Sweden's Migration and Asylum Policy – Fact Sheet 2019

Fact sheet Ministry of Justice June 2019

Sweden’s migration and asylum policy

The Government’s objective is to ensure a sustainable migration policy that safeguards the right of asylum and, within the framework of managed immigration, facilitates mobility across borders, promotes demand-driven labour migration, harnesses and takes account of the development impact of migration, and deepens European and international cooperation. This fact sheet outlines the Government’s current work in this area.

The Government’s manage- for subsidiary protection, but that the minor should return to ment of the refugee situation not quota refugees, are grant- their country of origin. This re- Sweden has shouldered a great ed temporary residence per- turn is conditional on proper re- deal of responsibility in the on- mits, and opportunities for ception being in place. going global refugee situation. family reunification are lim- Better conditions for returns The Government took a series ited. Since 1 June 2017, under of temporary measures to sig- an amendment to the tempo- To maintain a sustainable asy- nificantly reduce the number of rary act, newly arrived young lum and migration policy, it is people seeking asylum in Swe- people are entitled to a resi- crucial that people who have re- den when EU Member States in dence permit to enable them ceived a final and non-appeala- the second half of 2015 could not to complete their upper sec- ble refusal-of-entry or expulsion share the responsibility involved ondary school education. The order following a legally certain in managing the large number of amendment will also continue examination of their grounds asylum seekers. to apply after July 2019. for asylum return to their coun- • The Government decided to try of origin as quickly as pos- Unaccompanied minors introduce temporary border sible. The Government has im- controls at internal borders. A large number of unaccompa- plemented a range of measures The decision has been extend- nied minors and young people to increase returns. For example, ed several times and current- came to Sweden in the second the number of detention centre ly applies until 11 November half of 2015. Most unaccompa- places has increased and liaison 2019. nied minors seeking asylum in officers to reinforce the returns • On 20 July 2016, a temporary Sweden are granted a residence procedure have been placed at act was introduced bring- permit. If the authorities con- missions abroad. In addition, the ing Sweden’s asylum rules in clude that the minor has no Swedish Police Authority is now line with minimum standards grounds for international protec- able to carry out workplace spot under EU law. Under this act, tion or other grounds for staying checks to ensure that employers refugees and persons eligible in Sweden, the basic premise is have not employed people who

1 do not have the right to stay or be a strong and important voice ternational protection. As a fol- work in Sweden. Sweden has in Europe to protect the right of low-up to the 2016 New York several readmission agreements asylum and vulnerable groups. Declaration for Refugees and with third countries. The EU Migrants, two UN global com- Resettlement as a safe and also plays a major role in cooper- pacts were negotiated and adopt- legal route into the EU for ation on readmission; all Mem- ed in 2018, one on migration and people in need of protection ber States together can demand one on refugees. Sweden sup- that other countries readmit Resettlement is – and has long ports both these compacts and their nationals. been – an important part of took active part in their devel- Sweden’s refugee policy. Reset- opment. The Government will Common European tlement is a tried and tested sys- also work to ensure that states Asylum System tem and the safest most humane implement the migration-related Enhanced and constructive co- way for people in need of in- commitments of the 2030 Agen- operation both in the EU and ternational protection to enter da for Sustainable Development. globally is a cornerstone of a sus- the EU. There is also a need for This involves, among other tainable migration policy. Swe- more legal pathways to Europe things, facilitating safe, orderly, den is actively involved in the for those seeking asylum. The managed and responsible migra- EU’s ongoing negotiations on a number of people resettled in tion. Sweden is the sixth larg- revised common asylum system Sweden increased from 1 900 in est humanitarian aid donor in consisting of seven legal instru- 2016 to 3 400 in 2017. In 2018 the world and among the largest ments. Solidarity and greater the number had reached 5 000. donors to both the Internation- harmonisation are priority is- al Organisation for Migration International cooperation sues for Sweden. The EU’s fu- (IOM) and the United Nations and global responsibility- ture asylum system must provide High Commissioner for Refu- sharing legal certainty and sustainabil- gees (UNHCR), which are doing ity, protect the right of asylum Global cooperation needs to be outstanding work for migrants and at the same time achieve a strengthened to find sustaina- and refugees, including in North more equal distribution of asy- ble and joint solutions to better Africa and the Mediterranean. lum seekers between Member manage the movement of mi- States. Sweden will continue to grants and people in need of in-

Facts about Sweden’s migration policy Sweden’s migration policy com- prises refugee and immigration policy, return policy, support for repatriation and the link between migration and development. It also includes global cooperation on these issues. This policy area also covers issues related to Swedish citizenship.

Production: Ministry of Justice Telephone: +46 8 405 10 00 www.government.se/justice