Sweden Passes Law Allowing Residency Permits to Be Revoked Over Misconduct

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Stockholm: Sweden's parliament has approved a new law allowing authorities to revoke residency permits from immigrants over certain forms of misconduct, as the country moves to tighten its immigration policies ahead of September's parliamentary election.

The legislation applies not only to future residency applications but also retroactively to permits that have already been granted. The right-wing government, supported by the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, says the measure is aimed at ensuring that individuals who break rules or fail to integrate cannot automatically expect to remain in the country.

While the law does not provide a detailed list of behaviours that could lead to a permit being withdrawn, government officials have cited unpaid debts, tax violations, undeclared work, criminal activity and links to extremist organisations as examples. Sweden's Migration Agency will review cases, and affected individuals will have the right to appeal decisions in migration courts.

The measure has drawn criticism from opposition parties and human rights groups, which argue that the law creates uncertainty by allowing penalties for conduct that may not constitute a criminal offence. Rights advocates have warned that the broad wording could undermine legal certainty and equal treatment under the law.

Migration Minister Johan Forssell defended the legislation, saying that people who fail to respect Swedish laws and social norms should not assume they can continue living in the country indefinitely.

The new law forms part of a broader shift in Sweden's immigration policy since the current government took office in 2022 on promises to reduce migration and tackle crime.

Pic Credit: AFP