2026-06-152025/26:SfU36 · p.3SfUMigration & social insurance
The character assessment
Design of the conduct (vandel) assessment for residence permits
What's at stake: The question concerns how strictly and clearly the assessment of a person's conduct must be defined before it can be used to deny or revoke a residence permit, one of the most intrusive measures the state can take against an individual.
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 government's proposed design of the conduct assessment provides adequate legal certainty, proportionality, and predictability, or whether it needs to be redesigned with a clearer legal definition.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee backs the government's design of the conduct assessment and opposes the motions calling for changes, highlighting that the individual assessment is an important part of the work against crime and disorder and that the government has already addressed many concerns about how the assessment should be conducted through clarifications.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 4 (C)
C argues the government's proposal shows serious shortcomings in legal certainty, proportionality, and predictability and risks leading to arbitrariness. The party notes that the Council on Legislation sharply criticized the government for not codifying the concept of conduct in law, and wants the government to come back with a new proposal for how the assessment should be designed.
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 4 by 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: medium | derived |
| S | No | Abstain 0/0/105/1 | departs from 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: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 19/0/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 66/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 70/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2025/26:4154 by Ida Karkiainen et al. (S) request 2, 2025/26:4161 by Niels Paarup-Petersen et al. (C) request 1 and 2025/26:4168 by Malcolm Momodou Jallow et al. (-) request 3.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2025/26:4154 av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S) yrkande 2, 2025/26:4161 av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C) yrkande 1 och 2025/26:4168 av Malcolm Momodou Jallow m.fl. (-) yrkande 3.
Riksdag decision: Parliament approved the government's proposal that a foreign national's character, that is way of life, shall be taken into account to a greater extent in the examination of the right to a residence permit, both when granting and revoking such permits. The purpose of the change is primarily to increase the possibilities to remove persons from the country based on their way of life. In addition, among other things, residence permits may be revoked in more situations than today. The decision entails, among other things, that the requirements are tightened for obtaining and retaining a residence permit by giving a person's way of life, so-called character, greater significance in the examination of the right to a residence permit. It becomes possible to deny or revoke a residence permit in cases of misconduct such as failing to comply with laws, regulations and government decisions, having large debts, or supporting oneself in a dishonest manner. The legislative changes shall come into force on 13 July 2026.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the concept of 'conduct' replaced with 'respectable and honourable living' for consistency in migration law. (C) — Reservation 4
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 be upheld and that government agencies treat all people with equal respect, and it turns against a refugee policy built on conditional residence permits.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that legal certainty be upheld and that government agencies treat all people with equal respect, and it turns against a refugee policy built on conditional residence permits. A conduct assessment whose basic concepts are not codified in legislation lacks the predictability the plan requires and risks arbitrariness. The demand for a new proposal on how the assessment should be designed is therefore supported by the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att rättssäkerheten upprätthålls och att myndigheter möter alla människor med samma respekt, och den vänder sig mot en flyktingpolitik byggd på villkorade uppehållstillstånd. En vandelsprövning vars grundbegrepp inte kodifieras i lagtext saknar den förutsebarhet planen förutsätter och riskerar godtycke. Kravet på ett nytt förslag till hur prövningen ska utformas stöds därför av planen.
- legal certainty in administrative decisionsdecisive»Rättssäkerheten behöver upprätthållas genom rättshjälp, medborgerlig« (party programme ↗)“Legal certainty needs to be upheld through legal aid, civic”
- equal treatment»Myndigheter har ett särskilt ansvar att möta alla människor« (party programme ↗)“Government agencies have a special responsibility to treat all people”
- against conditional permits»Vänsterpartiet anser att den inhumana flyktingpolitik som råder, med tillfälliga och villkorade uppehållstillstånd, är en form av psykologiskt våld mot en redan utsatt grupp.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party believes that the inhumane refugee policy that prevails, with temporary and conditional residence permits, is a form of psychological violence against an already vulnerable group.”
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 are protected and a legal order built on everyone's equality before the law, which presupposes predictability and proportionality.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the principles of the rule of law are protected and a legal order built on everyone's equality before the law, which presupposes predictability and proportionality. Assessment that is not codified in legislation and that risks arbitrariness contradicts these requirements, therefore a new and clearer proposal is in line with the plan. The plan simultaneously upholds requirements on the individual and strict immigration policy.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att rättsstatens principer värnas och en rättsordning som bygger på allas likhet inför lagen, vilket förutsätter förutsebarhet och proportionalitet. En prövning som inte kodifieras i lagtext och som riskerar godtycke strider mot de kraven, varför ett nytt och tydligare förslag ligger i linje med planen. Planen håller samtidigt fast vid krav på individen och en stram migrationspolitik.
- principles of the rule of lawdecisive»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 built on everyone's equality before the law.”
- civil rights»Skydd för medborgerliga fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“Protection of civil liberties and rights.”
- requirements 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”
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 argues that the conduct test falls short in legal certainty, proportionality and foreseeability and wants to see a new proposal.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal argues that the conduct test falls short in legal certainty, proportionality and foreseeability and wants to see a new proposal. The plan requires that all new legislation be carefully reviewed on the basis of legal certainty and fundamental rights and that all are equal before the law. It also warns against immigrants as a group being made scapegoats, which a broad and undefined test risks strengthening.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget menar att vandelsprövningen brister i rättssäkerhet, proportionalitet och förutsebarhet och vill se ett nytt förslag. Planen kräver att all ny lagstiftning prövas noggrant utifrån rättssäkerhet och grundläggande rättigheter och att alla är lika inför lagen. Den varnar dessutom för att invandrare som kollektiv görs till syndabockar, vilket en vid och odefinierad prövning riskerar att förstärka.
- legal certain legislationdecisive»prövas noggrant utifrån rättssäkerhet och grundläggande fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“be carefully reviewed on the basis 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 ↗)“individual freedom. Everyone shall be equal before the law and legal certainty must be guaranteed in”
- no scapegoats»Idag ser vi hur invandrare som kollektiv allt oftare klandras för samhällsproblem och görs« (party programme ↗)“Today we see how immigrants as a group are increasingly blamed for social problems and made”
- humane 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”
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 party programme requires proportionality between legislation's intrusion and its purpose and wants to see clear, enforceable rules; the election manifesto that the rule of law and individuals' rights against the state are defended.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires proportionality between legislation's intrusion and its purpose and wants to see clear, enforceable rules; the election manifesto that the rule of law and individuals' rights against the state are defended. A review that rests on a concept not codified in legislation gives the opposite of predictability and opens up for arbitrariness. The requirement for a new and more clearly formulated proposal thus lies in line with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver proportionalitet mellan lagstiftningens ingrepp och dess syfte och vill se tydliga, utkrävbara regler; valmanifestet att rättsstaten och individens rättigheter gentemot staten försvaras. En prövning som vilar på ett begrepp som inte kodifieras i lagtext ger motsatsen till förutsebarhet och öppnar för godtycke. Kravet på ett nytt och tydligare utformat förslag ligger därför i linje med planen.
- proportionality requirementdecisive»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' integrity and the laws' purpose.”
- rule of law is defended»Rättsstaten och individens rättigheter gentemot staten måste försvaras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The rule of law and individuals' rights against the state must be defended.”
- clear 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.”
- legal security»En viktig del av tryggheten är rättstryggheten.« (party programme ↗)“An important part of security is legal security.”
The plan requires strengthened legal certainty, that individuals' opportunities to assert their rights against authorities increase and that everyone has the right to live in a society characterized by legal security.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires strengthened legal certainty, that individuals' opportunities to assert their rights against authorities increase and that everyone has the right to live in a society characterized by legal security. A test ground that is not codified in legislation and risks arbitrariness is at odds with that. The requirement for a new and more clearly formulated proposal therefore follows from the plan, even though the plan in substance wishes to be able to set requirements on the one staying here.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver stärkt rättssäkerhet, att den enskildes möjligheter att hävda sin rätt gentemot myndigheterna ökar och att alla har rätt att leva i ett samhälle präglat av rättstrygghet. En prövningsgrund som inte kodifieras i lagtext och riskerar godtycke står i strid med det. Kravet på ett nytt och tydligare utformat förslag följer därför av planen, även om planen i sak vill kunna ställa krav på den som vistas här.
- strengthened legal certaintydecisive»Rättssäkerheten och skyddet för de medborgerliga fri- och rättigheterna behöver förstärkas.« (party programme ↗)“Legal certainty and protection for civil rights and freedoms need to be strengthened.”
- rights against authorities»Den enskildes möjligheter att hävda sina rättigheter gentemot myndigheterna måste öka.« (party programme ↗)“Individuals' opportunities to assert their rights against authorities must increase.”
- legal security for all»Alla har rätt att leva i ett samhälle präglat av rättstrygghet.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone has the right to live in a society characterized by legal security.”
- constitutional review of laws»Vi vill se ett förstärkt grundlagsskydd för vårt demokratiska statsskick, öka domstolarnas oberoende och verka för en författningsdomstol som ska kunna häva lagar eller bestämmelser som strider mot grundlagsskyddade fri- och rättigheter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We wish to see strengthened constitutional protection for our democratic system of government, increase the independence of the courts and work towards a constitutional court that can annul laws or provisions that contravene constitutionally protected rights and freedoms.”
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 reactions to unwanted behaviour are predictable and grounded in clear legislation and that there is consensus between people's sense of justice and the legal order.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that reactions to unwanted behaviour are predictable and grounded in clear legislation and that there is consensus between people's sense of justice and the legal order. The criticism that the conduct concept is not codified and that examination thereby becomes arbitrary hits precisely this requirement, as does the requirement for a legally secure process. Uncertain since the plan simultaneously wants to see tools against crime and public disorder.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att reaktioner mot oönskat handlande är förutsägbara och förankrade i en tydlig lagstiftning och att det råder samsyn mellan människors rättsuppfattning och rättsordningen. Kritiken att vandelsbegreppet inte kodifieras och att prövningen därför blir godtycklig träffar just detta krav, liksom kravet på en rättssäker process. Osäkert eftersom planen samtidigt vill se verktyg mot kriminalitet och ordningsstörningar.
- 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 grounded in a humane and clear”
- consensus about right and wrong»måste finnas en samsyn mellan människors uppfattning om vad som är rätt och fel och« (party programme ↗)“there must be consensus between people's sense of what is right and wrong and”
- legally secure process»För den som söker asyl i Sverige måste hela processen vara utformad så att rättssäkerhet« (party programme ↗)“For those seeking asylum in Sweden, the entire process must be designed so that legal security”
- constitutionally protected rights»Grundlagen ska säkerställa de rättigheter som alltid ska finnas för den enskilda människan« (party programme ↗)“The Constitution shall secure the rights that shall always exist for the individual”
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 sets clear requirements on living standards for those who will be allowed to stay in Sweden and wants those who commit crime, including honour crimes, to be deported.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan sets clear requirements on living standards for those who will be allowed to stay in Sweden and wants those who commit crime, including honour crimes, to be deported. Individual character assessment is the tool for that, while the counter-proposal wants to tear up the assessment and request a completely new proposal. The plan's requirement for predictability gives some support to the criticism but does not outweigh it. The requirement is rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ställer tydliga krav på levnadssätt för den som ska få stanna i Sverige och vill att den som begår brott, inklusive hedersbrott, utvisas. En individuell prövning av vandel är verktyget för det, medan motförslaget vill riva upp prövningen och begära ett helt nytt förslag. Planens krav på förutsebarhet ger visst stöd åt kritiken men väger inte över. Kravet avvisas.
- requirements for respectable living standardsdecisive»Det är också viktigt med tydliga krav på ett« (party programme ↗)“It is also important with clear requirements for a”
- deportation for honour crimes»Se till att personer utan svenskt medborgarskap som begår hedersbrott utvisas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Ensure that persons without Swedish citizenship who commit honour crimes are deported”
- crime should lead to deportation»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 crime at imprisonment level”
- predictable exercise of power»principer om likabehandling och förutsebarhet« (party programme ↗)“principles of equal treatment and predictability”
The election manifesto explicitly requires sharpened conditions for citizenship and that citizenship be tied to strict conditions, and the party programme makes loyalty and respect for Swedish laws a basic requirement.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly requires sharpened conditions for citizenship and that citizenship be tied to strict conditions, and the party programme makes loyalty and respect for Swedish laws a basic requirement. The counter-proposal wants in practice to send back the criminal record review for new formulation, which delays and hollows out precisely the sharpening the plan requires. The plan thus does not support the requirement for a new proposal.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver uttryckligen skärpta villkor för medborgarskap och att medborgarskapet knyts till strikta villkor, och partiprogrammet gör lojalitet och respekt för svenska lagar till grundkrav. Motförslaget vill i praktiken skicka tillbaka vandelsprövningen för ny utformning, vilket fördröjer och urholkar just den skärpning planen kräver. Planen ger därför inte stöd åt kravet på ett nytt förslag.
- strict citizenship conditionsdecisive»Skärpa villkoren för medborgarskap och höja tröskeln för att ta del av skattefinansierad välfärd« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sharpen conditions for citizenship and raise the threshold for taking part in tax-funded welfare”
- citizenship on strict conditions»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 shall be sharpened and citizenship shall be tied to strict conditions.”
- loyalty and law-abidingness required»Grundläggande krav för att kunna erhålla svenskt medborgarskap skall vara att man varit bosatt i landet under en längre tid och att man under denna tid visat att man är lojal med Sverige, respekterar svenska lagar och övriga samhällsregler« (party programme ↗)“Basic requirements for being able to obtain Swedish citizenship shall be that one has been resident in the country for a longer period and that during this time one has shown that one is loyal to Sweden, respects Swedish laws and other social rules”
- revocation for serious 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”
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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