The Swedish parliament on Wednesday approved the government's bid to abolish track changes – which has so far meant that rejected asylum seekers have been able to receive a work permit without having to leave the country, provided they met the requirements.
The new rules will come into force on April 1st, and the Migration Agency warned no transitional rules have been put into place by lawmakers.
"Without transitional rules, the new legislation will also have consequences for people who are currently working and supporting themselves," the Migration Agency's deputy task manager for work permits, Hanna Geurtsen, explained in a statement.
It will no longer be possible for those who have been granted a work permit through this kind of track change to be granted an extension, which means that they will have to leave Sweden when their current permit expires.
"We will examine whether there are other grounds for a residence permit or whether there are grounds for not enforcing deportation. But most people who have been granted a residence permit on the basis of work through a so-called change of track will have to leave Sweden when their current permit expires," said Geurtsen.
Around 4,700 people will be affected by the abolition of track changes, according to the Migration Agency's estimates.
The rule change will only affect people who have switched from the "asylum track" to the "work permit track" and their families. It won't affect people who have changed their permits on other grounds, or asylum seekers who have changed to a permit for studies or research.
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