Sweden has introduced a system that screens not only criminal records but also "conduct" when granting residence permits to foreigners. The Swedish government says the measure is intended to promote social integration and uphold law and order, but human rights groups are pushing back, saying it could chill freedom of expression and assembly.
On the 15th (local time), France's daily Le Monde reported that the Swedish Parliament passed a bill that includes foreigners' conduct as a criterion for reviewing residence permits. The bill is part of the tougher immigration controls pursued by the right-wing coalition government that took office in 2022 and the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD), which supports it in Parliament. At the time, the coalition agreement included a provision to "consider ways to deport foreigners with poor conduct," which sparked controversy.
Sweden had already introduced the criterion of an "honest life" as a requirement for acquiring citizenship on the 6th. The system has been tightened to evaluate morality and social responsibility not only for citizenship but also for residency status. Under the new law, residence permits can be denied or revoked if a person does not comply with laws and regulations, does not follow authorities' decisions, carries excessive debt, or maintains a livelihood by improper means.
However, the Swedish government excluded some of the provisions that drew controversy. Prostitution, begging, and drug or alcohol dependence, which had been under consideration, were removed from the grounds for revoking residence permits.
But after the bill passed, civil society groups and the legal community voiced concerns. Le Monde reported that "the biggest controversy is the ambiguity over what constitutes 'good conduct' versus 'bad conduct.'" Ludvig Beckman, a political science professor at Stockholm University, told Le Monde, "The definition of bad conduct is excessively vague," adding, "There are concerns that even participation by Kurdish immigrants in protests criticizing the Turkish government could be interpreted as a national security threat."
Similar concerns are being raised among climate activists. Isabelle Letellier, a French environmental activist working in Sweden, was arrested during a 2023 protest against an airport and later acquitted in court, but her 2024 citizenship application was reportedly rejected.
International human rights group Amnesty International criticized the bill for applying separate standards only to foreigners. Anna Johansson, secretary-general of the Sweden section, argued in a recent op-ed, "Some foreigners may hesitate to express their opinions or participate in protests for fear of disadvantages."
The Swedish government, meanwhile, says a residence permit will not be revoked based on speech alone. The government said that speech itself, if not a criminal act, is not subject to sanctions and that the bill's purpose is to prevent behaviors that undermine social order.
Once known for having the most generous immigration policy in Europe, Sweden has recently been tightening immigration controls in succession, citing rising crime and challenges in social integration. Observers say the bill is in line with that policy direction.