A majority of voters say no to people being stripped of their permanent residence permits. At the same time, the issue is one of the most controversial within the Tidö cooperation. The Sweden Democrats are pushing for a change, while several government parties are hesitant—and the Liberals promise to stop the proposal.

The plans to make it possible to convert permanent residence permits into temporary ones have become a politically charged issue. An opinion poll from Novus, commissioned by TV4 Nyheterna, shows—based on how the issue is presented in media coverage—that a majority of Swedes do not want to see such a change.

In the survey, 58 percent say they oppose the proposal. 24 percent support the idea, while 18 percent are unsure. Even among voters who sympathize with the governing parties, opinions are divided: 47 percent do not want to pursue the proposal, while 33 percent think it should be implemented.

READ ALSO: Permanent residence permits withdrawn—made temporary

Meanwhile, work continues politically. The parties behind the Tidö Agreement agree that the issue will be further investigated, but there is still no consensus on actually implementing the legislative change.

Division within the Tidö Parties

It is primarily the Sweden Democrats who are pushing for the possibility to revoke permanent residence permits. The party sees the reform as a central part of a more restrictive migration policy.

The government parties, on the other hand, are more hesitant. They argue that the investigation underpinning the proposal needs to be supplemented before any concrete legislative proposal can be considered. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has also pointed out that the issue is legally and politically complicated.

The Liberals have gone furthest in their opposition. The party flatly says no to overturning already made government decisions.

– Partly it is about being able to trust that government decisions actually apply and are not overturned for purely political reasons, but also about ensuring that immigrants coming to Sweden can quickly integrate into Swedish society, says the Liberal Party Secretary Fredrik Brange in a comment to TV4.

The party has also signaled that it will continue to oppose such a proposal even after the 2026 election. A made government decision must stand, they assert.

Tens of Thousands Could Be Affected

Currently, about 180,000 people in Sweden have permanent residence permits. Of these, up to about 100,000 are estimated to be affected by new legislation that would make it possible to convert the permits into temporary ones.

The proposals in the government inquiry mainly concern people who have obtained permanent residence after being granted asylum—such as refugees, persons in need of alternative protection, or their relatives. Also included are people who received permits for humanitarian reasons or under previous temporary laws. Labor migrants, however, are not affected.

READ ALSO: The Tidö Proposal: Phase Out Permanent Residence Permits

The idea is that in such cases, permanent permits would be replaced with temporary residence permits. If a person does not meet the requirements for a new permit, it could ultimately mean that their right to stay in Sweden ends.

Intended to Encourage More to Become Citizens

One of the purposes behind the proposal is to create stronger incentives for people to become Swedish citizens. The investigation therefore proposes an exception: those who have applied for Swedish citizenship within a certain time frame should not have their permanent residence permit revoked.

Many of those affected have lived in Sweden for a long time, in some cases more than a decade, without establishing themselves in the country or showing a willingness to take the step toward citizenship. The government has simultaneously emphasized that most people would likely be able to stay in the country—by obtaining citizenship or other types of residence permits—with a bit more pressure.

READ ALSO: The Government Wants to Tighten Requirements for Citizenship

The debate has also concerned integration. Proponents argue that the change would put pressure on people who have lived in Sweden for a long time without establishing themselves in the labor market or taking steps toward citizenship.

Criticism about Legal Certainty

The proposal also faces criticism from several quarters. Lawyers and organizations have warned that it may conflict with fundamental legal principles, since permanent residence permits are considered favorable decisions that should not normally be changed to the detriment of the individual.

Critics also argue that it could create significant uncertainty for people who have already built their lives in Sweden. This criticism is met with the argument that the proposal does not concern that group, but rather people who have not established themselves in the country despite having had plenty of time to do so.

Negotiations about Time Frames

The Sweden Democrats have also signaled some flexibility in the discussions. Negotiations have included, among other things, how much time people should have to meet new requirements, such as gaining employment or qualifying for citizenship.

Such adjustments are seen by the party as possible compromises, even though the basic principle—that permanent permits should be able to be converted to temporary ones or revoked entirely—remains unchanged.