Sweden to tighten rules for asylum requests

STOCKHOLM: Sweden´s government on Tuesday announced a bill that would restrict the possibility of rejected asylum seekers re-applying without having left the country.

The centre-right government -- a minority coalition propped up by the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats -- came to power in 2022 vowing to get tough on immigration.

Johan Forssell, Minister for Migration, told a press conference that over seven out of 10 asylum requests were denied.

“Hence, you should leave the country,” Forssell said, adding that a “considerable number” did not do so.

Under current legislation, a rejected asylum case and subsequent deportation ruling reaches the statute of limitations four years after the decision comes into force -- regardless of whether the person leaves.

Forssell noted that this meant that rejected asylum seekers have a right to have their case evaluated once again “even if the circumstances have remained the same.”

The minister lamented that this created incentives for people to “go underground” for four years and then re-apply without leaving Sweden.

According to the government, roughly 25 percent of asylum applications in 2023 where from individuals whose previous rejections had reached that statute of limitations. The government presented new legislation where a decision would instead be valid for five years “after the person leaves the country.”