2024-05-292023/24:SfU15 · p.1SfUMigration & social insurance
Tightened requirements for acquiring Swedish citizenship by declaration
What's at stake: The decision affects how easy or difficult it becomes for foreign nationals, not least children and young adults, to become Swedish citizens through notification rather than the more extensive application process, and concerns the balance between combating crime, legal certainty and integration.
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 requirements for acquiring Swedish citizenship through the simpler notification procedure should be tightened, including by allowing suspected or serious criminal offences to disqualify an applicant, or whether the government's proposal goes too far and disproportionately affects children and young adults.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee backs the government's proposal for tightened requirements for citizenship through notification for anyone aged 15 or over. An offence carrying a maximum sentence of four years or more is to constitute a bar, as is reasonable suspicion of such an offence, since otherwise the notification procedure would be more generous than the ordinary application procedure, where the same suspicion can already lead to refusal today.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (V)
The reservation (V) calls for the proposal to be rejected. The reasoning is that the tightened requirements are too far-reaching and disproportionately affect children and young adults, who are the primary target group for the notification procedure, that the requirement of reasonable suspicion is not compatible with the presumption of innocence, and that the proposal on offences committed abroad risks unpredictable application since many asylum seekers come from countries with deficiencies in their justice systems.
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: adopting the government's legislative proposal and rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by V.
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 | No 0/18/0/6 | follows the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| S | No | Yes 91/0/0/15 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/15/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 19/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 58/0/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 61/0/0/11 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag adopts the Government's proposal for a) a law amending the Citizenship Act (2001:82) in the parts concerning sections 6–10, 18, 19 and 27, as well as point 4 of the transitional provisions of the Instrument of Government, b) a law amending the Act (2014:481) amending the Citizenship Act (2001:82). Thereby the Riksdag approves Government bill 2023/24:107, points 1 in this part and 2, and rejects the motions 2023/24:2847 by Tony Haddou et al. (V) amendments 1-8, and 2023/24:2857 by Annika Hirvonen et al. (MP) amendments 1, 2, 4 and 5.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen antar regeringens förslag till a) lag om ändring i lagen (2001:82) om svenskt medborgarskap i de delar det avser 6–10, 18, 19 och 27 §§ samt punkt 4 i ikraftträdande- och övergångsbestämmelserna till grundförfattningen, b) lag om ändring i lagen (2014:481) om ändring i lagen (2001:82) om svenskt medborgarskap. Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2023/24:107 punkterna 1 i denna del och 2 samt avslår motionerna 2023/24:2847 av Tony Haddou m.fl. (V) yrkandena 1-8 och 2023/24:2857 av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 1, 2, 4 och 5.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved changes to the citizenship law. A person can acquire Swedish citizenship at birth, by adoption, by declaration, or by application. The Government proposes that the requirements for acquiring Swedish citizenship by declaration should be tightened. The proposed provisions mean that a person who is reasonably suspected of or convicted of certain criminal offences, constitutes a threat to Sweden's security or public safety, or has connections to certain groups and organizations, shall not be able to acquire Swedish citizenship by declaration. The provisions shall, with certain exceptions, apply to everyone who has reached 15 years of age. According to the Government, the significance of Swedish citizenship needs to be strengthened both legally and symbolically. The Government also proposes that the possibilities to reject an application for exemption from Swedish citizenship should be expanded. The aim is to strengthen the protection of children and adults in vulnerable situations. The legislative changes shall come into force on 1 October 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to reject the proposed stricter requirements for acquiring Swedish citizenship through notification. (V) — Reservation 1
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 the presumption of innocence a fundamental principle and requires that public use of authority be guided by all people's equal worth.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme makes the presumption of innocence a fundamental principle and requires that public use of authority be guided by all people's equal worth. Allowing presumed innocence to be hindered from citizenship through reporting, in a procedure that primarily applies to children and young adults, contradicts that, as does the plan's commitment to strengthened children's rights. The counter-proposal's rejection of the sharpening therefore follows from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet gör oskuldspresumtionen till en grundläggande princip och kräver att den offentliga maktutövningen vägleds av alla människors lika värde. Att låta redan skälig misstanke hindra medborgarskap genom anmälan, i ett förfarande som främst gäller barn och unga vuxna, strider mot det, liksom mot planens åtagande om stärkta barnrättigheter. Motförslagets avvisande av skärpningen följer därför av planen.
- the presumption of innocencedecisive»anses oskyldiga tills motsatsen är bevisad är grundläggande i det.« (party programme ↗)“are presumed innocent until proven otherwise is fundamental in”
- stronger children's rights»Utvecklingen mot starkare rättigheter för barn är en av de progressiva« (party programme ↗)“The development towards stronger rights for children is one of the progressive”
- equal worth in government exercise»Den offentliga maktutövningen ska vägledas av alla människors lika« (party programme ↗)“Public use of authority shall be guided by all people's equal”
- legal certainty and openness»Rättssäkerheten behöver upprätthållas genom rättshjälp, medborgerlig« (party programme ↗)“Legal certainty needs to be maintained through legal aid, civic”
The plan's rule-of-law starting point is that we are equal before the law's paragraphs, and the party programme gives all children the right to a safe upbringing according to the child convention.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's rule-of-law starting point is that we are equal before the law's paragraphs, and the party programme gives all children the right to a safe upbringing according to the child convention. To let already reasonable suspicion prevent citizenship for children and young adults contradicts that starting point, which is the counter-proposal's objection. The election manifesto's strict migration line applies to residence permits and volumes, not evidence standards in citizenship cases.
Original (Swedish)
Planens rättsstatliga utgångspunkt är att vi är lika inför lagbokens paragrafer, och partiprogrammet ger alla barn rätt till en trygg uppväxt enligt barnkonventionen. Att låta redan skälig misstanke hindra medborgarskap för barn och unga vuxna strider mot den utgångspunkten, vilket är motförslagets invändning. Valmanifestets strama migrationslinje gäller uppehållstillstånd och volymer, inte beviskrav i medborgarskapsärenden.
- equality before the lawdecisive»Vi är lika inför lagbokens paragrafer och i våra myndigheter arbetar plikttrogna tjänstemän med hög integritet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We are equal before the law's paragraphs and in our authorities work loyal officials with high integrity.”
- the child convention governs decisions»Alla barn ska ha rätt till en trygg uppväxt i enlighet med FN:s barnkonvention.« (party programme ↗)“All children should have the right to a safe upbringing in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
- tightened requirements for residence»Det bör även ställas språkkrav för att få permanent uppehållstillstånd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Language requirements should also be set to obtain permanent residence.”
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 establishes that the child perspective should permeate migration law and the party programme that the child convention should become Swedish law and that legal certainty should be ensured, without laws involving disproportionate intrusions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that the child perspective should permeate migration law and the party programme that the child convention should become Swedish law and that legal certainty should be ensured, without laws involving disproportionate intrusions. Allowing only reasonable suspicion to prevent citizenship for children and young adults is precisely such a disproportionate and legally insecure intrusion, and the counter-proposal is therefore supported by the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att barnperspektivet ska genomsyra migrationslagarna och partiprogrammet att barnkonventionen ska bli svensk lag och att rättssäkerheten ska tryggas, utan lagar med oproportionerliga ingrepp. Att låta enbart skälig misstanke hindra medborgarskap för barn och unga vuxna är just ett sådant oproportionerligt och rättsosäkert ingrepp, och motförslaget stöds därför av planen.
- child perspective in migration lawdecisive»Barnperspektivet ska genomsyra migrationslagarna« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The child perspective should permeate migration law”
- legal certainty»Rättssäkerheten ska tryggas samtidigt som de« (party programme ↗)“Legal certainty should be ensured while the”
- against disproportionate intrusions»alla lagar som innebär oproportionerliga ingrepp i« (party programme ↗)“all laws that entail disproportionate intrusions in”
- child convention as law»barnkonvention ska bli svensk lag« (party programme ↗)“child convention should become Swedish law”
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.
Allowing reasonable suspicion to prevent citizenship means that a legal consequence is tied to something that has not been tested, which is caught by the election manifesto's rejection of reverse burden of proof and the requirement to defend the rule of law and the individual's rights against the state.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
Allowing reasonable suspicion to prevent citizenship means that a legal consequence is tied to something that has not been tested, which is caught by the election manifesto's rejection of reverse burden of proof and the requirement to defend the rule of law and the individual's rights against the state. The party programme also requires proportionality between the law's intervention and its purpose and gives children's rights the greatest importance, and the target group here is children and young adults. The counter-proposal's requirement that the tightening is not implemented thus receives support.
Original (Swedish)
Att låta redan skälig misstanke hindra medborgarskap innebär att en rättsföljd knyts till något som inte prövats, vilket träffas av valmanifestets nej till omvänd bevisbörda och kravet att rättsstaten och individens rättigheter gentemot staten försvaras. Partiprogrammet kräver dessutom proportionalitet mellan lagens ingrepp och dess syfte och ger barnens rättigheter största betydelse, och målgruppen här är barn och unga vuxna. Motförslagets krav på att skärpningen inte genomförs får därmed stöd.
- rule of law and presumption of innocencedecisive»Rättsstaten och individens rättigheter gentemot staten måste försvaras. Vi säger därför nej till visitationszoner, kollektiv bestraffning, omvänd bevisbörda, anonyma vittnen, preventiv avlyssning och inskränkningar av religionsfriheten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The rule of law and the individual's rights against the state must be defended. We therefore say no to stop-and-search zones, collective punishment, reverse burden of proof, anonymous witnesses, preventive surveillance and restrictions on religious freedom.”
- proportionality requirement»Det måste finnas en proportionalitet mellan lagstiftningens inskränkning av medborgarnas integritet och lagarnas syfte.« (party programme ↗)“There must be proportionality between the law's restriction of citizens' integrity and the law's purpose.”
- children's rights»Samhällets aktörer ska inta individens perspektiv. Av största betydelse är då barnens rättigheter och perspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Society's actors must take the individual's perspective. Of greatest importance are then children's rights and perspective.”
- equal rights for all»Alla människor har lika rätt och värde, alla har samma grundläggande rättigheter och skyldigheter.« (party programme ↗)“All people have equal rights and value, all have the same fundamental rights and obligations.”
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 starts from an inclusive citizenship concept and wants it to become easier, not harder, for children born in Sweden to become citizens.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan starts from an inclusive citizenship concept and wants it to become easier, not harder, for children born in Sweden to become citizens. The high demands the plan places on those wishing to become Swedish concern language, knowledge of society and self-support, not reasonable grounds for suspicion of crime. Together with the demand for strengthened legal certainty, the plan speaks against the tightening, and the counter-proposal's demand is supported.
Original (Swedish)
Planen utgår från ett inkluderande medborgarbegrepp och vill att det ska bli enklare, inte svårare, för barn som föds i Sverige att bli medborgare. De höga krav planen ställer på den som vill bli svensk gäller språk, samhällskunskap och egen försörjning, inte skälig brottsmisstanke. Tillsammans med kravet på stärkt rättssäkerhet talar planen mot skärpningen, och motförslagets krav stöds.
- inclusive citizenship conceptdecisive»Liberalismen utgår från ett inkluderande medborgarbegrepp.« (party programme ↗)“Liberalism starts from an inclusive citizenship concept.”
- easier citizenship for children»Det måste bli enklare för barn som föds i Sverige att bli svenska medborgare.« (party programme ↗)“It must become easier for children born in Sweden to become Swedish citizens.”
- requirements on language and self-support»Nästa mandatperiod ska inte bara ett språktest äntligen komma på plats, utan också villkoret att du förstår hur det svenska demokratiska samhället fungerar och har förutsättningar att försörja dig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In the next term not only must a language test finally be put in place, but also the requirement that you understand how Swedish democratic society functions and have the prerequisites to support yourself.”
- strengthened legal certainty»Rättssäkerheten och skyddet för de medborgerliga fri- och rättigheterna behöver förstärkas.« (party programme ↗)“Legal certainty and protection for civil liberties and rights need to be strengthened.”
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 makes strict migration policy and restored security core promises, and the party programme requires that all crimes are effectively prosecuted.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto makes strict migration policy and restored security core promises, and the party programme requires that all crimes are effectively prosecuted. Tightening the obstacles to citizenship through reporting in case of serious crime is in that line, while the counter-proposal wants to stop the tightening. The plan's principle that the person who has stayed long in the country should in principle be able to become a citizen qualifies this.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet gör en stram migrationspolitik och en återupprättad trygghet till bärande löften, och principprogrammet kräver att alla brott effektivt beivras. Att skärpa hindren för medborgarskap genom anmälan vid allvarlig brottslighet ligger i den linjen, medan motförslaget vill stoppa skärpningen. Planens princip att den som vistats länge i landet i princip bör kunna bli medborgare kvalificerar.
- strict migration policydecisive»Stram migrationspolitik krävs för att ta itu med integrationsproblem och utanförskap.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strict migration policy is required to address integration problems and exclusion.”
- restore security»Tryggheten på gator och torg måste återupprättas, brottsförebyggande arbetet måste stärkas, brottslingar dömas och brottsoffer få upprättelse.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Security on streets and squares must be restored, crime prevention work must be strengthened, criminals tried and crime victims given redress.”
- all crimes shall be prosecuted»Alla brott ska effektivt och utan undantag beivras, också sådana som kan avfärdas som smärre brott« (party programme ↗)“All crimes shall be effectively and without exception prosecuted, including those that can be dismissed as minor crimes”
- citizenship after long residence»vistats i Sverige en längre tid bör i princip kunna bli svensk medborgare« (party programme ↗)“stayed in Sweden for a longer time should in principle be able to become Swedish citizen”
The plan wants to consistently raise the thresholds for Swedish citizenship: language requirements, mandatory civic orientation with a pass requirement and citizenship as the final step in an integration journey.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to consistently raise the thresholds for Swedish citizenship: language requirements, mandatory civic orientation with a pass requirement and citizenship as the final step in an integration journey. The counter-proposal wants to stop the tightening and maintain a more generous application process, which goes against that line. The plan also draws a clear line between crime and the right to stay, through deportation of non-citizens who commit crimes at prison level.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill genomgående höja trösklarna till svenskt medborgarskap: språkkrav, obligatorisk samhällsorientering med godkänt prov och medborgarskapet som sista steget på en integrationsresa. Motförslaget vill stoppa skärpningen och behålla ett generösare anmälningsförfarande, vilket går emot den linjen. Planen drar också en tydlig linje mellan brottslighet och rätten att stanna, genom utvisning av icke-medborgare som begår brott på fängelsenivå.
- language requirement for citizenshipdecisive»Kräva grundläggande kunskaper i svenska för permanent uppehållstillstånd och medborgarskap« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Require basic knowledge of Swedish for permanent residence permit and citizenship”
- knowledge exam for citizenship»Införa obligatorisk samhällsorientering med prov, där godkänt ska vara ett krav för medborgarskap« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce mandatory civic orientation with an exam, where a pass shall be a requirement for citizenship”
- citizenship as final step»Medborgarskapet ska vara sista steget« (party programme ↗)“Citizenship shall be the final step”
- crime has consequences for non-citizens»Utvisa den som har medborgarskap i annat land och begår brott på fängelsenivå« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Deport those who have citizenship in another country and commit crimes at prison level”
The plan requires that requirements for citizenship be tightened and that citizenship be linked to strict conditions, and it wants to revoke citizenship for immigrants who commit serious crimes.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that requirements for citizenship be tightened and that citizenship be linked to strict conditions, and it wants to revoke citizenship for immigrants who commit serious crimes. The counter-proposal instead wants to stop the tightening of the application procedure. This directly contradicts the plan's commitment that Sweden should be a place for law-abiding citizens, not a haven for criminals.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att villkoren för medborgarskap skärps och att medborgarskapet knyts till strikta villkor, och den vill återkalla medborgarskap för invandrare som begår grova brott. Motförslaget vill tvärtom stoppa skärpningen av anmälningsförfarandet. Det står i direkt strid med planens åtagande om att Sverige ska vara en plats för laglydiga medborgare, inte ett paradis för förbrytare.
- strict citizenship conditionsdecisive»Kraven på invandrare att integreras i den svenska kulturen och samhället ska skärpas och medborgarskapet ska knytas till strikta villkor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Requirements for immigrants to integrate into Swedish culture and society should be tightened and citizenship should be linked to strict conditions.”
- tightened citizenship requirements»Skärpa villkoren för medborgarskap och höja tröskeln för att ta del av skattefinansierad välfärd« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tighten requirements for citizenship and raise the threshold for accessing tax-financed welfare”
- citizenship and crime»Utvisa utländska kriminella och återkalla uppehållstillstånd och, där det är möjligt, medborgarskap för invandrare som begår grova brott« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Deport foreign criminals and revoke residence permits and, where possible, citizenship for immigrants who commit serious crimes”
- lawfulness as a condition»Sverige ska vara en plats för laglydiga, strävsamma och goda medborgare, inte ett paradis för förbrytare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should be a place for law-abiding, hard-working and good citizens, not a haven for criminals.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:SfU15)
- Committee report full text (HB01SfU15)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:2847 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:107 Ändringar i medborgarskapslagen av Tony Haddou m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2023/24:2857 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:107 Ändringar i medborgarskapslagen av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2023/24:107 — Ändringar i medborgarskapslagen
Source: The Swedish Parliament