Sweden’s government is seeking to amend its constitution to allow the removal of citizenship from dual nationals who engage in criminal activities threatening national security.
The proposed change would enable authorities to revoke Swedish citizenship from individuals convicted of serious crimes, such as espionage or treason, as well as those who obtained citizenship through fraudulent means, such as bribery or false information. This initiative was introduced by a cross-party committee and is set to be voted on by parliament next year, with the changes expected to take effect by June 2026.
Currently, Swedish law does not permit the revocation of citizenship. “Sweden is dealing with three parallel and very serious threats to our internal security,” Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said in a press conference. “Violent extremism, state actors acting in a hostile manner towards Sweden, and systemic and organised crime.”
Last year, about 600 individuals identified as security threats by Swedish authorities applied for citizenship, Migration Minister Johan Forssell revealed. Over the past two decades, Sweden has become increasingly diverse, with the number of citizens born abroad rising to about a fifth of the total population of 10.5 million. Once known as one of the most migrant-friendly nations in the EU, Sweden has tightened its immigration policies in recent years. While more than 86,000 residence permits were granted to asylum seekers and their families in 2016, that number plummeted to a record low of just 6,250 last year.
While the government had previously proposed stripping criminal gang members of dual citizenship, this idea was rejected by the parliamentary committee. Additionally, earlier this week, the government announced a policy change requiring immigrants to live in Sweden for eight years, rather than five, before they can apply for citizenship.
