Norway's Labour Government Tightens Demands on Immigrants - Sweden Delays

OSLO - Norway's Labour government is raising the bar for migrants. From January 1, 2027, newcomers will be handed an "integration declaration" stating that work and the Norwegian language are the way into society - and that no one should live under coercion or oppression from their own family or clan.

The decision was taken on Friday by the King in Council, meaning the government together with the King. It is driven by Labour and Inclusion Minister Kjersti Stenseng of the Labour Party, the Norwegian counterpart of Sweden's Social Democrats, led by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

"We must be clear about which rules and values apply in Norway. That creates security both for those who come here and for the society around them," Stenseng said.

The declaration will be given to newcomers and their family members early on, when they start the introduction programme - Norway's scheme of language courses and work placements for new arrivals. According to the newspaper Utrop, it is to be signed when the person receives their integration plan.

According to the government, the declaration states that work is the most important path to integration and that newcomers must learn Norwegian as early as possible. It also states that everyone has the right to live freely without violence, threats or coercion, and to choose whom they marry. Equality between men and women, children's rights and parents' responsibilities are also covered.

A key part concerns what Norway calls negative social control - when family or relatives decide whom a person may see, what they may wear or whom they may marry.

No penalties of its own

The declaration is not a contract with penalties attached, and breaking it carries no sanctions in itself. But existing rules still apply: the benefits paid to participants in the introduction programme can be cut or stopped entirely for those who do not take part.

For permanent residency, migrants must speak Norwegian, pass a civics test and be able to support themselves. The requirements for citizenship are higher still. Breaking Norwegian law is punished as usual.

The declaration replaces the integration contract introduced in 2021. "Today's integration contract does not work well enough. It makes too few demands on those who come to Norway," Stenseng told the broadcaster NRK when the proposal was presented. She also said at the time that she was open to tougher consequences, but none are part of the decision.

Progress Party: "Welcome aboard"

The Progress Party, Norway's largest immigration-critical party, answered "welcome aboard" when the proposal came - meaning the government has finally come around to the Progress Party's line.

It is not a tough reform. But it shows that even Norway's Social Democrats now say openly that newcomers have obligations, not just rights.

Sweden delays its language test

In Sweden, the new requirements for citizenship are moving slowly. The Swedish Council for Higher Education, the agency responsible, wants to postpone the new Swedish language test for citizenship from 2027 until autumn 2029 at the earliest.