About the Government’s prioritisation: Migration and integration

Extensive immigration in recent years has caused major strains on our society. Integration problems now impact most policy areas. For this reason, the Government is overhauling migration and integration policy to create better conditions for successful integration. Sweden offers fantastic opportunities and conditions for everyone to succeed. What is important is not where you come from, but rather the will to be part of Swedish communities and what you are working towards. Swedish communities are held together by the Swedish language, self-sufficiency, the rights and duties associated with citizenship, and respect for Swedish rules, norms and values. Those who come to Sweden must respect our democratic values and live honourably. The expectations and requirements for becoming part of Swedish society must be made clearer and stricter to preserve our open and free society. Those who do not wish to become part of this community should not come to Sweden. If you commit an offence, you lose the right to live in Sweden.  

An orderly migration policy

To establish better conditions for integration and to reduce social exclusion, the Government is taking measures to reduce asylum-related immigration to sustainable levels for the foreseeable future. Those who have received an expulsion order must leave Sweden, either voluntarily or through forced return. The ‘shadow society’ and work-related crime must be combated. Efforts to prevent cheating and abuse of welfare systems are being enhanced.  Government agencies’ conditions to intervene against individuals who commit offences or otherwise pose a threat to our open society will be improved, and it will be possible to expel more of those individuals. 

There are two outcomes for those seeking asylum in Sweden. They will either be granted a residence permit, or their application will be rejected. Individuals who are allowed to stay must become part of Swedish society. Those who are notified of expulsion decisions must leave the country. The Government has taken the initiative to introduce a number of changes, including legislative amendments that came into force on 1 March 2025 for a reformed reception system abolishing the existing system of asylum seekers having their own accommodation. Instead, reception centres will be established. Moreover, the Government has provided the government agencies with additional tools to increase the number of returns through measures such as enabling more internal controls of aliens and by establishing return centres. These measures are part of the efforts to identify individuals who do not have the right to reside in Sweden and ensure that they return to their home countries.

Citizenship should be earned – not handed out

The era of casual requirements for Swedish citizenship is over. Being granted Swedish citizenship is something people should feel proud of. Only those who have made an effort to become part of Swedish society and who have lived wholesome lives during their time in Sweden should be granted citizenship. Therefore, the Government wants stricter requirements so that it means more to become a Swedish citizen.

On 1 October 2024, legislative amendments came into force that make the requirements concerning acquisition of Swedish citizenship by notification stricter. The Government has also instructed the Swedish Migration Agency to take further and more robust steps to prevent people who pose a security risk from being granted citizenship as far as possible. In addition, the Government wants to introduce demands on longer periods of residence in Sweden, stricter demands on leading an honest lifestyle and a self-support requirement to acquire citizenship. Further, the Government is preparing proposals from a separate inquiry that will lead to requirements with respect to Swedish language skills and knowledge of Swedish society. Finally, the Government is examining an amendment to the Instrument of Government to make it possible to revoke citizenship of a person with dual citizenship in certain cases. Examples may include when a person has offered a bribe to secure citizenship or has been convicted of offences that seriously threaten national security. This is all with a view of strengthening the significance of Swedish citizenship.

Attracting talent to make Sweden more competitive

Sweden’s competitiveness and standing as a research nation are enhanced by more foreign experts, researchers and talents choosing Sweden. Therefore, the Government has tasked the Swedish Migration Agency with promoting highly qualified labour immigration through measures such as shortening processing times. The Government has also tasked 11 government agencies with identifying problems and proposing improvements as regards Sweden’s possibilities to attract, establish and retain highly qualified international expertise and other foreign labour that is vital to Sweden’s competitiveness. 

Implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum

In June 2024, the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum was adopted. Control of the external borders will be enhanced. A better system will also be established so as to determine whether applications are unfounded and should be rejected at the EU’s outer borders. Moreover, returns will be prioritised. It is good for Sweden and for European cooperation that the EU is getting its asylum and migration policy in better order. Now it is important that all Member States fully implement the Pact. 

Integration

Sweden has significant integration problems such as unemployment, benefit dependence, criminality, honour-based violence and oppression, and the growth of parallel societies. Problems with integration affect the whole of Swedish society and have caused widespread exclusion, crime and other problems. The Government is therefore changing the focus of its integration policy. The basic premise is that people who settle in Sweden have a responsibility to become part of Swedish society through their own efforts. In exchange, society must also offer opportunities for integration. Everyone who can be, should be available to the labour market and make an effort to become self-sufficient. In addition, society has demands and expectations on the individual to learn the Swedish language, acquire knowledge of constitutional laws and regulations and honour the values of Swedish society. When integration into Swedish society works, a richer, more tolerant and successful society is created. 

Honour-based violence and abuse is also a serious social problem that violates fundamental values. The Government believes that this is an area that requires more attention and visibility, and that knowledge needs to be improved for this violence to stop. The Government has therefore introduced a new, seventh gender equality policy sub-goal: Honour-based violence and abuse must end. The aim is to give the issue greater visibility and improve knowledge, so that more people can live free from violence and abuse.

Self-sufficiency

Proficiency in the Swedish language is crucial in order to become part of society. The Government is introducing stricter requirements in Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) with the aim of allowing for more people to complete the course. In order to achieve an improvement in following up the language skills of foreign-born people, the Government has, among other things, tasked Statistics Sweden with several assignments. Statistics Sweden has conducted a feasibility study on how to follow up listening comprehension and verbal ability in the Swedish language among foreign-born adults and submitted a proposal on how to follow-up reading comprehension in Swedish among the same target group. The (final) reports are currently being reviewed by the Government. The Government has also proposed multi-year support to enable folk high schools to carry out language-improving initiatives aimed at adults.

The Swedish language

Knowledge of the Swedish language is crucial for people to become part of society. The Government is improving Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) by introducing stricter requirements. In order to achieve an improvement in following up the language skills of foreign-born people, the Government has, among other things, tasked Statistics Sweden with several assignments. 

Statistics Sweden has conducted a feasibility study on how to follow up listening comprehension and verbal ability in the Swedish language among foreign-born adults and submitted a proposal on how to follow-up reading comprehension in Swedish among the same target group. The (final) reports are currently being reviewed by the Government. The Government has also proposed an additional SEK 40 million per year over three years from 2026 to enable folk high schools to implement language-improving initiatives aimed at adults.

Children who attend preschool have better chances of succeeding in school, but foreign-born children attend preschool to a lesser extent than other children. The Government has therefore appointed an inquiry that among other things, will propose mandatory language preschools and measures aimed at improving preschool conditions, by, among other things, ensuring that all groups of children are of an appropriate size and have a good student-to-staff ratio.

Becoming part of society

Each person who comes to Sweden has a responsibility to become part of Swedish society through their own efforts. In exchange, society must also offer opportunities for integration, for example civic orientation. Civic orientation can increase knowledge of fundamental values such as the rule of law, opportunities for democratic participation, gender equality and the right of all to freedom of expression and religion. A review of civic orientation is being carried out with the aim of strengthening its function as an introduction to Swedish society. The final report A reformed civic orientation for better integration (SOU 2025:55) has been received by the Government.  The Government is also investing in women’s organisation initiatives in areas where social exclusion is widespread, and improving conditions for children and young people in these areas. These entail measures in swimming skills and outdoor recreation in areas where exclusion is widespread. 

The Government’s focus is for integration policy to become more based on requirements and facts. Therefore, there is also a need to improve and develop the opportunities to follow up integration. Statistics Sweden has therefore been tasked to continue the work of producing an Integration Barometer, in order to follow up on the integration policy sub-goals of democratic and social and cultural integration. The latter sub-goal states, among other things, that society’s basic norms and values must be honoured by everyone who lives in Sweden. 

In July 2025, the Government decided to appoint an inquiry to compile knowledge about parallel social structures. The inquiry will investigate the consequences for integration and exclusion in Sweden. The aim is to develop in-depth knowledge that will improve efforts to counteract parallel social structures and contribute to a safer, more cohesive Sweden.