The government has decided to submit a legislative proposal with stricter requirements for people who want to bring relatives to Sweden. Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M) says the requirements have been set too low.
The regulations have been undemanding in many ways, he said at a press conference.
It is clear that you should be able to bring relatives to Sweden, but you have to work and do the right thing.
A new requirement is a two-year waiting period for those who want to apply to bring their relatives to Sweden. The requirement does not apply to labor immigrants, researchers and doctoral students, and certain refugees.
Must earn 53,000 kronor
The Tidö parties also want to tighten the support requirement considerably. In addition, the person must have a home of sufficient size.
For example, someone who wants to bring their wife and two children here will need an income of almost 53,000 kronor per month before tax. Income from things like unemployment insurance and activity support will no longer be included.
The rules are also being tightened for who is allowed to bring their relatives here. For example, students or people awaiting deportation will no longer be allowed to do so.
In recent years, the number of relatives who have received residence permits has been around 45,000. How much of a reduction the proposals may lead to is difficult to say, according to the Migration Minister.
It will have a concrete effect, but no one knows how many people will seek asylum in Sweden in three, five or ten years, he said.
MP: “Splits”
However, groups that have historically accounted for a large part of family immigration to Sweden are not included. For labor immigrants, different regulations apply, and people with refugee status fall under the EU’s Family Reunification Directive, which states that refugees may not be required to have a certain length of stay and in some cases are also exempt from support requirements.
Forssell says that they have gone as far as possible within the framework of national legislation.
We are not against being able to bring relatives to Sweden. What we are against is this lack of requirements that has been in place.
MPs think the proposals are cynical and divide families.
“All children will have to wait an extra two years to hug their parents if they are still in refugee camps and their parents have fled here. The Swedish population has clearly said no to the deportation of teenagers – how can the government believe that there is support for even younger children not being allowed to grow up with their parents?” said Annika Hirvonen (MP).
The government is tightening the rules for asylum seekers to bring relatives here on these points:
A two-year waiting period before you can apply to bring relatives here.
The support requirement will be increased by 30 percent compared to today, and will also apply when applying for an extension.
Fewer people should be able to function as sponsors. Students and people with disabilities are completely excluded.
Stricter proof requirements for biological relationships.
The proposed legislation will bring the rules into line with EU minimum standards. The proposed amendments will come into effect on 1 October this year.
Source: Government
