The Swedish government proposes a new bill mandating that migrants maintain an ‘honest living’ or face deportation. This centre-right Moderate Party administration, supported by the anti-immigration Democrats since taking office in 2022, pushes strict immigration controls ahead of September’s legislative elections, where recent polls place it third.
New ‘Honest Living’ Requirements
The policy targets behaviors such as ignoring debts, defying authority decisions, abusing benefits, or fraudulently obtaining residence permits. Authorities could also revoke permits for working without paying taxes or failing to settle fines. If approved, the measure takes effect on July 13.
Migration Minister Johan Forssell explains: “Following laws and rules is a given, but it must also be a given that we do our best to live responsibly and not harm our country. If, for example, you ignore paying your debts, if you don’t comply with decisions from Swedish authorities, if you cheat the benefits system, if you cheat your way to a Swedish residence permit… then you do not have the right to be here.”
Democrats’ migration policy spokesman Ludvig Aspling adds: “Statements – that is, things a person says or expresses – should not in themselves be regarded as evidence of lack of honest living, but they may be an indication of, for example, links to violent extremism, which can then be a sign of deficient character.”
Criticism from Human Rights Advocates
Human rights organizations voice concerns. Civil Rights Defenders warns the policy risks undermining legal equality and free speech. Legal director John Stauffer states: “The fact that non-criminalised statements may also be taken into account, even if they cannot constitute an ground for a lack of honest living, raises particularly serious concerns. Such an arrangement may have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and lead to increased self-censorship. In practice, this creates different rules depending on who you are, which runs counter to fundamental principles of equality before the law.”
European Immigration Trends
Similar tough measures emerge across Europe. In the UK, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood introduces temporary 30-month refugee status, renewable, and extends permanent residency timelines to 10 years for most migrants or 20 for refugees. Denmark’s centre-left Social Democrats plan to deport non-citizens serving year-long prison terms for serious crimes. Mahmood visited Denmark in February to study these approaches after the ruling party countered right-wing challengers with stricter laws.
Sweden’s Residence Permit Data
The Swedish Migration Agency reports 79,684 residence permits granted in 2025, with only 6 percent tied to asylum reasons—down sharply from 18 percent of 133,025 permits in 2018.
