Sweden sets new flat-rate compensation for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children

The Swedish government has amended the ordinance on state compensation for asylum seekers to introduce two new flat-rate payments for municipalities that receive unaccompanied children, published in Svensk författningssamling on 9 September 2026. The changes, issued on 3 September 2026, enter into force on 2 October 2026.

The reform, contained in SFS 2026:1775, amends the ordinance (2017:193) on state compensation for asylum seekers and others, and aligns Swedish municipal funding with the European Union’s new asylum and migration framework.

New flat-rate payments

A municipality now receives a flat-rate compensation of SEK 20,000 per child for costs linked to screening and initial measures for unaccompanied children assigned by Migrationsverket under the Reception Act (2026:999). This covers travel from the arrival municipality, accommodation and the representative or temporary representative referred to in the EU regulations.

A second flat-rate payment of SEK 52,000 per child covers the broader reception costs, including:

• an investigation under the Social Services Act (2025:400),
• a legal guardian (god man),
• a representative or temporary representative,
• travel, interpretation and other related reception costs.

Both payments are made once per child and municipality, and the SEK 52,000 payment does not apply where the SEK 20,000 screening payment has already been made.

EU legal basis

The new compensation is tied to four EU regulations adopted on 14 May 2024, which the ordinance now defines:

• Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 (asylum procedure),
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 (asylum and migration management),
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1356 (screening at external borders),
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1358 (Eurodac).

The flat-rate payments are paid out automatically without an application, monthly in arrears, and Migrationsverket may issue implementing rules after consulting Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner.

Impact

For municipalities that take in unaccompanied children, the reform provides predictable, fixed funding tied to the EU’s new screening and reception procedures. The ordinance was signed on behalf of the government by Johan Forssell, with Maria Widholm of the Justitiedepartementet as the responsible official.

Source: Svensk författningssamling, SFS 2026:1775, published 9 September 2026, section I (official reference: SFS 2026:1775).