The Swedish government has tasked the Swedish Migration Agency to introduce measures to tighten controls for those who want to obtain Swedish citizenship.
The Swedish Migration Agency has presented several measures that include the detection of potential security threats, strengthening ID control and implementing systems for the revocation of residence permits, Schengen.News reports.
New Measures Include Improving ID Controls
The authorities are designing a standard that will be used to handle, register, and review ID documents. The plan includes proposals for technical developments, using more photo comparisons and review training.
There will also be an internal review of the conditions for people to verify their identity through a close relative and to be exempted from the requirement for verified identity.
This will be a change as the Migration Agency is currently not allowed to take fingerprints and photographs to check identity in cases of Swedish citizenship. As the press release points out, there is a strong need for legislation that makes it possible for the authorities to collect biometric data of those who want to become Swedish citizens.
The authorities also plan to increase the transfer of information to the security police as well as strengthen competence regarding security threats, which have to be specially trained specialists.
The Swedish government has also tightened the rules for foreigners to obtain citizenship, including language tests, culture exams, and financial requirements.
Sweden Granted Citizenship to Over 33,000 Foreigners in 2024
According to the Swedish Migration Agency, a total of 33,633 people obtained Swedish citizenship in the first half of this year. Compared to 2023, this number is down by 11.8 per cent.
The main nationalities that obtained citizenship during this period were Syrians and Eritreans, with 4,192 and 3,466 new citizens, respectively, while Afghanis followed third (2,519). Syrians, Afghans and Eritreans represent nearly one-third (30.2 per cent) of the total people who obtained citizenship in the first half of the year.
Except for third-country nationals, the list of top ten nationalities that obtained Swedish citizenship the most during the first half of the year also includes EU citizens such as Poles, Romanians and Germans, with totals of 1,509, 691 and 635 cases, respectively.
Source: https://schengen.news/sweden-to-introduce-more-stringent-measures-for-those-who-want-to-obtain-citizenship/
