Sweden is considering a major shift in its asylum policy, which could drastically change how migrants are allowed to stay in the country.
The government is under pressure to eliminate the option for asylum seekers to obtain permanent residence permits—a move that would prevent criminal migrants from staying indefinitely. This policy change stems from an investigation launched by the Swedish government itself.
The nationalist Sweden Democrats (SD) have strongly backed the proposal, pointing out that under previous administrations, even criminal foreigners were able to secure permanent residency. Now, they aim to put an end to that practice, arguing that no one should have the expectation of living in Sweden for life. Their new report calls for abolishing permanent residency for all asylum seekers.
Currently, temporary residence permits are granted to those in immediate need of protection, but after some time, many asylum seekers are eligible for permanent residency. The SD’s proposal also suggests scrapping the “track changes” system, which allows rejected applicants to stay in Sweden while submitting new asylum claims or applying for separate work permits. Additionally, the party wants to cut off tax-funded legal aid for asylum seekers during the processing of their claims.
The SD’s plan is part of their broader vision to make Sweden’s migration policy the toughest in the EU. MEP Charlie Weimers has expressed optimism that European officials are finally paying attention to Sweden’s stance.
However, some critics, including Swedish paper Fria Tider, argue that permanent residence permits might be replaced by a more secure form of Swedish citizenship, which remains a potential pathway for many migrants. Johan Forssell, Sweden’s Migration Minister from the Moderate Party, noted that this policy change could encourage asylum seekers to pursue Swedish citizenship instead.
If the proposal is approved, these sweeping changes are expected to take effect by next summer, marking a significant shift in Sweden’s approach to migration.
