Sweden Offers Non-EU Residents Cash to Leave

Non-EU residents in Sweden can now receive money to leave voluntarily.

The Swedish government offers up to 350,000 Swedish crowns to non-EU permit holders.

This program matters for foreign residents across Sweden and nearby areas.

The Swedish coalition government took power in 2022.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson made reducing migration a key goal.

The country set aside 1.3 billion Swedish crowns for this grant scheme.

So far this year, 171 people have taken the payment to leave.

Sweden has also tightened other immigration rules recently.

The government no longer grants permanent residency permits directly.

Foreign residents must now re-apply for residency every three years.

In August, Sweden also introduced mandatory citizenship tests for applicants.

The Sweden Democrats party supports the cash scheme.

They want to extend it to citizens willing to revoke their citizenship.

However, opposition groups call the policy divisive and purely symbolic.

Experts note that such programs rarely increase voluntary departures significantly.

This news was reported by Reuters.