Sweden’s government has announced plans to introduce new legislation that would allow authorities to revoke residence permits and deport migrants who fail to meet what officials describe as an “honest living” standard.
The proposal forms part of a broader immigration reform agenda being advanced by the country’s right-leaning administration, which came to power in 2022 on a pledge to tighten migration controls and strengthen compliance requirements for foreign residents.
Under the proposed law, migrants could face the withdrawal of residence permits for conduct deemed inconsistent with responsible civic behaviour, even in cases that do not amount to serious criminal convictions.
Speaking at a press conference, Migration Minister Johan Forssell said the government believes that obeying the law must go beyond avoiding criminal offences.
“Following laws and rules is a given, but it must also be a given that we do our best to live responsibly and not harm our country,” he said.
According to Forssell, migrants who repeatedly fail to pay debts, ignore decisions issued by Swedish authorities, abuse welfare benefits, or obtain residence permits through false claims could lose the right to remain in the country.
The government also cited other examples such as working without paying taxes or refusing to settle fines imposed by public authorities.
Officials say the proposed framework is designed to strengthen confidence in the migration system by linking residency rights more closely to compliance with civic obligations.
Ludvig Aspling, migration policy spokesperson for the Sweden Democrats, the anti-immigration party supporting the government, said personal statements alone would not automatically trigger deportation proceedings.
However, he noted that expressions suggesting links to violent extremism or anti-democratic tendencies could contribute to broader assessments of an individual’s conduct.
The government is also proposing wider grounds for revoking residence permits in cases where migrants are considered security risks or where false information is discovered in their original applications.
If approved by parliament, the new measures are expected to take effect on July 13.
The proposal marks another significant step in Sweden’s tightening immigration policy as political pressure grows ahead of the country’s next legislative elections.
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