Controversial migration law passed in Sweden: Residency permits tied to 'good conduct' requirement

Sweden's parliament has approved a contentious immigration bill that allows for the cancellation of residency permits based on "misconduct." The new legislation, driven by the right-wing government and supported by the nationalist Sweden Democrats, enables the revocation of permits for reasons such as unpaid debts, undeclared work, or connections to extremist organizations.

This stringent measure extends beyond new applications, also affecting previously granted residency permits. It is seen as a further tightening of immigration policies ahead of the general elections scheduled for September. The government, which won the 2022 elections on promises to reduce immigration and combat crime, defends the regulation, stating that individuals who commit crimes or fail to adhere to societal rules should not be guaranteed residency.

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The good conduct law creates insecurity about which behaviors or expressions can be used against people. This undermines the rule of law and the principle of equality before the law.

However, opposition parties and human rights organizations have raised concerns, warning that the law could pave the way for arbitrary applications. The Civil Rights Defenders, a Stockholm-based human rights group, argued that the "good conduct" law creates legal uncertainty. "The good conduct law creates insecurity about which behaviors or expressions can be used against people," the organization stated. "This undermines the rule of law and the principle of equality before the law."

While the law does not exhaustively define "unacceptable" behaviors, government officials cited tax debts, unpaid public dues, undeclared work, criminal activities, and links to extremist groups as examples. The Swedish Migration Agency will be responsible for re-evaluating residency permits, with individuals whose permits are canceled retaining the right to appeal in migration courts. Migration Minister Johan Forssell previously stated that "no one who does not strive to do the right thing should be guaranteed to stay in the country."

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No one who does not strive to do the right thing should be guaranteed to stay in the country.