Sweden has adopted a tougher policy on asylum in its country, with new laws coming into force on Wednesday.
From 20 July asylum seekers in Sweden will be granted the minimum level of rights which the EU requires of its member states.
A major change is the introduction of temporary three-year residence permits. Previously, permanent permits had been granted.
Family reunification rights have been curtailed, making it more difficult for applicants’ relatives to enter Sweden.
The impact, however, is also likely to be felt by expats as well as Swedish citizens seeking to bring their partners into the country.
Whereas previously individuals seeking reunification needed to prove they could provide financially for themselves in order to sponsor a family member, now they need to prove they can provide both for themselves and for the incoming family member.
The tougher regime was approved by parliament in June by 240 votes to 45. They are, however, temporary measures to be in place for a maximum of three years.
The government believes the measures are necessary to reduce the number of refugees and asylum seekers entering Sweden. In 2015 it received a record 163,000 applications.
“Even if we had the world’s best intake system, we don’t have a magic wand that allows us to conjure up hundreds of thousands of homes, tens of thousands of teachers and social workers, and hundreds of schools,” migration minister Morgan Johansson said.
“There are physical limitations on how many people we can take in,” he added.
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