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2d ago

Sweden Approves 'Good Behaviour' Rule and Duty for Public Agencies to Report Undocumented Migrants

Critics say the measures will erode migrants' access to health and welfare services by increasing police reporting and grounds for removal.

KLADESHOLMEN, SWEDEN - FEBRUARY 10: Isakhan, 54, of Afghanistan watch a video on his mobile phone in his shared room at the temporary house for asylum seekers of the Vattendroppen school on February 10, 2016 in Kladesholmen, Sweden. Last year Sweden received 162,877 asylum applications, more than any European country proportionate to its population. According to the Swedish Migration Agency, Sweden housed more than 180,000 people in 2015, more than double the total in 2014. The country is struggling to house refugees in proper conditions during the harsh winter; summer holiday resorts, old schools and private buildings are being turned into temporary shelters for asylum seekers as they wait for a decision on their asylum application. Sweden is facing new challenges on its migration policy after the massive arrival of refugees last year, forcing the country to drastically reduce the number of refugees passing through its borders. Stricter controls have had a significant effect on the number of arrivals, reducing weekly numbers from 10,000 to 800. The Swedish migration minister announced in January that the government will reject up to 80,000 refugees who applied for asylum last year, proposing strict new residency rules. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
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Sweden's Minister of Foreign Trade Johan Forssell attends a news conference on the day of a meeting of EU trade ministers in Stockholm March 10, 2023. Caisa Rasmussen/TT News Agency/via REUTERS
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Overview

  • Parliament narrowly approved the two linked laws in a 174–172 vote that passed on Monday, June 15, expanding grounds to deny or revoke residence permits and creating a duty for many public agencies to notify police of suspected undocumented migrants.
  • The 'good behaviour' rule lets the Migration Agency review pending and some already granted permits for conduct such as unpaid debts, undeclared work or alleged ties to extremist groups, with appeal available to migration courts.
  • Reporting obligations will apply to agencies including tax, employment, social insurance, prison and pensions authorities while teachers, doctors and social workers were exempted after public pushback.
  • Human rights groups and researchers warn the laws are vague, risk racial profiling, could undermine rule‑of‑law principles and may deter migrants from seeking medical care or other public services because contacts can trigger police notification.
  • The measures reflect a broader policy shift by the centre‑right government supported by the Sweden Democrats to tighten immigration and deportation tools ahead of the September election and the Migration Agency is preparing to implement the new reviews, with some reports saying the rules are slated to take effect on July 13, 2026.