Will Sweden's new citizenship rules put foreign workers off?
Sweden in Focus18 Tammi 2025

Will Sweden's new citizenship rules put foreign workers off?

Sweden's government promised a paradigm shift on immigration and this was a week in which they moved ahead with some cornerstone policies.

As we spoke about in last week's podcast, enhanced security checks are expected to slow down decisions on citizenship by a migration authority already struggling to manage a backlog of more than 80,000 applications.

The head of a government inquiry this week recommended a grace period for existing applicants as Sweden moves to extend residency requirements from five to eight years for citizenship. In this week's episode politicians remind us that they're not obliged to follow the inquiry's recommendations.

For Membership+ subscribers we discuss why dual citizenship is on the agenda this week after a parliamentary committee recommended changing the constitution to enable the revocation of Swedish citizenship for serious crimes including espionage, terrorism and treason. But a disagreement between the government and the Social Democrats on which crimes should be covered suggests this is an issue we'll be hearing much more about in the run-up to the 2026 election.

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and James Savage.

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

New Swedish citizenship rulesGet Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts

Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.

Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+

Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jaksot(258)

How serious is Sweden's democratic decline?

How serious is Sweden's democratic decline?

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra e...

3 Huhti 30min

'We worry that migration rules are making Sweden more unattractive'

'We worry that migration rules are making Sweden more unattractive'

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-lengt...

31 Maalis 4min

How to celebrate Easter in Sweden, and unions press government on immigration clampdown

How to celebrate Easter in Sweden, and unions press government on immigration clampdown

This week we talk about why some Swedish trade unions are pushing back against Sweden’s stricter immigration laws.Also, with Easter around the corner we look at how the holiday is celebrated in Sweden...

28 Maalis 22min

'Politicians knew teens would be kicked out – the surprise was the reaction'

'Politicians knew teens would be kicked out – the surprise was the reaction'

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-lengt...

25 Maalis 3min

Crunch time for Sweden's new citizenship law

Crunch time for Sweden's new citizenship law

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra e...

19 Maalis 23min

Why the Liberals abandoned their opposition to Sweden Democrats in government

Why the Liberals abandoned their opposition to Sweden Democrats in government

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-lengt...

17 Maalis 3min

What does Sweden's deportation climbdown mean for immigrants?

What does Sweden's deportation climbdown mean for immigrants?

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra e...

14 Maalis 26min

Stricter immigration 'will make Sweden less attractive' for game workers

Stricter immigration 'will make Sweden less attractive' for game workers

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-lengt...

11 Maalis 4min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

uutiscast
aikalisa
politiikan-puskaradio
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
tervo-halme
rss-podme-livebox
rss-asiastudio
otetaan-yhdet
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
rss-raha-talous-ja-politiikka
the-ulkopolitist
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
aihe
linda-maria
rss-sinivalkoinen-islam
rss-polikulaari-pitka-kiekko-ja-muut-ts-podcastit
rss-hyvaa-huomenta-bryssel
rss-girls-finish-f1rst
rss-tasta-on-kyse-ivan-puopolo-verkkouutiset