Migration and asylum

On Thursday 16 April, Minister for Migration Johan Forssell and Deputy Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine for European Integration Ilona Havronska signed a declaration that confirms cooperation on the introduction of a Unity Hub for Ukrainians in Sweden.

Joint Statement by the ministers responsible for migration from the Nordic Countries.

Sweden should be an attractive destination for talent and international expertise. The Government has therefore approved a bill comprising proposals aimed at improving the conditions under migration law for researchers, doctoral candidates and students. The bill also aims to counter abuse of residence permits granted for studies.

The Government has decided on legislative amendments that will substantially increase the financial grant for voluntary repatriation as of January 2026. The legislative amendments also provide the Swedish Migration Agency with additional tools to offset the risk for cheating and abuse of the grant.

The Government and the Sweden Democrats today presented a new agreement to adjust the wage level for labour immigration to 90 per cent of the median wage in Sweden. The cooperation parties also plan to set out stricter requirements for family member immigration. The Government and the Sweden Democrats have additionally announced an upcoming inquiry aimed at curtailing abuses.

The Government has decided to extend the re-introduced border controls at Sweden’s internal border by six months, from 12 November 2025 to 11 May 2026. The decision is based on the assessment that there remains a serious threat to the public order and internal security.

Fighting work-related crime is a priority area for the Government. For this reason, the Government has approved a bill with proposals aiming to introduce more stringent conditions for labour immigration and counteract fraud and work-related crime, while still promoting immigration of highly-skilled labour.

On 24–26 November, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa and Minister for Migration Johan Forssell visited Syria and Lebanon.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Germany’s Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz have signed an enhanced and expanded Strategic Innovation Partnership between Sweden and Germany. The Joint Declaration of Intent comprises new areas including foreign policy, capital market issues, migration and international development cooperation.

Joint Declaration of Intent on a Strategic Innovation Partnership between Sweden and Germany. Signed by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Germany’s Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz on 19 november 2025 in Berlin.

On 10 October 2025, the Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer received Iraq’s Minister of Interior. In connection with the visit, the two ministers signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on law enforcement cooperation, focusing on cross-border organised crime.

The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is set to start operations on 12 October 2025. The Government has therefore decided that legislative amendments adapting Swedish law to the new system will start to apply on the same day.

Opinion piece by Minister for Migration Johan Forssell in Dagens Industri, 26 June 2025.

On 3–4 June, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Head of the UNHCR Filippo Grandi is visiting Stockholm for talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa, and Minister for Migration Johan Forssell.

The Government has decided to appoint an inquiry to investigate and propose that Swedish citizenship be revoked in certain cases.

Migration State Secretary Anders Hall visited Ethiopia on 3–6 March to discuss issues related to return and migration. During his trip, Mr Hall met various government and agency representatives, including State Minister of Foreign Affairs Mesganu Arga and General Director, Immigration and Citizenship Services (ICS) Selamawit Dawit.

The strategy for Sweden’s global development cooperation on migration, returns and voluntary repatriation is an important part of the implementation of the Government’s new reform agenda for development assistance. The strategy is worth SEK 3 billion in total and applies for the years 2024–2028.

On 30–31 January, State Secretary Anders Hall took part in an informal meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) in Warsaw, Poland. In conjunction with the meeting, Mr Hall paid a visit to Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.

The Government has adopted a bill that aims to ensure that more people who have been issued with removal orders return to their country of origin.

Minister for Migration Johan Forssell received a report on the introduction of stricter requirements for Swedish citizenship. The report includes proposals aimed at tightening the status of citizenship and increasing individuals’ opportunities to actively participate in society.