Swedish Parliament faces opposition to two‑year family reunion wait and fast‑track citizenship plan

Opposition parties in the Swedish Parliament are preparing to vote down a proposal that would require foreigners to wait more than two years before they can bring close relatives to Sweden. The move would extend the current family reunion waiting period and is seen as a test for the governing coalition in its final parliamentary session.

At the same time, the governing Moderate Party has introduced a fast‑track citizenship scheme that would allow certain well‑integrated migrants to obtain Swedish citizenship after five years instead of the standard eight. The proposal, presented by Migration Minister Johan Forssell, would apply to individuals who have started businesses, learned Swedish quickly, or made notable contributions to Swedish society. Critics argue the fast‑track undermines the recently tightened citizenship rules and could be implemented before the new regulations have taken effect. The scheme remains a campaign promise and would require a new parliamentary decision to become law.