As of now, no applicants have been granted the new repatriation allowance in Sweden, with most having their applications denied due to various criteria.
In Sweden, no applicants have yet received the new repatriation allowance designed to assist individuals who wish to return to their home countries after being granted residency for protection-related reasons. Reports indicate that out of 272 applications filed in January, 82 have been rejected with the remaining applications still pending. This allowance was recently increased from 10,000 to 350,000 Swedish kronor per adult to encourage more people to utilize the support as they return to their countries of origin.
The majority of applicants for the repatriation allowance are reported to be from Syria, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian context surrounding migration in Sweden. The rejections of applications mainly stem from the type of residency permits held by the applicants, with many found ineligible under the current guidelines. Additionally, issues such as debt owed to state authorities, like Kronofogden or CSN, have also contributed to the high number of rejections and indicate barriers that potential returnees face in securing financial support for repatriation.
The increase in applications compared to the previous year emphasizes a growing awareness and interest in the repatriation scheme, suggesting that more individuals are considering returning to their countries of origin. However, the current low approval rate raises questions about the effectiveness of the program and the support systems in place, potentially impacting both the individual applicants and the broader discussions around immigration and repatriation in Sweden.
