Swedish Migration Board - start page
Print

Repatriation allowances

If you are considering re-immigrating to your country of origin, you can read more about what applies to you and what help you can receive. In certain cases, you can get help even if you are re-immigrating to a country other than your country of origin.

Who can receive an allowance for a journey home?


You can apply for an allowance if you have
received a residence permit
  • as a refugee,
  • as a person in need of protection,
  • because of exceptionally distressing circumstances (or corresponding former provisions) or
  • if you were part of the refugee quota.

In order to receive an allowance, you must prove that you are unable to pay the travel
expenses for you and your family. Your spouse, cohabitant and children under 18 are all considered family members. If you are a Swedish citizen, you cannot receive an allowance.

How do I apply for a travel allowance?


Use application form Migr 4453 (only in Swedish), which you can either order from the Migration Board or download from our Swedish web site. You can also pick up the form at your municipality's refugee center, immigrant services bureau or repatriation office.
Mail your application to Migrationsverket,
Resebidrag,
601 70 Norrköping.

You must enclose the following papers with your application for a travel allowance:

  • a copy of your passport, showing the period of validity and your identity
  • a civic registration certificate showing your marital status, children, and who has custody of
  • the children a copy of the latest final tax assessment notice from the Tax Authority, both for you and any co-applicant who is of age.

If parents have joint custody of a child and one of them is returning with the child, the other parent must submit his or her written consent.

What does the travel allowance cover?


The allowance covers travel expenses from Sweden, plus a cash amount to help you resettle in your native country. The cash amount is no more than SEK 10 000 kronor for each adult and SEK 5 000 kronor for each child under 18. The maximum for one family is SEK 40 000.
Travel expenses include plane, train, bus or car.

You cannot receive an allowance to visit your native country in order to decide whether you want to return. You cannot receive an allowance to ship your furniture.

What requirements must I meet?


You must have a valid passport for your native country and provide us with an address there. If you are unable to obtain a passport, get in touch with the Migration Board for more information. You might have to submit other papers or information as well. If you want to move somewhere other than your native country, you must prove that you have permission to live there. If necessary, you must also prove that you have visas for the countries that you will be traveling through on the way.

You must list all debts that you have in Sweden, as well as all assets that you have in your native country or the place that you are planning to live.
You can either pay off your Swedish debts or reach a special agreement with your bank or creditor.

When and how will I receive the allowance?


You will receive a postal order made out to you for the amount of the allowance.

Does my entire family have to return together?


No, that is not necessary. But if we have granted you an allowance, you will not receive it until you are getting ready to leave Sweden. A member of your family who stays in Sweden will receive the allowance when he or she is planning to leave.

Who will arrange my travel from Sweden?


Once the Migration Board decides that we will pay your travel expenses and a cash resettlement amount, you will receive a notice to that effect. We will ask you to go to your local tax office and notify them that you are permanently leaving Sweden by filling out the form entitled, "Flyttning till utlandet" (moving to another country). Make sure you indicate on the form that you are leaving permanently. The tax office will give you a copy of your notification. After you have mailed that copy to the Migration Board, we will pay your allowance and let you know where you can pick up your ticket.

Make sure to tell the Migration Board well ahead of time what day you plan to travel so that we can get you the best possible ticket.

What happens to my permanent residence permit (PUT) if I move out of Sweden?


The Migration Board revokes your PUT if you move out of Sweden to live in your native country or anywhere else. If you have been granted a residence permit as a refugee or as a person in need of protection and you move back to a country where you have lived before, the permit is withdrawn two years after you have moved.

Can I get my PUT back if I decide to return to Sweden?


You can apply for a new residence permit. You must submit your application to the Swedish consulate or embassy closest to you. The permit must be completed and included in your passport before you re-enter Sweden.

When the Migration Board processes your application to return to Sweden, we will look at your links with this country. We will take into consideration how long you had lived in Sweden with a residence permit and how long you have lived in your native country or elsewhere. It won't make any difference at that point whether you had received a travel allowance from the Migration Board or not.

Here are some of the Migration Board's guidelines:

  • If you are out of Sweden for one year or less, you can receive a new residence permit even though you had lived in Sweden for only a short time before returning to your native country.
  • If you are out of Sweden for 1—3 years, you must have lived in Sweden with a residence permit for at least four years in order to receive a new one.
  • If you are out of Sweden for more than three years, you must have lived in Sweden for 10–15 years with a residence permit in order to receive a new one.
  • If you get married after returning to your native country, you cannot generally receive a residence permit in Sweden on the basis of having lived here earlier.

Would you like more information?


If you have more questions about receiving an allowance to live in another country, call Migrationsverket, phone 010-485 92 36 (switchboard 0771-235 235) or one of our local offices.

You can also call the social welfare office in your municipality.

Sidan senast uppdaterad: 2012-04-10