2025-03-122024/25:SfU17 · p.7SfUMigration & social insurance
Track-switching
Abolition of the labour-market track-change system
What's at stake: The decision affects the ability of people whose asylum application is rejected, as well as people with temporary protection under the mass flight directive, to remain in Sweden through work rather than having to leave the country.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
Parliament considered whether the track-change system, which lets rejected asylum seekers instead obtain a residence permit for work, should be abolished entirely, or whether it should instead be reformed, with a permanent route to a work permit introduced for people with temporary protection who already have a job.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes clear indications that the track-change system is currently used as a route into the Swedish labour market alongside regular labour migration, which reduces the legitimacy of both the asylum system and the labour-migration system. It has previously stated that tighter controls are not enough to address this, and that the track-change option represents a departure from the principle that the asylum process should have a clear beginning and end. The committee therefore backs the government's proposal to abolish the track-change system and rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 7 (C, MP)
C and MP believe the criticism of the track-change system should be taken seriously, but would rather see the government first review how the system could be reformed to work better, instead of abolishing it entirely. They particularly want people with temporary protection under the mass flight directive, who have no right to a permanent residence permit through that protection, to get a permanent way to stay in Sweden by switching to a labour-migration track if they already have a job – which today applies to roughly half the group.
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 7 by C, MP.
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 | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| S | Yes | Yes 93/0/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| MP | No | No 0/14/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| C | No | No 0/19/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 15/0/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | Yes | Yes 62/0/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2024/25:2949 by Jonny Cato et al. (C) point 19, 2024/25:3065 by Annika Hirvonen et al. (MP) point 15, 2024/25:3332 by Annika Hirvonen et al. (MP) points 4 and 5, and 2024/25:3336 by Jonny Cato et al. (C) point 3.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:2949 av Jonny Cato m.fl. (C) yrkande 19, 2024/25:3065 av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP) yrkande 15, 2024/25:3332 av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 4 och 5 samt 2024/25:3336 av Jonny Cato m.fl. (C) yrkande 3.
Riksdag decision: The government proposes legislative amendments, among other things, to encourage more people to leave Sweden following a removal decision, that is, deportation or expulsion to the home country. The Riksdag approved the proposal. The legislative amendments entail, among other things, the following: A removal decision shall cease to apply (be prescribed) five years from when the foreign national has complied with the decision and left Sweden. According to current rules, the corresponding period is four years. If the decision is associated with a so-called re-entry ban that is in effect at that time, the decision shall cease to apply only when the re-entry ban expires. Re-entry bans shall be determined for a maximum of five years, instead of one year as is currently the case. A re-entry ban means a prohibition from returning to Sweden. The re-entry ban may be longer, among other things, if the person poses a serious security threat. The system of so-called track-switching is abolished. Track-switching means that a person who has received a rejection of their asylum application has the opportunity to instead seek a residence and work permit without leaving Sweden. The legislative amendments enter into force on 1 April 2025. The Riksdag also decided to reject proposals in motions within the field, of which two were submitted during the general motion period 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to preserve the track change system for asylum seekers. (C, MP) — Reservation 7
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 party programme makes permanent residence permits the main rule and wants asylum criteria to lead to fewer people living in the legal vulnerability that unserious companies can exploit; the fact that someone with employment gets a lasting opportunity to stay through a change of status lies directly in that line.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme makes permanent residence permits the main rule and wants asylum criteria to lead to fewer people living in the legal vulnerability that unserious companies can exploit; the fact that someone with employment gets a lasting opportunity to stay through a change of status lies directly in that line. The election manifesto furthermore demands that only permanent residence permits are issued and that integration is created through a secure and permanent existence, not through time-limited permits. A review instead of abolition is therefore supported by the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet gör permanenta uppehållstillstånd till huvudregel och vill att asylkriterierna leder till att färre människor lever i den juridiska utsatthet oseriösa företag kan exploatera; att den som har arbete får en varaktig möjlighet att stanna genom spårbyte ligger direkt i den linjen. Valmanifestet kräver dessutom att endast permanenta uppehållstillstånd utfärdas och att integration skapas genom en trygg och permanent tillvaro, inte genom tidsbegränsade tillstånd. En översyn i stället för avskaffande stöds därmed av planen.
- only permanent residence permitsdecisive»Rätten att söka asyl kan aldrig tummas på, vi kräver att endast permanenta uppehållstillstånd ska utfärdas vid beviljad asyl.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The right to seek asylum can never be compromised, we demand that only permanent residence permits shall be issued for approved asylum.”
- reduce legal vulnerability»leda till att färre människor lever i den juridiska utsatthet som oseriösa« (party programme ↗)“lead to fewer people living in the legal vulnerability that unserious”
- secure permanent existence promotes integration»det är genom en trygg och permanent tillvaro i samhället som vi människor rotar oss« (2022 manifesto ↗)“it is through a secure and permanent existence in society that we become rooted”
- time-limited permits harm integration»Det är inte genom tidsbegränsade uppehållstillstånd som integrationen förbättras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is not through time-limited residence permits that integration improves.”
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 election manifesto wants to limit labour immigration and introduce a labour market test, and a pathway from asylum to work permit is precisely one way into the labour market alongside such a test.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to limit labour immigration and introduce a labour market test, and a pathway from asylum to work permit is precisely one way into the labour market alongside such a test. The tightening line stands firm according to the plan, which argues against making permanent and broadening the pathway. At the same time, the plan requires that all who can work shall work, which pulls in the opposite direction for those already in employment, so the assessment is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill begränsa arbetskraftsinvandringen och införa en arbetsmarknadsprövning, och ett spårbyte från asyl till arbetstillstånd är just en väg in på arbetsmarknaden vid sidan av en sådan prövning. Åtstramningslinjen ligger enligt planen fast, vilket talar mot att permanenta och bredda spårbytet. Samtidigt kräver planen att alla som kan jobba ska jobba, vilket drar i motsatt riktning för dem som redan har arbete, varför bedömningen är osäker.
- limited labour immigrationdecisive»Arbetskraftsinvandringen ska begränsas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Labour immigration shall be limited.”
- labour market test as main rule»Vi vill införa en arbetsmarknadsprövning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to introduce a labour market test.”
- tightened migration policy»Vi har stramat åt migrationspolitiken, och denna linje ligger fast.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We have tightened migration policy, and this line stands firm.”
- work as integration pathway»Alla som kan jobba ska jobba och bidra för att bli en del av samhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Everyone who can work shall work and contribute to become part of society.”
The plan wants it to become easier to apply for residence permits directly from Sweden instead of people being forced to travel back to their home country, which is precisely what track change makes possible.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants it to become easier to apply for residence permits directly from Sweden instead of people being forced to travel back to their home country, which is precisely what track change makes possible. It also wants Sweden to be open to labour migration and sees circular migration as positive. A review instead of abolition, and a permanent possibility for protected persons with work to change track, is therefore in the plan's direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att det ska bli enklare att söka uppehållstillstånd direkt från Sverige i stället för att människor tvingas resa tillbaka till hemlandet, vilket är precis vad spårbytet gör möjligt. Den vill dessutom att Sverige är öppet för arbetskraftsinvandring och ser cirkulär migration som positiv. En översyn i stället för avskaffande, och en permanent möjlighet för skyddsbehövande med arbete att byta spår, ligger därför i planens riktning.
- permits applied from within Swedendecisive»Det behöver bli enklare att söka uppehållstillstånd direkt ifrån Sverige, i stället för att människor ska tvingas åka tillbaka till det gamla hemlandet« (party programme ↗)“It needs to become easier to apply for residence permits directly from Sweden, instead of people being forced to go back to their old home country”
- open labour migration»Vi vill att Sverige ska vara ett land som är öppet för arbetskraftsinvandring.« (party programme ↗)“We want Sweden to be a country that is open to labour migration.”
- family connection should carry more weight»När ansökningar om uppehållstillstånd behandlas ska anknytning och hälsa väga tyngre än det gör i dag.« (party programme ↗)“When applications for residence permits are processed, family connection and health shall carry more weight than they do today.”
- circular migration positive»Cirkulär migration har flera positiva effekter för individ, samhälle och ekonomi« (party programme ↗)“Circular migration has several positive effects for the individual, society and economy”
The election manifesto commits that those who receive a residence permit shall be quickly integrated and able to support themselves, and the party programme states that it is the labour market that shall be opened, not the borders.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto commits that those who receive a residence permit shall be quickly integrated and able to support themselves, and the party programme states that it is the labour market that shall be opened, not the borders. Career change for someone who already has a job serves precisely their own support. The plan therefore supports the system being reviewed instead of abolished and that protected individuals with jobs can stay.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet åtar sig att den som får uppehållstillstånd snabbt ska integreras och kunna försörja sig själv, och partiprogrammet slår fast att det är arbetsmarknaden som ska öppnas, inte gränserna. Spårbyte för den som redan har ett arbete tjänar just egen försörjning. Planen stöder därför att systemet ses över i stället för att avskaffas och att skyddsbehövande med jobb får stanna.
- rapid integration and self-supportdecisive»Skapa ett intensivår för snabbare integration. Den som får uppehållstillstånd ska snabbt integreras och ges möjlighet att försörja sig själv.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Create an intensive year for faster integration. Those who receive a residence permit shall be quickly integrated and given the opportunity to support themselves.”
- open labour market instead»gränserna som ska stängas, utan arbetsmarknaden som ska öppnas« (party programme ↗)“the borders that shall be closed, but the labour market that shall be opened”
- generous and humane migration policy»Centerpartiet strävar efter öppna gränser, fri rörlighet samt en generös och human flykting- och invandringspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“The Center Party pursues open borders, free movement and a generous and humane refugee and immigration policy.”
- protect labour immigration»Värna arbetskraftsinvandringen. För att svenska företag ska kunna konkurrera måste de ha möjlighet att snabbt hitta, rekrytera och anställa rätt kompetens.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect labour immigration. For Swedish companies to compete they must be able to quickly find, recruit and hire the right competence.”
The plan wants more people to be able to apply for residence permits for work in Sweden and wants both temporary workforce and new residents to be welcomed, since labour immigration contributes to growth.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants more people to be able to apply for residence permits for work in Sweden and wants both temporary workforce and new residents to be welcomed, since labour immigration contributes to growth. Instead of abolishing, making a review of the visa switch and letting someone who already has a job stay as a labour immigrant is in line with that principle and the plan's requirement for self-sufficiency. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att fler ska kunna söka uppehållstillstånd för arbete på plats i Sverige och att både tillfällig arbetskraft och nya invånare välkomnas, eftersom arbetskraftsinvandring bidrar till tillväxten. Att i stället för avskaffande göra en översyn av spårbytet och låta den som redan har ett arbete stanna som arbetskraftsinvandrare ligger i linje med den principen och med planens krav på egen försörjning. Planen talar därför för motförslaget.
- application for work permit in Swedendecisive»Fler ska på plats i Sverige kunna söka om uppehållstillstånd för att arbeta.« (party programme ↗)“More people shall be able to apply in Sweden for a residence permit to work.”
- welcomed labour»Både tillfällig arbetskraft och nya invånare ska välkomnas.« (party programme ↗)“Both temporary workforce and new residents shall be welcomed.”
- labour immigration drives growth»Arbetskrafts- och företagarinvandringen bidrar till Sveriges tillväxt, och student- och forskarinvandringen stärker Sverige som kunskapsnation.« (party programme ↗)“Labour and entrepreneurial immigration contributes to Sweden's growth, and student and researcher immigration strengthens Sweden as a knowledge nation.”
- simplified permit rules»Reglerna för ansökan om och förlängning av uppehållstillstånd för den som vistas här lagligt ska förenklas.« (party programme ↗)“Rules for application for and extension of residence permits for those who are lawfully present here shall be simplified.”
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 requires that the asylum track be preserved and even widened to persons with temporary protection.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal requires that the asylum track be preserved and even widened to persons with temporary protection. The election manifesto's commitment to strict immigration policy points in the opposite direction: a path from the asylum track into labor immigration widens rather than tightens. The party programme's emphasis on employment as a key to integration speaks for the counter-proposal but is weaker than the election manifesto's explicit prioritization.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget kräver att spårbytet bevaras och till och med vidgas till personer med tillfälligt skydd. Valmanifestets åtagande om en stram migrationspolitik pekar i motsatt riktning: en väg från asylspåret in i arbetskraftsinvandringen vidgar snarare än stramar åt. Partiprogrammets betoning av jobb som integrationsnyckel talar för motförslaget men är svagare än valmanifestets uttryckliga prioritering.
- strict immigration policydecisive»Stram migrationspolitik krävs för att ta itu med integrationsproblem och utanförskap.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strict immigration policy is required to address integration problems and exclusion.”
- strict migration prioritized»EN STRAM MIGRATION« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A STRICT MIGRATION”
- employment as a key to integration»Jobb, kunskap i svenska språket och det civila samhället är viktiga nycklar till integration.« (party programme ↗)“Employment, knowledge of the Swedish language and civil society are important keys to integration.”
- clear legal order»Respekten för lagarna ska därför upprätthållas« (party programme ↗)“Respect for the laws should therefore be upheld”
The plan has an explicit commitment to abolish track switching, not to review how it can be made more fit for purpose or to expand it to new groups.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan has an explicit commitment to abolish track switching, not to review how it can be made more fit for purpose or to expand it to new groups. That the person who received a refusal shall leave the country quickly is the plan's guiding principle, together with a volume target for asylum reception at Nordic levels. The counter-proposal's demand for a permanent track-switching possibility goes straight against this and is rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Planen har ett uttryckligt åtagande om att avskaffa spårbytet, inte att se över hur det kan göras mer ändamålsenligt eller att utvidga det till nya grupper. Att den som fått nej ska lämna landet snabbt är planens bärande princip, tillsammans med ett volymmål för asylmottagandet på nordiska nivåer. Motförslagets krav på en permanent spårbytesmöjlighet går rakt emot detta och avvisas.
- abolish track switchingdecisive»Avskaffa möjligheten till spårbyte, det vill säga möjligheten för en person som fått avslag på sin asylansökan att i stället få ett arbetstillstånd« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Abolish the possibility of track switching, that is the possibility for a person who received a rejection on their asylum application to instead receive a work permit”
- those rejected shall leave the country»Av största vikt är att den som fått ett nej på asylansökan så fort som möjligt lämnar landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Of the utmost importance is that the person who received a no on their asylum application leaves the country as soon as possible.”
- volume target for asylum reception»Införa ett volymmål för asylmottagandet på nordiska nivåer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce a volume target for asylum reception at Nordic levels”
- a no is a no»om ett land där ett ja är ett ja, men ett nej också alltid är ett« (party programme ↗)“about a country where a yes is a yes, but a no is always a”
The election manifesto establishes that reception from the surrounding region shall be temporary help until the crisis is over and that the target is for more to return than are granted asylum.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that reception from the surrounding region shall be temporary help until the crisis is over and that the target is for more to return than are granted asylum. The counter-proposal instead wants to give people with temporary protection a permanent opportunity to stay through track change, which goes against the plan's net-minus line and the demand for the strictest possible immigration legislation. The plan moreover wants to limit labour immigration to occupations that can be filled by domestic labour.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att mottagande från närområdet ska vara tillfällig hjälp till dess krisen är över och att riktmärket är att fler återvänder än som beviljas asyl. Motförslaget vill tvärtom ge personer med tillfälligt skydd en permanent möjlighet att stanna genom spårbyte, vilket går emot planens nettominus-linje och kravet på striktast möjliga utlänningslagstiftning. Planen vill dessutom begränsa arbetskraftsinvandring till yrken som kan fyllas av inhemsk arbetskraft.
- temporary receptiondecisive»Mottagande från länder i närområdet ska handla om tillfälligt hjälp till dess krisen är över.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reception from countries in the surrounding region shall be a matter of temporary help until the crisis is over.”
- net-minus in migration»Riktmärket under överskådlig tid ska vara att fler av de som befinner sig i Sverige illegalt eller saknar anknytning till det svenska samhället varje år återvänder, än de som beviljas asyl från utanför vårt närområde.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The target for the foreseeable period shall be for more of those who are in Sweden illegally or lack connection to Swedish society to return each year than those who are granted asylum from outside our surrounding region.”
- strictest possible immigration legislation»Skärpa reglerna i utlänningslagen till striktas möjliga nivå enligt EU-rätten« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sharpen the rules in the Immigration Act to the strictest possible level according to EU law”
- domestic labour first»Stoppa arbetskraftsinvandring till yrken som kan tillgodoses av inhemsk arbetskraft« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop labour immigration to occupations that can be met by domestic labour”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:SfU17)
- Committee report full text (HC01SfU17)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:2949 — Migration och integration av Jonny Cato m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:3065 — Stärkta rättigheter för arbetskraftsinvandrare av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:3324 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:92 Preskription av avlägsnandebeslut och vissa frågor om återreseförbud av Tony Haddou m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:3332 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:92 Preskription av avlägsnandebeslut och vissa frågor om återreseförbud av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:3336 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:92 Preskription av avlägsnandebeslut och vissa frågor om återreseförbud av Jonny Cato m.fl. (C)
- Proposition 2024/25:92 — Preskription av avlägsnandebeslut och vissa frågor om återreseförbud
Source: The Swedish Parliament