Sweden in Focus

This week we have a heavy focus on immigration after the government revealed the details of a proposed new law tightening up citizenship requirement which sparked anger among many readers of The Local, mainly because the new rules will even apply to people who have been waiting years for their applications to be processed.For Membership+ subscribers we also look at the latest on teen deportations as the government comes under pressure to halt the expulsion of the young adult children of permanent residency holders.Finally we focus on work visas after we learned more this week about the government’s plans to allow limited exemptions to salary requirements for permit holders.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists James Savage and Becky Waterton. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Swedish citizenship Sweden reveals plan to tighten up citizenship rulesYour questions about Sweden's new citizenship lawSwedish citizenship almost impossible for stay-at-home partners under new lawTeen deportations Swedish PM says no plans for a freeze on teen deportationsWhat are the proposed solutions to Sweden's teen deportation problem?Work permitsSwedish government tells Migration Agency 'limited need' for work permit exemptions

This week we have a heavy focus on immigration after the government revealed the details of a proposed new law tightening up citizenship requirement which sparked anger among many readers of The Local, mainly because the new rules will even apply to people who have been waiting years for their applications to be processed.For Membership+ subscribers we also look at the latest on teen deportations as the government comes under pressure to halt the expulsion of the young adult children of permanent residency holders.Finally we focus on work visas after we learned more this week about the government’s plans to allow limited exemptions to salary requirements for permit holders.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists James Savage and Becky Waterton. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Swedish citizenship Sweden reveals plan to tighten up citizenship rulesYour questions about Sweden's new citizenship lawSwedish citizenship almost impossible for stay-at-home partners under new lawTeen deportations Swedish PM says no plans for a freeze on teen deportationsWhat are the proposed solutions to Sweden's teen deportation problem?Work permitsSwedish government tells Migration Agency 'limited need' for work permit exemptions

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-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+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ __In this week’s episode we shine a light on teen deportations, an issue that has jumped to the top of Sweden’s political agenda.The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange caught up recently with the migration policy spokespeople for the Green and Centre parties, two of three parties backing an initiative to end the deportation of the 18 year old children of permanent residency applicants.Annika Hirvonen from the Green Party explains why the Greens and the Left Party have filed a parliamentary initiative calling to reinstate a legal clause that previously stopped young adults being split from their families when they lost their residency permits as a dependent.Niels Paarup-Petersen from the Centre Party talks about the challenges of trying to get the Social Democrats on board with the initiative. In the studio, Richard gives more background on an issue that's affecting many foreigners in Sweden, and we look ahead at what's likely to happen next. READ ALSO:Swedish opposition parties call for new law to stop teen deportations'People in Sweden are really raising their voices now and it’s very beautiful'

In this week’s episode we shine a light on teen deportations, an issue that has jumped to the top of Sweden’s political agenda.The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange caught up recently with the migration policy spokespeople for the Green and Centre parties, two of three parties backing an initiative to end the deportation of the 18 year old children of permanent residency applicants.Annika Hirvonen from the Green Party explains why the Greens and the Left Party have filed a parliamentary initiative calling to reinstate a legal clause that previously stopped young adults being split from their families when they lost their residency permits as a dependent.Niels Paarup-Petersen from the Centre Party talks about the challenges of trying to get the Social Democrats on board with the initiative. In the studio, Richard gives more background on an issue that's affecting many foreigners in Sweden, and we look ahead at what's likely to happen next. READ ALSO:Swedish opposition parties call for new law to stop teen deportations'People in Sweden are really raising their voices now and it’s very beautiful'

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 every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ __In this week's episode we talk about the Swedish government’s pledge to drive through 12 new immigration laws before the September election.With the Winter Olympics underway, we assess Sweden’s chances and answer the big question: what's biathlon?For Membership+ subscribers we explain why the Migration Agency has been tasked with creating a new list of professions to be exempted from work permit salary requirements.We also hear from a disgruntled panelist who’s had to attend one too many Swedish parent-teacher meetings and wonders if there’s any way to fix them.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists James Savage and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:ImmigrationSweden to pass twelve new migration laws before September electionSportHow can you watch the 2026 Winter Olympics on Swedish TV?Work permitsWhy does Sweden's government want a new list of jobs exempted from the salary limit?EducationDo Swedish parent-teacher meetings have to be quite so unproductive?

In this week's episode we talk about the Swedish government’s pledge to drive through 12 new immigration laws before the September election.With the Winter Olympics underway, we assess Sweden’s chances and answer the big question: what's biathlon?For Membership+ subscribers we explain why the Migration Agency has been tasked with creating a new list of professions to be exempted from work permit salary requirements.We also hear from a disgruntled panelist who’s had to attend one too many Swedish parent-teacher meetings and wonders if there’s any way to fix them.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists James Savage and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:ImmigrationSweden to pass twelve new migration laws before September electionSportHow can you watch the 2026 Winter Olympics on Swedish TV?Work permitsWhy does Sweden's government want a new list of jobs exempted from the salary limit?EducationDo Swedish parent-teacher meetings have to be quite so unproductive?

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-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+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ __In this week’s episode the immigration lawyer Tomas Fridh chats with The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange about the government’s plan to revoke permanent residency permits from foreign citizens in Sweden.What are the criticisms of the proposal, who would be affected, and how likely is it that the government will push it through?Fridh explains that the Swedish Bar Association has given five reason that each would constitute grounds to ditch the plan. "I believe that in both Swedish and European law, it is forbidden to have random reasons for laws where the state uses force against individuals," he says. "Where you take rights away from individuals you cannot be discriminatory, and you cannot be random,"Tune in to this week's episode for the full interview with Tomas Fridh. READ ALSO:Lawyer says Sweden's plan to revoke residencies 'illegal on multiple counts'

In this week’s episode the immigration lawyer Tomas Fridh chats with The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange about the government’s plan to revoke permanent residency permits from foreign citizens in Sweden.What are the criticisms of the proposal, who would be affected, and how likely is it that the government will push it through?Fridh explains that the Swedish Bar Association has given five reason that each would constitute grounds to ditch the plan. "I believe that in both Swedish and European law, it is forbidden to have random reasons for laws where the state uses force against individuals," he says. "Where you take rights away from individuals you cannot be discriminatory, and you cannot be random,"Tune in to this week's episode for the full interview with Tomas Fridh. READ ALSO:Lawyer says Sweden's plan to revoke residencies 'illegal on multiple counts'

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 every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ __In this week's episode we talk about how exposed Sweden’s economy is to tariff threats from the US and wider global turbulence. And why has the finance minister reawakened the euro debate? We also look at some of the new words that have made it into the Swedish dictionary and how the English plural s is gaining more acceptance in Swedish.For Membership+ subscribers we examine why Sweden is making it much harder for high school pupils from non-EU countries to come here on exchange programmes.We also dig into an investigation on systematic abuse of Sweden's student visa system and what the country is doing to crack down.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Economy How Trump-proof is Sweden's economy?Swedish finance minister willing to investigate joining euro after electionWhy hasn't Sweden joined the euro and will it ever happen?Swedish languageWhat are the new words in Sweden's language rulebook?Grammar guide: When to use compound words in SwedishImmigration Sweden denying study permits for high-school exchange programs