Refugee resettlement to Sweden (refugee quota) - 900 places a year, about 450-500 transfers expected in 2026
Official name: Vidarebosättning / flyktingkvot (refugee quota)
Sweden resettles refugees referred by UNHCR within an annual quota set by the government; since 2023 the quota is 900 people a year. Individuals cannot apply directly. For 2026, the government's guidance came late, so the Swedish Migration Agency expects to transfer between 450 and 500 people in the autumn, mainly Congolese refugees in Uganda, Afghan women and girls in Türkiye, and refugees in Rwanda under UNHCR's Emergency Transfer Mechanism.
Life in Sweden
Finance
3
Currency
Swedish Krona
SEK
Swedish Krona
Cost of living
91
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
20%
Income tax (national)
VAT 25% · social security 7%
No state income tax below SEK 643,000 taxable income; 20% above. Municipal tax averages 32.38% on all earned income.
Living
1
Happiness
#5 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Who it’s for
Refugees registered with and referred by UNHCR in the selected host countries.
Eligibility
UNHCR referral
Only people referred by UNHCR are considered; there is no application to Sweden.
2026 focus2026 intake
Mainly Congolese refugees in Uganda and Afghan women and girls in Türkiye (the Afghan intake is women and girls only); vulnerable groups such as LGBTQI people prioritised; about two-thirds women and girls; plus refugees in Rwanda under UNHCR's Emergency Transfer Mechanism.
Selection
The government sets the direction; the Migration Agency decides, with UNHCR, which groups are examined and from which countries.
Sign in to read the full guide (free)
The full steps, your rights while you wait, and free legal help contacts are free for anyone with an e-Passage account. You can turn on sensitive mode for discreet emails.
- 1 document
- 3 steps
- Processing times and conditions
