Migration and asylum

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.

The Government decided today to refer a proposal to the Council on Legislation on provisions concerning the rights of UK nationals that supplement those contained in the Withdrawal Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union. The proposals concern the rights of certain UK nationals to enter, reside and work in Sweden.

The Ministry of Justice has circulated a memorandum for comment containing proposals for special regulations on residence permits for UK citizens in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The proposals are part of the Government’s preparations ahead of Brexit and aim to make it easier for UK citizens living in Sweden to be granted a residence permit here.

The Government will soon present a government bill to the Riksdag containing proposals for new rules on residence permits for research and higher education studies. The proposals will implement the European Union’s ‘Students and Researchers Directive’. An important aim of the proposals is to attract more students, researchers and other highly qualified people to Sweden, and make it easier for those who have studied in Sweden to stay in the country to work.

The Government has decided to appoint a cross-party commission of inquiry to examine Sweden’s future migration policy.

The Government’s objective is to ensure a sustainable migration policy that safeguards the right of asylum and, within the framework of managed immigration, facilitates mobility across borders, promotes demand-driven labour migration, harnesses and takes account of the development impact of migration, and deepens European and international cooperation. This fact sheet outlines the Government’s current work in this area.

In a memorandum, proposals are presented that aim to counter the most serious consequences of a no-deal Brexit for United Kingdom nationals currently living and working in Sweden. The proposals will only become relevant should the UK leave the European Union without an agreement on transition regulations being in place.

Discussions about Brexit and the long-term EU budget for the period 2021–2027 dominated the European Council on 13–14 December. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and other heads of state and government adopted a number of conclusions on migration, disinformation, climate change and internal market cooperation. The Council ended with a discussion of EMU cooperation.

Brexit, the EU budget for 2021–2027 (Multiannual Financial Framework), foreign policy and migration are some of the issues to be addressed when Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and the other EU leaders meet in Brussels on 13–14 December.

The European Council discussed Brexit, migration and internal security on 17–18 October. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and his colleagues also addressed EU relations with the Arab League and the EU’s negotiating mandate ahead of the COP24 climate conference.

Brexit, migration and internal security will be on the agenda when Prime Minister Stefan Löfven meets his European Council colleagues on 18 October. The EU leaders will also address external relations.