The Tidö coalition parties are presenting several changes and exceptions in migration policy following criticism over specific consequences of the new rules.

At a press conference on Friday morning, the government and the Sweden Democrats announced that the so-called teen deportations will be paused pending new legislation; at the same time, several other adjustments and exceptions are proposed in the migration area.

Meanwhile, the contentious inquiry regarding permanent residence permits will be supplemented, and new announcements are being made on track switching, labor immigration within healthcare and social care, as well as opportunities for Ukrainians to stay in Sweden.

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On Friday, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M), Sweden Democrats’ party leader Jimmie Åkesson, Minister for Energy and Business Ebba Busch (KD), and Minister for Education and Integration Simona Mohamsson (L) invited to a press conference to present the new proposals.

Pause for Controversial ‘Teen Deportations’

Lately, the Tidö coalition has faced harsh criticism for the so-called teen deportations—cases where young people who arrived in Sweden as children risk deportation when they turn 18, even though they are still studying in upper secondary school. This is because, as adults, they are no longer covered by their parents’ residence permits.

Now, the government wants to clarify a “safety valve” in the ongoing inquiry on family reunification. The change is intended to make it easier to grant residence permits when there is a clear dependency between the young person and a family member in Sweden. The parties expect the Swedish Migration Agency to pause ongoing deportations while the legislation is developed.

– A solution for young adults who have done the right thing and are completing their upper secondary studies but, due to legislation from 2016, risk falling through the cracks, summarized Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) at the press conference.

According to the government, the aim is to prevent young people in the middle of their studies from being deported before they have finished their education.

Inquiry on Permanent Residence Permits to Be Supplemented

Another announcement concerns the much-debated inquiry on changing the rules for permanent residence permits. Some of the government coalition parties have been critical of the design of the inquiry and now want to see it supplemented. The Ministry of Justice is therefore tasked with further work on the proposal in a more lenient direction.

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The new supplements will, among other things, review exceptions in the regulations and more clearly describe how those who want to become Swedish citizens can do so, for example through deadlines or targeted support measures. The costs for the proposed changes will also be specified in more detail.

– The proposals resulting from this work will be presented in a draft for government referral, which will be processed in the usual manner. And this work will be carried out with the least possible delay, says Jimmie Åkesson (SD).

Facilitation for So-Called Track Switchers

The government is also opening up to mitigating changes in the rules for so-called track switchers—people who initially applied for asylum but later received work permits.

Currently, many in that group must leave Sweden to apply for a new work permit from their home country or another country. The government now wants to make it possible to instead apply for a new permit from within Sweden, provided the salary requirement is met. This is a reversion to the previous, more generous rules.

– Track switchers will not need to leave the country and apply for their permit from abroad, says KD leader Ebba Busch.

Exception for Shortage Occupations in Health and Social Care

The government also wants to create exemptions in the regulation for labor immigration within certain professions. A government ordinance will list shortage occupations where labor immigration can be permitted even if the salary is below the new minimum wage planned for implementation on June 1 this year.

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The focus is especially on jobs in health and social care, where the government wants to ensure that the supply of skilled workers is not diminished. Low wages below the required level will still be permitted in these areas for migrants.

New Paths for Ukrainians to Stay

The situation for people from Ukraine is also being addressed. The government has recently proposed that Ukrainians residing in Sweden under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive should be able to switch to other types of permits—such as labor immigration or studies—without having to leave the country.

The background is that many who have stayed in Sweden for a long time with temporary protection otherwise risk having no way to qualify for a permanent residence permit. The government thus wants to review solutions for those who may have difficulty returning when the Temporary Protection Directive expires, especially for those who are already working but do not meet the new salary requirement.