Migration and asylum

The Government has decided that the group of people who are entitled to a residence permit with temporary protection in Sweden will be expanded to include those who left Ukraine prior to the invasion. This applies to those who travelled to and stayed in Sweden between 30 October 2021 and 23 February 2022.

The European Council meeting of 24–25 March, one month after Russia began its aggression against Ukraine, focused on the conflict and consequences for the EU. The US President attended the meeting for talks on Thursday evening. On Friday the focus was on Europe’s strategic dependence on Russian fossil fuels, the high energy prices in the EU and the green transition.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, the number of people leaving Ukraine has increased rapidly. At a press briefing on 21 March, Minister for Employment Eva Nordmark and Minister for Integration and Migration Anders Ygeman reported on what applies on the Swedish labour market for people covered by the Temporary Protection Directive.

As a consequence of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Europe is facing the greatest and fastest-growing refugee crisis since the Second World War. The Government sees a need to be able to reintroduce ID checks for travel to Sweden.

Following consultation with the Ministry of Justice, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency has decided to assist Moldova by providing tents, lighting and air conditioning systems, and two large-scale power generators to support Ukrainian refugees arriving in the country.

At the meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council on 3 March, focus was on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. EU Member States agreed to activate the Temporary Protection Directive.

On 25 February, Minister for Integration and Migration Anders Ygeman and Director General of the Swedish Migration Agency Mikael Ribbenvik held a joint press briefing in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Heads of state and government from the EU and the African Union (AU) will meet in Brussels on 17–18 February. It is the seventh time the EU and AU leaders will meet. The aim is to establish foundations for a renewed and deepened partnership between the two unions. The leaders are expected to adopt a joint declaration on closer cooperation in a range of areas. Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson will represent Sweden.

The Government has decided to refer a proposal to the Council on Legislation on tightening and improving the current regulations on labour migration. These are the first of several coming proposed amendments to regulations on labour migration. The proposal referred to the Council on Legislation is intended to counter exploitation of labour migrants and to attract and retain international expertise and counter the expulsion of skilled workers.

Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson will take part in the European Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday 16 December.

As the EU heads of state and government meet in the European Council in Brussels, the agenda includes the COVID-19 vaccine situation and how the EU can advance digital transformation. The high energy prices in many Member States will also be discussed. At Sweden’s initiative, the leaders will hold a strategic discussion on trade issues.

The Government decided today to give UK nationals and their family members more time to apply for residence status under the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU. The application period will be extended from 30 September 2021 to 31 December 2021.

The Government has decided to refer proposals to the Council on Legislation for amendments to the Aliens Act. The amendments are being proposed to ensure that Swedish migration policy is sustainable in the long term and provides a humane, legally secure and effective regulatory framework that is not materially different from migration policies in other EU Member States.

UK nationals living in Sweden on 31 December 2020 will need to apply to the Swedish Migration Agency for residence status under provisions entering into force today, 1 December 2020.

Enhancing safety and security in society is one of the Government’s most important priorities. In the Budget Bill for 2021, the Government continues to strengthen the judicial chain through important investments in the Swedish Police Authority and the Swedish Prison and Probation Service.

This is a summary of the report Sustainable migration policy for the long term (En långsiktigt hållbar migrationspolitik, SOU 2020:54) submitted by the Cross-party Committee of Inquiry on Migration to Minister for Justice and Migration Morgan Johansson 15 September 2020.

The Cross-party Committee of Inquiry on Migration has submitted its report (SOU 2020:54) entitled En långsiktigt hållbar migrationspolitik (‘Sustainable migration policy for the long term’) to Minister for Justice and Migration Morgan Johansson.

Here you find more information about the right of UK nationals to continue living and working in Sweden under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Today the Government presented a bill to the Riksdag containing proposals for provisions concerning the rights of UK nationals. The proposals supplement those contained in the Withdrawal Agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU and concern the right of certain UK nationals to travel to and live and work in Sweden.