The Swedish government provided more details on changes to the Citizenship Act for young people and for Nordic citi­zens.

Key Points:

  • For young people who want to be granted Swedish citizenship, requirements for living an orderly life are being introduced.
    • Young people and young adults who apply for Swedish citizenship through the notification process must have reached the age of 15 but be under 21 to obtain Swedish citizenship.
    • The Swedish Migration Agency will now also consider the applicant’s circumstances at the time of the decision as well as events that occur after notification of citizenship has been submitted.
  • Personal factors including unpaid debts and convictions will now be considered in the decision-making process.
  • In addition, Nordic citizens will need to contact the Swedish Migration Agency for all citizenship cases. To date, Nordic citizens have been able to acquire Swedish citizenship by notification via their local county administrative board.

Additional Information: The government is also implementing changes for appli­cants who apply for release from citi­zenship. Effective Oct. 1, an individual may be denied release from their Swedish citizenship if there is reason to suspect that the applicant does not wish to be released. At the same time as the requirements for obtaining Swedish citizenship are increasing, the protection of citizenship is also being strengthened.

The introduction of these new amendments also includes an increase to the notification of citizenship fee, which will increase to SEK 475 (about USD $46). The “Become a Swedish citizen” section on the government’s website has been updated to reflect these new regulations.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

Swedish authorities have introduced a new pilot program for individuals from certain countries to have their passport checked digitally.

Key Points:

  • Students and workers from 22 countries and territories are the first to be eligible to use the Freja identification app to show their passports.
  • The new passport check procedure is initiated from the Swedish Migration Agency once an online application for a work or study permit is submitted. The email contains a personalized link to the verification e-service, which is valid for one week.

Additional Information: The new e-service is designed for visa-free students and workers to save time and money when traveling to Sweden. The government estimates that around 19,000 workers and 5,000 students are expected to benefit from the new digital passport check service every year.

BAL Analysis: The new passport check program is a welcome change for applicants and should provide a more efficient process when traveling to Sweden, since it is required to verify passports during the application process.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

Swedish judicial authorities have ruled that individuals may now qualify for a permanent resident permit with 12 months, instead of 18 months, of employment.

Key Points:

  • The Swedish Migration Court of Appeal determined in a December 2023 decision that permanent residence permits should be interpreted with an income requirement of a “certain duration” in applications.
  • Further, an applicant’s income should be considered to have a “certain duration” if they are employed for at least a year when applying for permanent residency.
  • The Migration Agency had previously required that employment must be at least 18 months from the decision date for it to reach a “certain duration.”

Additional Information: The Migration Agency granted 102,000 applications for residence permits last year (a decrease of 40,000) and almost doubled the amount of revoked permits compared to 2022. The new case law is a significant change in how the Migration Agency will assess the requirement of “certain duration” when it comes to employment length. The new case law may also provide additional opportunities for those who have had a claim for permanent residency rejected by the Migration Agency. Individuals could receive a temporary residence permit and then appeal the part of the decision that concerns permanent residency due to the change in case law.

BAL Analysis: The court judgement is a welcome change for permanent resident applicants and should provide better guidance to individuals on how to interpret the requirements for permanent residency. The new case law may also allow greater access to candidates who previously were not able to qualify, including doctoral candidates who are currently prevented from being employed for more than a year at a time.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

Swedish immigration authorities advised that the fast-track work permit processing scheme will close on Dec. 15.

Key Points:

  • Employers that are certified operators with the Swedish Migration Agency qualify for the fast-track scheme. This process provides faster processing for work permit applications (10 working days for first applications and 20 working days for renewal applications).
  • The last day to apply under the fast-track scheme as a certified operator is Dec. 14. Swedish authorities will process the application backlog between Dec.15 and Jan. 29, 2024.
  • The fast-track work permit processing scheme will then be replaced by a new system after Jan. 29, 2024.

BAL Analysis: The Swedish government is transitioning to a new immigration model to promote international recruitment of highly skilled workers, and more information about the changes being implemented can be found here. Employers could see delayed processing times as the fast-track processing scheme phases out.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

Swedish immigration authorities advised that work permits now must meet more stringent conditions.

Key Points:

  • As part of the new work permit model announced in May, Standard Industrial Classification (SNI) codes, which specify the field(s) of industry a business operates in, and the Swedish Standard Classification of Occupations (SSYK) codes, which are assigned depending on both the job title and job description, are both now a fundamental part of the examination and classification of all work permit applications.
  • The new work permit model divides applications into four categories. The SNI codes are used to designate the appropriate category under which an application should qualify. The categorization will determine the processing time of each application.

BAL Analysis: Swedish authorities are introducing the new work permit model to reduce processing times and improve services to employers hiring highly skilled foreign nationals. The aim is to process applications for highly skilled workers within 30 days, however due to the change in process and increased scrutiny on work permit applications, employers may experience longer processing times.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT — MEDIUM

The Swedish government has announced that it plans to launch a new international recruitment unit and create a new work permit model in the coming months.

Key Points:

  • Once implemented, Swedish authorities plan to adjudicate complete work permit applications for highly skilled workers within 30 days.
  • Authorities will introduce four new work permit models:
    • Category A includes work permit applications for highly qualified occupations defined as managerial, advanced university competence and higher education or equivalent.
    • Category B includes specific occupations, such as intra-corporate transferees, EU Blue Card holders, artists, researchers and athletes/coaches.
    • Category C includes occupations that do not require an advanced degree and do not require a high level of case evaluation.
    • Category D includes work permit applications in industries defined as particularly demanding in terms of case investigation, including cleaning, construction, personal assistance, and hotels and restaurants.
  • More information regarding the new international recruitment unit and the work permit model is available here.

BAL Analysis: Swedish authorities introduced the new international recruitment unit to reduce processing times and improve services to employers hiring highly skilled foreign nationals.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT — MEDIUM

The Swedish government has announced that it plans to simplify its rules for obtaining an EU Blue Card.

Authorities said that beginning in November they will allow:

  • Highly skilled foreign nationals who have been offered employment in Sweden for more than six months to apply for an EU Blue Card.
  • Individuals to convert other types of residence permits in Sweden to an EU Blue Card without having to leave the country.
  • Highly skilled foreign nationals who hold an EU Blue Card by another EU member state to live and work in Sweden for 90 days within a 180-day period.
  • Foreign nationals who have an EU Blue Card issued by another EU country for at least 12 months to apply for the authorization in Sweden through a simplified procedure.

Additional Information: Swedish authorities plan to implement the EU Blue Card changes on Nov. 18, 2023. More information is available here.

BAL Analysis: Swedish authorities plan to simplify the rules for obtaining an EU Blue Card to attract highly skilled foreign nationals to live and work in the country.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT — MEDIUM

The Swedish government has announced that it plans to increase the work permit salary requirement in October.

Key Points:

  • Swedish authorities plan to require employers to pay foreign nationals at least 80% of Sweden’s median salary to be eligible for a work permit.
  • Employers would be required to pay foreign nationals at least 26,560 SEK per month (about US$2,600) instead of the current 13,000 SEK per month.
  • The work permit salary requirement is planned to take effect on Oct. 1.

Additional Information: More information regarding the work permit salary requirement is available here.

BAL Analysis: Swedish authorities plan to set a work permit salary requirement to ensure foreign nationals are being paid equivalent to the median salary in the country. Employers may see a slight increase in business expenses once the salary requirement takes effect and should adjust their budgets if necessary.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT — MEDIUM

The Swedish government recently extended its COVID-19 entry restrictions for travelers from China.

Key Points:

  • Until at least Feb. 18, travelers ages 12 or older who arrive from China must have proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within 48 hours of departure.
  • Swedish nationals and residents, long-term residents and their family members from countries in the EU and European Economic Area, and those traveling for “imperative family reasons” are exempt from the COVID-19 testing requirements.
  • Travelers arriving from the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao are subject to the COVID-19 entry restrictions.
  • More information regarding Sweden’s entry restrictions for travelers from China is available here and here.

BAL Analysis: Swedish authorities extended COVID-19 entry restrictions for travelers from China because of the ongoing surge of COVID-19 cases in the country. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Swedish government has announced that it will introduce a new passport requirement for those applying for residence permits.

Key Points:

  • Beginning Nov. 1, individuals who are applying for or renewing their Swedish residence permit must present their passport in person at a Swedish embassy or consulate or at Swedish Migration Agency locations. This is applicable to those who are applying for:
    • Work permits or permits for self-employment.
    • Permissions for students and researchers.
    • Permissions to live with a relative in Sweden.
    • Visas and permissions to visit Sweden or extend a visit.
  • Swedish immigration authorities will not adjudicate residence permit applications until they have verified applicants’ passports.
  • The in-person passport requirement will apply to new and pending applications as of Nov. 1.

Additional Information: Individuals who are applying for asylum, residence cards, permanent residence cards, permanent right of residence or permanent resident status are exempt from the in-person passport requirement. More information regarding the in-person passport requirement is available here.

BAL Analysis: The Swedish government introduced the in-person passport requirement to increase security and mitigate fraudulent activity. Those who are applying for residence permits should expect increased processing times and delays when booking appointments at local embassies or consulates.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.