Sweden's legal watchdog has sharply criticised a government bill that would abolish permanent residency for refugees and introduce other measures to tighten Swedish migration law to the strictest level allowable under the EU's law.
The Local Sweden's editorial team held a live Q&A with members about Sweden's proposed changes to permanent residency status. We've pulled out some of the key questions and our team's responses.
Sweden is changing some of its permanent residency rules and putting other changes on hold. The Local's journalists have responded to your comments and questions about what's actually going on.
Sweden's government is pushing ahead with its plan to abolish permanent residency for many future applicants, including those on the basis of Long Term Residence (LTR), ignoring complaints that this would affect Swiss citizens and foreign researchers.
Sweden's government has dropped plans to bring in compulsory language tests for those applying for permanent residency, a spokesperson for Migration Minister Johan Forssell has told The Local.
The Green Party has presented a new proposal to stop teenage deportations. This time, it is supported by a united opposition. "The government must act now," wrote Social Democrat spokesperson Ida Karkiainen in a statement.
Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson has said that he is willing to delay a proposed law that would see as many as 185,000 people stripped of permanent residency until after the election in September.
The Swedish parliament's social insurance committee voted 'no' this afternoon on a joint proposal from the Green Party and the Left Party that was intended to reduce the number of so-called teen deportations.
Plans to revoke permanent residency permits for more than 100,000 foreign citizens in Sweden appear to be on hold, after a government spokesperson said the proposal would not be included in this spring’s bills as it is “still being analysed.”
The Church of Sweden has formally rejected a government inquiry's proposal that would see more than 100,000 people stripped of their permanent residency permits, condemning the proposal as "unreasonable", "disproportionate", and arguing it fails to protect human dignity.
Applying for an extension, permanent residency, or citizenship in Sweden can be confusing and a good immigration lawyer can make all the difference. Which ones have helped you, and which haven’t? Share your experience in our survey below.
A petition calling on the Swedish parliament to reject a "deeply unjust and damaging" proposal to revoke permanent residence permits has received 40,000 signatures in just two weeks.
Josephine Boswell, the former Sweden Democrat official who chaired the inquiry on stripping away existing permanent residency permits, acknowledges that doing so would be "highly invasive", but told The Local she believed it was nonetheless legal under the constitution.
A Swedish government inquiry has called for a new law which will potentially see as many as 180,000 people living in Sweden stripped of their permanent residency permits. They will then be allowed to apply for citizenship or temporary residency, with those who do not qualify forced to leave Sweden.
A reader complains that she is unable to apply for permanent residence after five years in Sweden, while her younger sister, who arrived at exactly the same time is close to citizenship. The solution would be to end the 'clock reset' when changing permit type.
Two high-profile politicians from the prime minster’s Moderate Party want action taken to end a spate of ‘teen deportations’. Also, Ebba Busch in hot water over Israel remarks.
Several respondents to a recent survey by The Local said that one of the problems they faced in Sweden was uncertainty over how long they can leave the country without losing their right to stay. Here are the rules so far as we understand them.
Rejected asylum seekers hoping to stay in Sweden under the so-called high-school law (gymnasielagen) will now have to have signed a job contract before their temporary residency runs out, following a court judgement.
