Asylum seekers returning to their home countries can receive re-establishment support from the Swedish Migration Board. So far this year, 423 people have been granted the grant, compared to 957 people last year.

- It has decreased as the number of asylum seekers has decreased, says Kristina Rännar, process manager for return at the Swedish Migration Board.

Most common among Iraqis

For an adult, the financial support is SEK 30,000 and for children SEK 15,000, a family can receive a maximum of SEK 75,000. In recent years, especially those returning to Iraq and Afghanistan have sought financial support.

- In this context, SEK 30,000 is not very much money, the idea with the support is that it should be easier on arrival until something has been found, says Kristina Rännar.

2016 was a record year when 2,552 people were granted support. The total sum was around SEK 70 million.

Although the number receiving the grant has decreased, the costs of the Migration Agency have not decreased at the same rate. One reason for this is that the administrative costs of paying the support have increased substantially, according to Kristina Rännar.

- It's about an increase of four to five times the money per person.

IOM: Misleading comparison

In pure money, this can be about SEK 5,000 in increased administrative costs per person. It is the International Organization for Migration (IOM) that handles the payments on behalf of the Swedish Migration Board when a person has returned. It was in the recent negotiations with IOM that the increased fees were established.

According to IOM, one reason is that since April this year they have expanded their mission.

"In addition to the payment of re-establishment support, the assignment also includes activities related to counseling, outreach, information material and to follow up and monitor the re-establishment (which was not included previously)", writes Simo Kohonen at IOM.

Therefore, according to him, it is misleading to compare with the previous charge.