish government wants to encourage immigrants to return by significantly increasing the financial repatriation grant.
National coordinator Teresa Zetterblad has approached the country’s municipalities for a dialogue on how to strengthen the work with voluntary repatriation.
“Thanks, but no thanks.” Several municipalities in Norrbotten will not help the government increase repatriation. Roland Boman, municipal councilor in Jokkmokk, calls the policy “un-Swedish”.
Increased Grant For Return Migration
The government wants to raise the level of the return migration grant. The proposal involves an increase from the current 10,000 kronor for a person over 18 years of age to 350,000 kronor. The maximum amount a family should receive is 600,000 kronor (63 170 dollars).
The amendments to the regulation, which are currently out for consultation, are proposed to enter into force on 1 January 2026.
Great Resistance To Repatriation
The campaign is receiving harsh criticism from Jokkmokk’s municipal councilor Roland Boman (FJK). In a response that has been widely circulated on social media, he writes that the policy is “un-Swedish” and calls it a threat to those who work and contribute to development and welfare in Jokkmokk.
“We need people who move here and participate in developing our society,” says Boman.
A survey conducted by SVT Nyheter Norrbotten shows that there is great resistance in Norrbotten to cooperating on voluntary repatriation.
In addition to Jokkmokk, Boden, Kiruna, Gällivare, Överkalix, Pajala, Arvidsjaur, Arjeplog, Luleå and Kalix also say no to dialogue, citing their strong interest in keeping their residents.
“Elderly People And Children Would Starve”
Överkalix writes, among other things, that their municipality would not function if it did not have people born in other countries.
“Our elderly and children would starve, our elderly would lack care in our homes and in home services, many shops would have to close or radically reduce their opening hours, our tourism industry would be limited,” writes Niclas Hökfors, municipal councilor in Överkalix.
SVT has approached Teresa Zetterblad for an interview. The government’s national coordinator writes in a comment that voluntary repatriation is a right and an opportunity for those who want it.
“The aim is to strengthen the conditions for municipalities to offer professional information and advice to people who wish to return. So far, there has been a positive response from the municipalities.”
Source: SVT (in Swedish)