Sweden has introduced a financial incentive program offering up to 350,000 Swedish crowns (approximately £27,100) to foreign-born residents with non-EU residency permits to encourage them to leave the country. The program, launched in 2026 by a coalition government focused on reducing immigration and crime, has a budget of 1.3 billion Swedish crowns (£100 million) and is promoted through government websites in multiple languages. The Sweden Democrats, a far-right party supporting the government, have actively publicized the initiative, including a bus ad targeting Somali immigrants with the question, “Do you miss Mogadishu?” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has emphasized that improving re-migration is a key goal of his administration. The policy has drawn attention from Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, with European Parliament member Mary Khan-Hohloch noting increased interest in effective return and remigration programs due to the financial and social challenges associated with migration. However, Bram Frouws of the Mixed Migration Centre has criticized the initiative, stating that such programs have not been proven to significantly increase voluntary emigration and are more symbolic than effective. As of the current year, only 171 people have accepted the offer to leave Sweden. The Sweden Democrats have proposed extending the program to immigrants with Swedish citizenship who are willing to revoke it, arguing that some citizens who struggle financially and have limited language skills might be a larger group than previously considered. This proposal has faced criticism from the opposition and civil rights organizations, who view the policy as divisive and discriminatory. In the working-class Stockholm suburb of Satra, many immigrants have shown no interest in the financial incentive. They expressed a desire for freedom, the ability to work, and a good life in Sweden. Elena Ibrahim, a Sudanese immigrant, said she would not return to her home country. The imam at the Stockholm Mosque, Sweden’s largest, noted that the policy and anti-immigrant rhetoric create division and anxiety within the Muslim community. He suggested that those with higher education, such as doctors or professors, may have the means to leave, while others with less education do not. Sweden has also introduced stricter immigration rules, including requiring immigrants to reapply for permanent residency after three years and mandating citizenship tests. The new tests, launched in August, assess knowledge of Swedish culture, including the monarchy’s line of succession and the midsummer holiday. Migration Minister Johan Forssell defended the tests as reasonable, stating they highlight the value of citizenship, which comes with both rights and responsibilities.