He made the comments when he received the conclusions of an inquiry looking into revoking residence permits over bristande vandel – a hard-to-translate expression which roughly means having a flawed way of life, poor moral conduct or being of bad repute.
“Most people who come to Sweden are completely honest,” said Forssell. “But an important fundamental principle is that those who commit crimes and misbehave should not be here. That’s crucial for the citizens’ trust in migration policy.”
KEY POINTS: What's in Sweden's new 'poor conduct' proposal for residence permits?
The inquiry stopped short of proposing a list of what could constitute bristande vandel, leaving it up to the migration authorities and court to make an overall assessment.
But Robert Schött, the judge who led the inquiry, gave a few examples, such as abusing the welfare system through benefits cheating even in cases when there’s been no court verdict, refusing to pay debts, or not being able to account for one’s income.
Ahead of the inquiry, there had been disagreement between the government coalition partners about whether or not things like serious substance abuse should be included.
Schött said substance abuse “in and of itself” wouldn’t count as bristande vandel, unless the person in question refuses the care and support offered by society.
The inquiry also proposes making it possible to reject or revoke a permit if the holder has made statements that are punishable by law or threaten public order.
It would also be possible to revoke permits for other reasons, such as if the permit is based on false information knowingly provided by for example an employer or family member. Currently, permits can be revoked if the applicant has personally provided false information.
The inquiry also proposes scrapping rules that limit the possibility of revoking residence permits based on how long the foreigner has lived in Sweden.
If approved, the idea is that the new laws will come into force on July 1st 2026.
Comments (2)