Sweden Announces Stricter Good Conduct Requirements for Residence Permits

Key Point  

• Sweden introduced stricter good conduct requirements on July 13, 2026, granting the Swedish Migration Agency broader authority to refuse or revoke certain residence permits based on conduct, honesty and compliance with societal rules.  

Good Conduct Requirements  

Effective July 13, 2026, amendments to Sweden’s Aliens Act expanded the Swedish Migration Agency’s authority to assess an applicant’s good conduct (vandel) when reviewing residence permit applications.  

Under the new rules, the agency may deny or revoke a residence permit if it determines an individual lacks good conduct, even where the conduct does not constitute a criminal offense.  

What Is Changing? 

Previously, the Swedish Migration Agency primarily reviewed whether an applicant had committed criminal offenses in Sweden. 

 Under the new framework, authorities may also evaluate broader compliance with laws, regulations and societal expectations. The agency may consider information obtained from other government authorities, including records related to: 

• Repeated violations of rules or regulations; 
• Providing inaccurate or misleading information to authorities; 
• Information submitted in connection with social benefits or assistance programs; 
• Financial compliance issues; and 
• Links to criminal networks.  

Assessment Criteria 

The Migration Agency stated that isolated incidents of minor misconduct generally will not result in permit refusal. However, repeated patterns of noncompliance or dishonest behavior may be considered when evaluating an application.  

Officials will conduct an individualized assessment in each case and must balance the seriousness of any misconduct against the applicant’s basis for obtaining a residence permit. Decisions must remain consistent with principles of legality, objectivity and proportionality.  

Who Is Affected? 

The strengthened good conduct requirements generally apply to residence permits that are not based on EU law.  

According to the Migration Agency: 

• Residence permits based on EU law are generally exempt from the new requirements. These may include certain permits for work, study and family reunification depending on the legal basis.  
• The strengthened requirements do not apply to applications for international protection (asylum).  

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