Sweden tightens citizenship rules with tougher tests and longer wait
Stockholm, the capital of Sweden (Photo: Getty Images)
The Swedish parliament has passed a law tightening the rules for obtaining citizenship. Foreigners will now need to live in the country for 8 years and prove a high income, according to the Swedish state edition SVT.
The government's initiative was supported by 258 deputies. Only 33 parliamentarians voted against, while 58 members of the Riksdag were absent during the vote.
According to the law, the residency period for citizenship applicants has been extended. Previously, foreigners needed 5 years of legal residence in the country, but now the requirement will be 8 years.
The rules have also become stricter for young people. Anyone who has turned 16 must now confirm their integration into society.
To obtain a passport, applicants must pass three special tests:
- A test on knowledge of the Swedish language;
- A test on knowledge of the fundamentals of civics;
- A comprehensive citizenship exam.
Financial threshold: how much you need to earn
Economic self-sufficiency is now a mandatory condition for new citizens. Applicants must officially confirm that they have stable employment and income.
The minimum annual income must be 241,800 Swedish kronor. In US currency, that is approximately $22,000. Without meeting this financial condition, the review of documents will be impossible.
When will the new rules take effect
The new provisions will come into force in just a few weeks. The official start date is June 6.
An important nuance: the law has a retroactive effect. The rules will even affect those people who submitted their applications several years ago and are still waiting for a decision. This creates new challenges for thousands of migrants who expected to obtain a passport under the old norms.
What other migration news is there
The number of deportations in the EU has increased significantly. Last year, over 491,000 people were subject to repatriation, and of these, about 135,000 were deported, which is a record. However, Europe believes that this record is insufficient and that measures need to be strengthened.
Meanwhile, more and more European countries are offering money for migrants to return home. We have already published a list of offers and conditions from EU countries.
And Donald Trump has ordered that anti-Americans, anti-Semites, and supporters of Palestine be denied green cards. Immigration authorities have already received the corresponding order to strictly scrutinize applicants for residency documents in the US.
