What happened
The government proposes that young adults between 18 and 21 should be able to obtain a continued residence permit if they have or have had a permit through ties to their parents. The proposal also means that individuals whose deportation orders became final on 1 January 2025 or later, and who are still in Sweden, will be able to apply again. Even young adults who have already left the country will be able to submit an application from abroad. In light of the proposal, Migrationsverket's Director-General Maria Mindhammar has decided that the agency will, for the time being, defer decisions and halt enforcement in affected cases. If the Riksdag votes through the government's proposal, the legislative amendments will enter into force on 1 October 2026.
Our analysis
The decision provides much-needed breathing room for young new Swedes who were at risk of being deported solely because they reached adulthood and thereby lost their family ties on paper. At the same time, the timeline entails continued heavy uncertainty, as the rules are proposed to take effect only in autumn 2026 and the Riksdag must first approve it. Nor is the proposal an unconditional yes to staying, as the requirements for a residence permit through, for instance, work or studies must still be met.
Explained
Halting enforcement means that Migrationsverket temporarily pauses the execution of a deportation decision. A residence permit through ties means that a person has been granted the right to live in Sweden due to family ties, usually to their parents.
Source: Migrationsverket