2026-06-152025/26:SfU36 · p.2SfUMigration & social insurance
The concept of good conduct
The concept of 'vandel' (conduct) in migration law
What's at stake: The decision determines how clear and predictable the legal concept governing assessments of foreign nationals' right to stay in Sweden will be, affecting legal certainty for the people whose residence permits are assessed.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the new, open-ended concept of 'vandel' (conduct/character) should be used as the basis for residence-permit assessments, or whether the already-established and more precise phrase 'well-behaved and honorable way of life' should be used instead.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee backs the government's proposal to use the concept of 'vandel' as the basis for assessing a foreign national's right to stay in Sweden. It considers this individual assessment an important tool against crime and disorder and necessary for migration policy to retain broad public acceptance, while the government has already addressed many concerns raised through clarifications and nuances.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (S, C)
S and C argue that 'vandel' is not an established legal term but is politically vague and archaic, creating legal uncertainty. They want the already-established phrase 'well-behaved and honorable way of life,' recently adopted for citizenship, to be used for residence permits as well, for more uniform and predictable application.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 2 by S, C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Abstain 0/0/21/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| S | No | No 0/105/0/1 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/18/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | No | No 0/24/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 16/0/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 19/0/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 66/0/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 70/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2025/26:4154 by Ida Karkiainen et al. (S) request 1 and 2025/26:4161 by Niels Paarup-Petersen et al. (C) request 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2025/26:4154 av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S) yrkande 1 och 2025/26:4161 av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C) yrkande 2.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved the Government's proposal that a foreign national's good conduct, that is to say way of life, to a greater extent should be taken into account when examining the right to residence permits, both when it comes to granting and revoking such permits. The purpose of the change is primarily to increase the possibilities of removing persons from the country because of their way of life. Furthermore, residence permits should among other things be able to be revoked in more situations than today. The decision means among other things that the requirements are sharpened for obtaining and retaining a residence permit by having a person's way of life, so called good conduct, have greater significance when examining the right to residence permits. It becomes possible to deny or revoke a residence permit for misconduct such as not complying with laws, regulations and administrative decisions, having large debts or making a living in a dishonest way. The legislative amendments begin to enter into force on 13 July 2026.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to replace the concept of vandel with the established and clearer term decent and honorable living in immigration law. (S, C) — Reservation 2
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan requires that legal certainty is maintained and that those who seek protection are guaranteed an individual and legally certain assessment, and that authorities meet all people with the same respect.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that legal certainty is maintained and that those who seek protection are guaranteed an individual and legally certain assessment, and that authorities meet all people with the same respect. A diffuse conduct concept that opens for arbitrariness conflicts with that, while the counter-proposal's demand for an established and foreseeable concept reduces legal uncertainty. The plan does not take position on precisely this concept question, however, so the conclusion is derived from the principles.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att rättssäkerheten upprätthålls och att den som söker skydd garanteras en individuell och rättssäker prövning, samt att myndigheter möter alla människor med samma respekt. Ett diffust vandelsbegrepp som öppnar för godtycke strider mot det, medan motförslagets krav på ett etablerat och förutsebart begrepp minskar rättsosäkerheten. Planen tar dock inte ställning till just denna begreppsfråga, varför slutsatsen härleds ur principerna.
- legal certainty in authority decisionsdecisive»Rättssäkerheten behöver upprätthållas genom rättshjälp, medborgerlig« (party programme ↗)“Legal certainty needs to be maintained through legal aid, civic”
- legally certain assessment»Här ska den som söker asyl garanteras« (party programme ↗)“Here the one who seeks asylum is guaranteed”
- equivalent treatment»Myndigheter har ett särskilt ansvar att möta alla människor« (party programme ↗)“Authorities have particular responsibility to meet all people”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires that the principles of the rule of law be guarded and a legal order based on equality before the law for all, which presupposes predictable and established legal concepts.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the principles of the rule of law be guarded and a legal order based on equality before the law for all, which presupposes predictable and established legal concepts. Using the already established concept of decent and honourable living conduct instead of the vague conduct concept responds to that requirement, without lowering demands on the individual. The plan simultaneously holds fast to a strict migration policy, which the counter-proposal does not change.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att rättsstatens principer värnas och en rättsordning som bygger på allas likhet inför lagen, vilket förutsätter förutsebara och etablerade rättsliga begrepp. Att använda det redan inarbetade begreppet skötsamt och hederligt levnadssätt i stället för det diffusa vandelsbegreppet svarar mot det kravet, utan att sänka kraven på individen. Planen håller samtidigt fast vid en stram migrationspolitik, vilket motförslaget inte rubbar.
- rule of law principlesdecisive»Slå vakt om rättsstatens principer.« (party programme ↗)“Guard the principles of the rule of law.”
- equality before the law»En rättsordning som bygger på allas likhet inför lagen.« (party programme ↗)“A legal order based on equality before the law for all.”
- demands on the individual»Integration byggd på både plikt och rätt, med tydligt ansvar också för individen« (party programme ↗)“Integration built on both duty and right, with clear responsibility also for the individual”
- strict migration policy»Vi har stramat åt migrationspolitiken, och denna linje ligger fast.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We have tightened migration policy, and this line remains fixed.”
The counter-proposal wants to replace the vague conduct concept with the established requirement for proper and honourable conduct to achieve predictability.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to replace the vague conduct concept with the established requirement for proper and honourable conduct to achieve predictability. The plan requires that all new legislation be carefully scrutinised from the perspective of legal certainty and fundamental rights and that legal certainty be guaranteed throughout the legal system. It also stands for a humane and legally certain migration policy, which speaks for a predictable concept.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill ersätta det diffusa vandelsbegreppet med det etablerade kravet på skötsamt och hederligt levnadssätt för att uppnå förutsebarhet. Planen kräver att all ny lagstiftning prövas noggrant utifrån rättssäkerhet och grundläggande rättigheter och att rättssäkerheten garanteras i hela rättssystemet. Den står dessutom för en human och rättssäker migrationspolitik, vilket talar för ett förutsebart begrepp.
- legally certain legislationdecisive»prövas noggrant utifrån rättssäkerhet och grundläggande fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“be carefully scrutinised from the perspective of legal certainty and fundamental freedoms and rights.”
- equality before the law»individens frihet. Alla ska vara lika inför lagen och rättssäkerheten måste garanteras i« (party programme ↗)“the individual's freedom. All shall be equal before the law and legal certainty must be guaranteed in”
- legally certain migration policy»Vi gröna står för en human och rättssäker migrationspolitik. I en tid där människor som« (party programme ↗)“We Greens stand for a humane and legally certain migration policy. In a time when people”
- legal certainty in migration assessment»stärka rättssäkerheten i asylprocessen och stödet för hbtqi-flyktingar och andra sårbara grupper.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen legal certainty in the asylum process and support for LGBTQIA+ refugees and other vulnerable groups.”
flags: citat_migrerat
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires that the rule of law and the individual's rights against the state be defended and wants to see rights legislation with clear, enforceable rules.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the rule of law and the individual's rights against the state be defended and wants to see rights legislation with clear, enforceable rules. A vague and old-fashioned concept as the basis for the right to reside in the country creates the opposite of predictability. Using instead the established term respectable and honourable conduct therefore follows from the plan's legal security line and the requirement for proportionality in legislation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att rättsstaten och individens rättigheter gentemot staten försvaras och vill se en rättighetslagstiftning med tydliga, utkrävbara regler. Ett diffust och ålderdomligt begrepp som grund för rätten att vistas i landet skapar motsatsen till förutsebarhet. Att i stället använda det etablerade uttrycket skötsamt och hederligt levnadssätt följer därför av planens rättssäkerhetslinje och kravet på proportionalitet i lagstiftningen.
- rule of law defendeddecisive»Rättsstaten och individens rättigheter gentemot staten måste försvaras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The rule of law and the individual's rights against the state must be defended.”
- clear and enforceable rules»Vi vill se en rättighetslagstiftning, ett tydligt samhällskontrakt med utkrävbara rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“We want to see rights legislation, a clear social contract with enforceable rights.”
- proportionality in legislation»Det måste finnas en proportionalitet mellan lagstiftningens inskränkning av medborgarnas integritet och lagarnas syfte.« (party programme ↗)“There must be proportionality between legislation's restriction of citizens' privacy and the laws' purpose.”
- right to appeal»Politiska beslut och juridiska domslut måste kunna överklagas« (party programme ↗)“Political decisions and judicial rulings must be able to be appealed”
The counter-proposal accepts the requirement for respectability but wants that an established and predictable concept is used instead of conduct.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal accepts the requirement for respectability but wants that an established and predictable concept is used instead of conduct. The plan requires that legal certainty is strengthened and that laws and regulations protect legal certainty and equal conditions, which speaks for the clearer concept. The plan's support for that crime leads to expulsion applies to the content, not the concept choice.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget godtar kravet på skötsamhet men vill att ett etablerat och förutsebart begrepp används i stället för vandel. Planen kräver att rättssäkerheten stärks och att lagar och regler slår vakt om rättssäkerhet och likvärdiga förutsättningar, vilket talar för det tydligare begreppet. Planens stöd för att brott ska leda till utvisning gäller sakinnehållet, inte begreppsvalet.
- strengthened legal certaintydecisive»Rättssäkerheten och skyddet för de medborgerliga fri- och rättigheterna behöver förstärkas.« (party programme ↗)“Legal certainty and protection for civic freedoms and rights need to be strengthened.”
- predictable rules»Lagar och regler ska slå vakt om äganderätt, konkurrens på lika villkor, rättssäkerhet och att enskilda människor har likvärdiga och goda möjligheter att nå sina livsmål.« (party programme ↗)“Laws and regulations shall protect property rights, competition on equal terms, legal certainty and that individuals have equal and good opportunities to reach their life goals.”
- expulsion for crime»Återfall i brott ska lättare leda till utvisning för den som inte är svensk medborgare, och vid grova vålds- och sexualbrott liksom hat- eller hedersrelaterade brott ska utvisning alltid prövas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Recidivism shall more easily lead to expulsion for the person who is not a Swedish citizen, and for serious violent and sexual crimes as well as hate or honour-related crimes expulsion shall always be considered.”
- dignity and integrity»Den enskildes värdighet och integritet får inte kränkas.« (party programme ↗)“The individual's dignity and integrity shall not be violated.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The counter-proposal does not object to the examination in substance but wants to use the established concept of proper and respectable way of life for the sake of predictability.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal does not object to the examination in substance but wants to use the established concept of proper and respectable way of life for the sake of predictability. The plan requires reactions that are anchored in clear legislation and a consensus between people's sense of justice and the legal order, and that processes for those seeking residence permit are legally certain. An established concept serves that purpose.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget invänder inte mot prövningen i sak utan vill använda det etablerade begreppet skötsamt och hederligt levnadssätt för förutsebarhetens skull. Planen kräver reaktioner som är förankrade i en tydlig lagstiftning och en samsyn mellan människors rättsuppfattning och rättsordningen, och att processer för den som söker uppehållstillstånd är rättssäkra. Ett vedertaget begrepp tjänar det syftet.
- clear and predictable legislationdecisive»innefatta snabba och förutsägbara reaktioner som är förankrade i en human och tydlig« (party programme ↗)“include swift and predictable reactions that are anchored in a human and clear”
- consensus on right and wrong»måste finnas en samsyn mellan människors uppfattning om vad som är rätt och fel och« (party programme ↗)“must be a consensus between people's understanding of what is right and wrong and”
- legally certain assessment»För den som söker asyl i Sverige måste hela processen vara utformad så att rättssäkerhet« (party programme ↗)“For those who seek asylum in Sweden, the entire process must be designed so that legal certainty”
- strict migration policy»Stram migrationspolitik krävs för att ta itu med integrationsproblem och utanförskap.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strict migration policy is required to address integration problems and exclusion.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan uses the formulation clear requirements for an honorable way of life itself when it describes the path into Swedish society, and requires that the exercise of public authority be guided by equal treatment and predictability.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan uses the formulation clear requirements for an honorable way of life itself when it describes the path into Swedish society, and requires that the exercise of public authority be guided by equal treatment and predictability. The counter-proposal wants to use that established term instead of the undefined conduct, without softening demands in substance. That aligns with the plan, which therefore supports the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Planen använder själv formuleringen tydliga krav på ett hederligt levnadssätt när den beskriver vägen in i det svenska samhället, och den kräver att offentlig maktutövning vägleds av likabehandling och förutsebarhet. Motförslaget vill använda just det etablerade begreppet i stället för det odefinierade vandel, utan att mildra kraven i sak. Det ligger i linje med planen, som därför stöder kravet.
- requirements for honorable way of lifedecisive»Det är också viktigt med tydliga krav på ett« (party programme ↗)“It is also important with clear requirements for an”
- predictable exercise of authority»principer om likabehandling och förutsebarhet« (party programme ↗)“principles of equal treatment and predictability”
- clear requirements for residence status»Kräva grundläggande kunskaper i svenska för permanent uppehållstillstånd och medborgarskap« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Require basic Swedish language skills for permanent residence permit and citizenship”
- crime shall lead to expulsion»Utvisa den som har medborgarskap i annat land och begår brott på fängelsenivå« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Expel anyone who has citizenship in another country and commits crime at prison level”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants to be able to intervene against foreigners even without a specific crime being committed, for example in cases of antisocial behavior, and requires tightened requirements on immigrants and strictest possible immigration legislation.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to be able to intervene against foreigners even without a specific crime being committed, for example in cases of antisocial behavior, and requires tightened requirements on immigrants and strictest possible immigration legislation. A change to the narrower and legally well-established concept 'well-behaved and honorable conduct' would limit the broad individual assessment the plan is seeking. The counter-proposal's requirement therefore receives no support from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill kunna ingripa mot utlänningar även utan att ett konkret brott begåtts, exempelvis vid asocialitet, och kräver skärpta krav på invandrare och striktast möjliga utlänningslagstiftning. Ett byte till det snävare och rättsligt inarbetade begreppet skötsamt och hederligt levnadssätt skulle begränsa den breda individuella prövning planen efterfrågar. Motförslagets krav får därför inte stöd av planen.
- intervention in antisocial behaviordecisive»Det bör också bli möjligt att utvisa personer p.g.a. asocialitet för utövandet av hedersförtryck även utan att ett konkret brott begåtts.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It should also be possible to expel persons because of antisocial behavior for the practice of honor oppression even without a specific crime being committed.”
- tightened requirements on immigrants»Kraven på invandrare att integreras i den svenska kulturen och samhället ska skärpas och medborgarskapet ska knytas till strikta villkor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Requirements on immigrants to integrate into Swedish culture and society shall be tightened and citizenship shall be linked to strict conditions.”
- strictest possible immigration law»Skärpa reglerna i utlänningslagen till striktas möjliga nivå enligt EU-rätten« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tighten the rules in immigration law to the strictest possible level according to EU law”
- more inspections and expulsions»Bekämpa skuggsamhället och illegal migration med fler kontroller och fler utvisningar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Combat the shadow economy and illegal migration with more inspections and more expulsions”
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:SfU36)
- Committee report full text (HD01SfU36)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:4149 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:264 Skärpta och tydligare krav på vandel för uppehållstillstånd av Tony Haddou m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:4154 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:264 Skärpta och tydligare krav på vandel för uppehållstillstånd av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:4161 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:264 Skärpta och tydligare krav på vandel för uppehållstillstånd av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:4168 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:264 Skärpta och tydligare krav på vandel för uppehållstillstånd av Malcolm Momodou Jallow m.fl. (-)
- Motion 2025/26:4175 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:264 Skärpta och tydligare krav på vandel för uppehållstillstånd av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2025/26:264 — Skärpta och tydligare krav på vandel för uppehållstillstånd
Source: The Swedish Parliament