Sweden adopts 'lifestyle' rule to strip residency permits

On 15 June 2026 Sweden's parliament approved a new migration law that allows the Migration Agency to revoke residence permits when a foreigner's overall conduct is judged incompatible with a "respectable way of life". The criteria include unpaid debts, tax evasion, undeclared work, abuse of the social‑insurance system and contacts with extremist groups. The law also applies to permits already granted, meaning that holders can be reassessed and potentially expelled without a criminal conviction.

Minister for Migration Johan Forsell stressed that "whoever lives in Sweden must not harm the country", and the government, led by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and supported by the Swedish Democrats, presented the rule as a tool against crime and parallel societies. Multiple agencies – police, tax authorities, employment services and social services – may report suspected violations, though medical and educational bodies were excluded after revisions. Opposition parties and legal experts have warned that the lack of clear definitions could lead to arbitrary decisions and legal challenges.