Sweden Tightens Migration Rules for Foreign Residents

Foreign residents in Sweden face stricter immigration rules. According to a report by The Local, the government introduced major migration reforms. These changes affect work permits, citizenship, family reunification, and language training.

To get Swedish citizenship, the residency requirement is now eight years. Applicants must meet specific Swedish language levels. They must earn about 20,000 kronor a month. The government also requires proof of an upstanding way of life.

Work permit holders must now earn 90 percent of the national median salary. Permits shorter than one year require full health insurance. Highly skilled workers now receive permit decisions in under 30 days.

Researchers and PhD students can now travel abroad while awaiting permit renewals. Their wait for permanent residency is now three years. Non-summer work hours for students are limited to 15 hours a week.

Family reunification rules become stricter on October 1st. They include higher income rules and a two-year waiting period. Free Swedish lessons for immigrants will be limited to three years starting in 2026.