Sweden Tightens Immigration: 'Good Conduct' Law Allows Revocation of Residence Permits for Misbehavior

Sweden's parliament passed legislation on June 15, 2026, enabling authorities to refuse or revoke residence permits for foreign nationals deemed to lack 'good conduct' or orderly living, marking a significant escalation in the country's restrictive migration policies. The measure, adopted by 302 votes to 44, expands scrutiny of applicants' and permit holders' behavior—including unpaid debts, undeclared work, tax evasion, failure to comply with authority decisions, and links to extremist organizations—without requiring a criminal record. It takes effect July 13, 2026, and applies retroactively to existing permits in many cases.

The law stems from proposals by Migration Minister Johan Forssell, who argued that 'anyone who doesn’t make the effort to do the right thing shouldn’t be able to count on staying.' It aligns with Sweden's broader pivot under its right-wing government, propped up by the nationalist Sweden Democrats, toward stricter rules on asylum, work permits (including salary thresholds at 90% of median), citizenship (residency extended from five to eight years with self-sufficiency and language requirements), and deportations. A parallel 'return package' enhances enforcement tools like data sharing and biometric checks.

This development reflects documented European trends of policy reversal amid integration challenges, public backlash, and electoral pressures, with Sweden transitioning from its historically permissive stance. Official Riksdag records and the Migration Agency confirm the changes target misconduct beyond crimes, such as systematic debt avoidance or illegal employment. Critics, including opposition parties and rights groups, highlight vagueness in definitions, while supporters frame it as enforcing societal norms of reliability and compliance.

Related reforms, including increased voluntary repatriation grants up to 350,000 SEK, underscore a comprehensive tightening rarely emphasized uniformly across outlets.