Asylum, migration and integration

Ministry of Justice

Migration and asylum policy

Swedish migration policy covers refugee and immigration policy, returns, support for repatriation and the connection between migration and development. It also includes cooperation at international level on these issues.

Ministry of Justice

Information on visas

The purpose of Swedish and EU visa policy is to have as free an exchange of visits as possible, within the framework of regulated immigration. The citizens of some countries need to have visas to visit Sweden.

Ministry of Employment

Integration

Integration policy covers introduction to society of newly arrived immigrants, compensation to municipalities for refugee reception and promotion of integration. Swedish citizenship and urban development are also part of the integration policy. The goal of the integration policy is to ensure equal rights, obligations and opportunities for all, irrespective of their ethnic and cultural background.

Ministry of Employment

Urban development

In 2008, the Swedish Government presented a comprehensive national strategy for integration for the period 2008-2010. One of the seven strategic areas identified in the strategy is "local areas with widespread exclusion". The goal is to reduce the number of these areas and to improve living conditions there. The Government's efforts to combat exclusion in the mentioned areas are mainstreamed in general policies and coordinated in the policy for urban development focusing on employment, education, security and growth.

Ministry of Employment

Swedish citizenship

Swedish legislation on citizenship is based on the jus sanguinis principle, which means that citizenship, in principle, is acquired at birth if either of the parents is a Swedish citizen. Another fundamental principle is to avoid statelessness. Since 2001 Sweden accepts dual citizenship.

Logotype GFMD

Sweden chairs Global Forum on Migration and Development


Sweden is chairing the intergovernmental Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) for the period 2013-14.

Information on visas


The citizens of some countries need to have visas to visit Sweden. A list of the countries or regions whose citizens must have visas to enter Sweden can be found here.