Swedish government tightens asylum rules: 'No longer allowed to stay after rejected application'

stockholm - The Swedish government is tightening the reins on asylum applications, requiring individuals whose applications have been rejected to leave the country before reapplying for asylum.

The Swedish government is tightening the reins on asylum applications, requiring individuals whose applications have been rejected to leave the country before reapplying for asylum. The Swedish cabinet hopes to increase the number of returnees with the support of the Sweden Democrats party while also curbing the number of asylum applications.

'We want to send a very clear signal. The time is over when you could apply for asylum and stay after a rejection to submit a new application,' said Swedish Migration Minister Johan Forsell on Tuesday during the presentation of the new plans.

Currently, many asylum seekers remain in Sweden after their applications have been rejected, waiting for the opportunity to submit a new application. This can occur four years after the original decision in the Scandinavian country. According to government figures, over the past decade, the police have handled nearly sixty thousand cases in which individuals had to leave after receiving a deportation order.

Minister Johan Forsell believes that the current system contributes to the creation of a shadow society. 'It creates incentives for them to hide in the country and then undergo prosecution again, even if the circumstances have not changed.'

With the new regulations, the Swedish government aims to ensure that individuals whose applications have been rejected leave the country before the limitation period expires. If an illegal asylum seeker remains in Sweden despite being issued a deportation order, the decision will not expire, and the individual cannot reapply for asylum.

'This will eliminate the motivation to stay illegally in Sweden awaiting the limitation period to then apply for a new application,' said Ludvig Aspling, spokesperson for migration policy at the Sweden Democrats.

During the press conference, the Swedish government announced several measures. They also aim to end the ability to apply for a work permit after the rejection of an asylum application. The government deems this system too risky, prone to fraud, and enabling abuse. Additionally, the government proposes extending the limitation period from four to five years. They aim for all plans to come into effect through a legislative change on April 1, 2025.