Latest news with #MigrationAgency
Local Sweden
3 days ago
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Inside Sweden: Why was Swedish media silent on citizenship freeze?
The Local's reader Patrick Henry Gallen argued convincingly in Dagens Nyheter (and The Local) this week against the unjust way new citizenship rules are being applied. It was a small victory, but why did the Swedish media ignore the citizenship freeze? Advertisement The Local's reader Patrick Henry Gallen argued convincingly in Dagens Nyheter (and The Local) this week against the unjust way new citizenship rules are being applied. It was a small victory, but why did the Swedish media ignore the citizenship freeze? When The Local reported on May 14th that the Migration Agency had been unable to approve citizenship applications in standard cases for a month and a half, we thought it was a fairly big story. When a post-Covid surge in passport applications led to similar delays, after all, there was uproar in the Swedish media. We shared the story with Sweden's main newswire and one of the newspapers. "You are quite right, this needs to be brought to public attention," one reporter wrote back. "I'll look into this and tell you if I get a bite." Ten days later, it looks like she didn't. Her editors, like others before them, apparently didn't see the big deal. Perhaps they judged that Sweden is only bringing its citizenship regime in line with those of its Nordic neighbours, ignoring the point that it's not so much what is being done, but how. Advertisement So it was gratifying to see The Local's reader Patrick Henry Gallen's call for transitional arrangements, which also drew attention to the near two-month citizenship freeze, get published as an opinion piece in Dagens Nyheter (and The Local) this week. He argued that a grace period was needed to ensure that the increase in the residency requirement from five to eight years, and other new rules, did not affect people who had already applied. I hoped the article might generate at least some media reaction, but so far it hasn't and I wonder why. As a journalist with a niche audience, you risk looking a bit ridiculous railing against the national media for ignoring a story that, from your narrow perspective, is earth-shakingly important. But I do think that a near two-month freeze on citizenship approvals should at least have warranted a mention. It's not as if there's no coverage of citizenship reforms in the Swedish media. When the government this week launched a follow-on inquiry on how to strip Swedish citizenship from dual citizens who commit serious crimes, it was widely reported and debated. Is it because this will require a change to the constitution, or because of the populist appeal of stripping gang members of their passports? Or is it, perhaps, that people who already have Swedish citizenship have a greater news value than people who are only trying to get it? Advertisement What else have we been writing about? The first letters were sent out this week inviting citizenship applicants to book a 'personal appearance', which is the last stage in citizenship applications since new security arrangements were brought in on April 1st. A reader shared a copy of the letter they had received with us, so you can know what to expect. We also updated our article on how these new in-person ID checks will work. We interviewed Sasan Kazemian, the Iranian doctor who has been ordered to leave Sweden after a mix-up over his work permit application, despite passing all the language and medical knowledge exams required to practice in Sweden. It's the season of hemmafix or DIY in Sweden, when people in Sweden spend their weekends repairing, renovating and upgrading their houses and summer houses. We looked at why this is such a defining feature of life in Sweden and ran through the vocabulary you'll need to participate. It's the Stockholm Marathon this Saturday. We ran through everything you need to know about how to watch it and how traffic is being affected. More bad news on the employment front, with Volvo announcing its plans to lay off 3,000 people, mainly in Sweden. In this week's Politics in Sweden, I covered plans to realise the Sweden Democrats' plans for an idealised Sverigehus, a brawl in Brussels involving a Swedish MEP, and more besides. Enjoy the rest of the weekend! Richard
Local Sweden
3 days ago
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Red cottage nightmares, and is Sweden's support for Israel crumbling?
This week: Sweden calls for sanctions on Israeli ministers, and why are the Sweden Democrats promoting cookie-cutter 'Sweden houses'? For Membership+ subscribers: Will cash every make a comeback in Sweden? And what is the Migration Agency telling us about citizenship processing? Advertisement In this week's episode we ask why Swedish politicians are becoming more critical of Israel over the war in Gaza. We also discuss the government's plans to develop new kinds of pre-approved houses to make it easier for people to buy their own homes. For Membership+ subscribers we talk about what it's like trying to get by without a bank-card in a mostly cash-free country. Finally, we get our teeth into what the Migration Agency is saying about in-person meetings with citizenship applicants and changing how it prioritises which cases to process. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Advertisement Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Sweden and Israel Politics Money Swedish citizenship You can listen to the free episode here: Or follow Sweden in Focus wherever you listen to podcasts. Advertisement Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday. Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre. Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. Advertisement
Local Sweden
4 days ago
- Politics
- Local Sweden
What's in the appointment letter for Swedish citizenship?
Citizenship applicants across Sweden have over the last few days started to receive letters inviting them to book an appointment for an in-person ID check at the Migration Agency (Migrationsverket). The first letters were received this week. Here's what they include. Advertisement One of The Local's readers received a letter earlier this week which appears to have been sent on May 26th. The reader, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared a copy of their letter with The Local. The reader applied for Swedish citizenship in September 2023. Just under a year later, in August 2024, the reader applied for a request to conclude which was first rejected. They appealed the rejected request which was overturned by the Migration Court in October 2024. Their spouse has held Swedish citizenship for over three years. READ ALSO: The extra security questions Sweden's Migration Agency wants citizenship applicants to answer This seems to suggest that the Migration Agency is still processing cases where the applicant has submitted a request to conclude, despite announcing plans to prioritise older cases where applicants have been waiting for longer. Advertisement What's in the letter? The letter includes information on how to book an appointment through the Min Sida page on the Migration Agency, as well as details of which documents the applicant should bring to the appointment. An important detail revealed in the letter is that applicants have eight weeks from the date the letter is sent (not the date it is received) to book an appointment or contact the Migration Agency, otherwise they risk their application being denied. We have translated the letter below. If you have received a letter, make sure to follow the instructions in your own letter rather than this translation if there are any differences. You may notice that we have removed details of how to book an appointment. Booking appears to be open to anyone with an account at the Migration Agency ‒ even those without a pending citizenship application ‒ and we do not want to encourage applicants to book an appointment before they have received their letter and thereby take appointment times from those who need them. Here is a section of the letter in Swedish with personal details removed. Below is the text of the letter in English: Request to book an appointment You have applied for Swedish citizenship. You need to visit a Migration Agency service centre in person for an identity check. You need to book the appointment in advance via the Migration Agency's website and it needs to be carried out at one of the Migration Agency's service centres. Another person cannot carry the appointment out for you, even if they have a power of attorney in your case. Advertisement Be aware that an appointment for an in-person ID check at the Migration Agency can only occur after you book an appointment. You must bring your home country passport to your appointment. If you don't have a passport from your home country, you can bring a form of Swedish ID. If the Migration Agency already has your identity document then you should not request for the agency to send it back before your visit. If you do not have a home country passport or a form of Swedish ID, you should still book an appointment to verify your identity in person with the Migration Agency. More information on appointments is available at Book an appointment You need to book an appointment to visit the Migration Agency in person as soon as possible. Book your appointment on via the Migration Agency's e-service "My Page". You must attend an in-person identity check at a Migration Agency service centre within eight weeks from the date on this letter. If you cannot attend an appointment within eight weeks then you must contact us. If you do not carry out a check or contact us, we will still make a decision in your case. That could mean that you do not become a Swedish citizen.
Local Sweden
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
OPINION: No transitional rules in new citizenship law will be an insult to Sweden's reputation
If the government is serious about its pledge to attract international talent, including transitional rules when Sweden rolls out next year's far-reaching citizenship reforms is the only way not to undermine that goal, writes migration researcher Patrick Henry Gallen. Advertisement The most drastic tightening of Sweden's citizenship law is set to go into force around this time next year. To a large extent, it is not the content of the new law, but how the government decides to implement that will mean everything. Since the Tidö government came into power in 2022, tightening Sweden's comparatively loose citizenship law has been a priority. Finally, in January of this year, the release of the inquiry revealed the contours of the new law: an almost doubled residence requirement, in practice a near-elimination of an easier pathway to citizenship for spouses of Swedish citizens, and new requirements for language competency, successful completion of a civics test, and economic self-sufficiency. These changes should not come as a surprise: the governing coalition – and to some extent even the Social Democrats – have long criticised the few and loose requirements for acquisition of Swedish citizenship compared to most other European countries, and especially our Nordic neighbours. In many ways at least some of these changes can be seen as reasonable: it is admittedly shocking that it is in theory currently possible to acquire Swedish citizenship without speaking or understanding a word of Swedish or knowing anything about the country. On the other hand, the extension of the residency requirement – without providing expedited pathways to citizenship for those foreigners that demonstrate a high level of integration – can appear simply as an attempt to deny hard working people basic democratic rights to appease the hard right. However, what is a surprise is current Migration Minister Johan Forssell's apparent unwillingness to follow the strong recommendation of the special investigator behind the new citizenship law for robust transitional rules. His claim, echoed by some other members of the current government, is that transitional rules would pose a security risk: if prospective citizens are allowed to have their applications assessed according to the current, looser rules after the new framework comes into force, there is a risk that criminals or even terrorists could be afforded the rights and protections of Swedish citizenship, giving them access to sensitive jobs and, most notably, permanent protection from deportation. This comes off as a compelling argument, especially as the security situation in Sweden is undoubtedly worse than it has been in decades. But a closer look at this argument reveals a number of critical weaknesses. Advertisement For one, while there are legitimate security concerns around granting citizenship, the Migration Agency has long had comprehensive security routines in collaboration with Sweden's security police, Säpo, to track and respond to potential threats and, most importantly, deny citizenship to individuals that they believe could or in fact do pose a threat to Sweden's national security. Moreover, since the government directed the Migration Agency to step up security routines in the spring, additional, comprehensive measures have been put in place: all current applicants now must report to one of the Migration Agency's units to confirm their identity in person and must respond to a comprehensive multi-page questionnaire intended to identify any additional security risks or other reasons that could make an applicant ineligible to receive Swedish citizenship. Implementing these new routines has effectively resulted in a full freeze on application approvals in the past two months, with only six applications being approved in April – an over 99 percent reduction compared to the Migration Agency's original prognosis before the measures were announced. The consequences of this order are not short-lived: the Migration Agency's annual prognosis for processed applications for all of 2025 has recently been reduced by 26 percent. Advertisement Moreover, the government has argued that most intensive security checks are generally necessary given that Swedish citizenship is irrevocable. But that, too, is set to change if their efforts to amend the Swedish constitution are successful. If the reform is implemented, those who are deemed a significant threat to Sweden's national security could have their citizenship revoked at any point in the future, undermining much of Johan Forssell and his government's argument against transitional rules. There is another crucial aspect here: failure to implement transitional rules would mark a huge departure from well established practices and support for rule of law in Sweden. Virtually every other European and Nordic country that has undertaken similar tightening of their citizenship laws have provided for robust transitional rules, including Switzerland, which Johan Forssell recently visited, namely to learn from the country's uniquely strict citizenship regime. Refusing to implement the new law with transitional rules would not only set Sweden apart from its neighbours, but also signal that rule of law is not a concern of the government, setting an extremely dangerous precedent for further changes that could curtail foreigners' rights and damage Sweden's reputation for commitment to principles of fairness and openness. There could also very well be knock-on effects of this course of action that undermine all of the government's expressed intentions of making Sweden a top destination for attracting and maintaining international talent. Why choose Sweden, with its already comparatively low wages, high taxes, and longer work week, when its leaders are now also signalling a willingness to trample on your rights and ability to settle in the country long-term? Advertisement The practical consequences of failing to implement the new law with transitional rules are likely the most striking: tens of thousands of applicants, the overwhelming majority of which are hard working, well-integrated people who love Sweden, stand to have their applicants summarily denied – some after up to six years of waiting for a decision – simply because a case worker might not manage to get around to their cases before the new law comes into force. These unfortunate applicants won't just have to suffer the denial of democratic rights and opportunity for permanent settlement, but may also face extra financial punishment since the government has as of yet not said a word about whether the 1,500 kronor applicants paid to have their application processed will be refunded or credited to the nearly doubled fee that is set to accompany the new citizenship law. Without transitional rules, the government will with one hand deny hardworking people democratic rights they would otherwise be eligible for and with the other effectively commit mass theft. Advertisement As recently enforced security measures are either already in full effect or on the horizon and the weight of legal convention and international examples abound, there is no reasonable argument for refusing to implement the law with transitional rules. The only explanation is that the government is bending to pressure from its right-wing populist coalition partners or has an interest in making an extremely costly and legally dubious political statement. If the government truly wants to make Sweden an international talent hub and wants to clearly signal the importance of Swedish citizenship, as the migration minister has claimed time and time again, implementing the new law with the recommended transitional rules is the only way to not undermine its stated goals. Patrick Henry Gallen is a researcher in geopolitics, migration and foresight. He is based in Malmö and is currently waiting for Swedish citizenship.
Local Sweden
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Inside Sweden: Sweden's citizenship news is bittersweet
The Local's deputy editor Becky Waterton rounds up the biggest stories of the week in our Inside Sweden newsletter. Advertisement This week has been a big week for Swedish citizenship applicants, with two big pieces of news. The first is that Sweden's citizenship freeze is effectively over, and the Migration Agency confirmed to The Local on Friday that it has already started sending out letters calling for applicants to book appointments at its offices. The second big piece of news is something a lot of our readers will be very happy about – the agency has also changed the order in which it processes cases. Instead of focusing on simpler cases or cases where a request to conclude has been granted, it will now focus on cases in chronological order. For me, this news is bittersweet. That's not only for selfish reasons, like the fact that it will probably affect me negatively, and could even mean that my application is not granted by the time the new rules come into force next summer. Last week, I felt like I was days or weeks away from citizenship. Now, it feels like I could be waiting for years. Having said that, I've only been waiting since September, which is nothing compared to some applicants who have been waiting for almost six years. I welcome the agency's new prioritisation and see it as a sign that they may, finally, be listening to criticism. It's only fair that I take my place in the queue behind others who have had their applications delayed for no clear reason. Despite this, the changes do not go far enough. They do not address the issue of people being stuck in Sweden for months without their passport or permanent residency card after sending them off to the Migration Agency, with no information on when they will get them back. This uncertainty leads to missed holidays, missed weddings and funerals and missed work trips, and essentially leaves us trapped in the country due to nothing but bureaucracy. Advertisement Granted, it makes the system more transparent – at least you know your application won't be arbitrarily placed in a 'too complicated to process right now' pile – but I doubt it will get waiting times anywhere close to the six-month goal, especially with the added requirement of in-person identity checks. It also, and perhaps most crucially, does nothing to ensure that those of us who fulfil current requirements will have our applications processed in time before the new rules come into force for all applications, not just new ones, in July next year. With waiting times so long – 75 percent of recent applications were concluded within 23 months – is it even worth applying now if you don't meet the future requirements? How can you meet them when it's not possible to even take the obligatory language or culture tests yet? Now I – and many others – find myself in the strange position of hoping that the Migration Agency either approves my case within the next year, or that the process is so delayed that I end up having lived in the country for long enough to qualify under the new rules by the time I reach the top of the pile. Advertisement In other news Swedish electric car battery maker Northvolt, which filed for bankruptcy in March, will stop production at its main factory in Sweden in June, the court-appointed bankruptcy trustee said earlier this week. Fifteen new flight routes are launching from Sweden this summer, including destinations in France, Spain, Turkey, Iceland and Greece. Here's a full list. Staying on the topic of flights, cabin crew on multiple airlines will strike in Sweden from Monday, if unions and airlines are unable to come to an agreement. GAMES: Have you tried The Local's games for Membership+ subscribers yet? We've got a new crossword and word search puzzle out now Sweden's work permit salary threshold is currently set as 80 percent of the most recent median salary figures, which are from June last year. When are these figures going to be updated, increasing the threshold? Two of Sweden's largest game companies, Massive Entertainment and Sharkmob, want to join together with other companies in the gaming industry to create a specialised collective bargaining agreement. Sweden has approved a law to criminalise buying sex online – including personalised digital content, like that offered on sites such as OnlyFans. Here's what it means. Advertisement Finally, our editor Emma Löfgren is running an experiment. She wants to see if she can get The Local's members to help her recruit 100 new members by the end of the month. Read her LinkedIn post here and if you have a friend, colleague or family member who might find our journalism useful, please ask them to sign up via this link. Now let's see if this actually works... Have a good weekend, Becky Waterton Deputy Editor, The Local Sweden Inside Sweden is our weekly newsletter for members which gives you news, analysis and, sometimes, takes you behind the scenes at The Local. It's published each Saturday and with Membership+ you can also receive it directly to your inbox.
