The Decision
The Parliament voted yes to giving authorities better tools to find people who should leave the country and to make it easier to confirm their identities.
Does this affect you?
- Government agencies: Agencies like the Tax Agency and the Social Insurance Agency must now actively report individuals who lack the right to stay in Sweden to the Police.
- Individuals without legal residency: People who have received a decision to leave the country face stricter controls, including potential searches of their mobile phones and increased use of biometric data.
In Practice
- Several government agencies, including the Public Employment Service, the Social Insurance Agency, and the Tax Agency, must now report to the Police if they suspect a person is staying in Sweden without permission.
- Police will have the right to take and search a person's mobile phone if they believe it contains information about the person's identity.
- Authorities will be able to use fingerprints and photographs more frequently and effectively to identify individuals.
- The new rules will come into effect on July 13, 2026, with the goal of ensuring that decisions about leaving the country are actually followed.
Background & Purpose
Authorities have found it difficult to carry out decisions when people who are not allowed to stay in the country cannot be found or identified. This makes it hard to enforce the law effectively.