Bank blocks access to SEK 350,000 return grant after recipient surrenders home

A man approved for Sweden’s SEK 350,000 return grant surrendered his home before moving to Afghanistan. His Swedish bank then blocked both a transfer and a full cash withdrawal, SVT reported Friday.

Golahmad Jamili, 67, planned to buy a small house in Afghanistan. After his bank suggested foreign currency, a currency exchange allowed only SEK 15,000. He told SVT he was left without housing or access to the grant.

The bank cited anti-money-laundering rules, Afghanistan’s high-risk status and EU financial sanctions. The European Commission lists Afghanistan as a high-risk country for financial crime. These rules do not mean every transfer is illegal, but banks must apply stricter controls.

The Migration Agency said some payments can be delivered through the UN migration agency IOM after arrival. It said that route could not be used after Jamili’s money had reached a Swedish account, leaving him responsible for accessing it.

The Tidö Government raised the grant in January as part of its restrictive programme to encourage people with valid permits to leave permanently. The Agency’s public guidance says payments should come in three stages: 20 per cent after approval, part after arrival and the rest at least 15 months later. Neither the Agency nor the Government’s response published by SVT explained why Jamili’s reported payment did not follow that route.

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