gobordaGlobal mobility intelligence
Work & skilled workersPublishedHigh impactVerified

Sweden to Receive Approximately 350 Quota Refugees This Year, Down from 900

🇸🇪 SwedenRefugees1 recorded versionLast change 7 Oct 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

There is no new reduction of the formal annual quota from 900 to 350 in the announcement. That distinction is important. The government has not announced that Sweden's annual quota has permanently become 350. Instead, Migrationsverket estimates that only around 350 people can actually be transferred during 2026 because of the timing of this year's government decision. The formal annual quota remains 900. This means the immediate effect is a 2026 implementation shortfall, rather than the creation of a new 350-person annual quota. The government direction also determines where the selection activity will be focused. Migrationsverket says the 2026 intake will primarily concern Congolese refugees in Uganda and Afghan women and girls in Türkiye, with vulnerable groups receiving priority. This should be distinguished from Sweden's wider asylum system. A person who arrives in Sweden independently and applies for asylum is not part of the annual quota simply because Sweden has a 900-person resettlement programme. Quota refugees are selected through the resettlement system, normally following referrals from UNHCR, rather than applying spontaneously at the Swedish border.

Overview

The Swedish Migration Agency has assessed that only about 350 quota refugees will be transferred to Sweden during 2026. This figure represents a significant reduction from the established annual quota of 900 individuals. The revision stems from the government's delayed announcement regarding the specific nationalities and groups for this year's selection. Consequently, the agency faces practical limitations that prevent the transfer of the full annual refugee quota.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Refugees being considered for Sweden's 2026 resettlement programme, particularly Congolese refugees in Uganda and Afghan women and girls in Türkiye
  • Vulnerable refugee groups, including LGBTQI people, who are prioritised under Sweden's resettlement direction
  • Women and girls, who are expected to account for approximately two-thirds of the overall selection, with the Afghan component consisting exclusively of women and girls
  • UNHCR and organisations involved in the resettlement process, because selection and transfer operations must now be completed within a substantially shorter timeframe
  • Swedish municipalities, which receive and support resettled refugees after arrival

What changed in the latest version

Before

Since 2023, Sweden has operated with an annual quota of 900 quota refugees. This followed the government's decision to reduce the country's resettlement programme from the significantly larger levels that had applied previously. Migrationsverket's own information confirms that the government and parliament provide the agency with resources to transfer a specified number of quota refugees each year, while the government determines the overall direction of the selections. The reduction to 900 was part of the migration policy direction established during the current government's term. Government material states that Sweden should receive 900 quota refugees per year and that selection should prioritise women, girls and vulnerable groups such as LGBTQI people. The 900 figure therefore remained the operative annual target for 2026. Migrationsverket's earlier planning also assumed that 900 quota refugees would be transferred during 2026.

After

There is no new reduction of the formal annual quota from 900 to 350 in the announcement. That distinction is important. The government has not announced that Sweden's annual quota has permanently become 350. Instead, Migrationsverket estimates that only around 350 people can actually be transferred during 2026 because of the timing of this year's government decision. The formal annual quota remains 900. This means the immediate effect is a 2026 implementation shortfall, rather than the creation of a new 350-person annual quota. The government direction also determines where the selection activity will be focused. Migrationsverket says the 2026 intake will primarily concern Congolese refugees in Uganda and Afghan women and girls in Türkiye, with vulnerable groups receiving priority. This should be distinguished from Sweden's wider asylum system. A person who arrives in Sweden independently and applies for asylum is not part of the annual quota simply because Sweden has a 900-person resettlement programme. Quota refugees are selected through the resettlement system, normally following referrals from UNHCR, rather than applying spontaneously at the Swedish border.

This change means that significantly fewer quota refugees will be able to move to Sweden in 2026 than the annual quota of 900 allows. This affects 550 individuals who might otherwise have been chosen. The delay in the government's decision about the selection guidance directly limits the Swedish Migration Agency's practical ability to process the full quota, even though preparatory work had continued. Consequently, people hoping to be resettled under the 2026 quota face a much smaller chance of selection. However, the specific priority given to Congolese refugees in Uganda, Afghan women and girls in Turkey, and vulnerable hbtqi-persons (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people) provides clarity for these particular groups about their increased likelihood of selection, especially for Afghan women and girls, who make up the entire Afghan component. Other nationalities or groups not clearly prioritised in this guidance may find their chances for resettlement this year significantly reduced.

Explained simply

Imagine Sweden normally invites 900 special guests, called quota refugees, each year. This year, because the government decided who to invite much later than usual, Sweden can only manage to welcome about 350. It's like planning a big party but getting the guest list too late to send all the invitations and get everything ready in time for everyone to come.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v1Effective 7 Oct 2026PublishedHigh impact
    Sweden Can Transfer Only Around 350 Quota Refugees in 2026 After Late Government Guidance

    The Swedish government has issued its direction for the 2026 quota refugee selection, leading the Swedish Migration Agency to assess that approximately 350 quota refugees can be transferred to Sweden this year, rather than the annual quota of 900. This reduced number is due to the government's decision on direction arriving later than required for the agency to process the full quota. The selection will primarily focus on Congolese refugees in Uganda and Afghan women and girls in Turkey, with vulnerable groups, including hbtqi-persons, to be generally prioritised. Overall, about two-thirds of the selected individuals will be women and girls, and the Afghan selection will consist exclusively of women and girls.

Timeline

  1. Announced

    7 Oct 2026

    The Swedish Migration Agency has assessed that only about 350 quota refugees will be transferred to Sweden during 2026. This figure represents a significant reduction from the established annual quota of 900 individuals. The revision stems from the government's delayed announcement regarding the specific nationalities and groups for this year's selection. Consequently, the agency faces practical l

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