New rules on decisions regarding expulsion and refusal of entry, re-entry bans and elimination of track change

The Government has proposed legislative amendments one of the aims of which is to encourage more people to leave Sweden after a decision on removal, that is, refusal of entry or expulsion to their home countries. The Riksdag has voted in favour of the proposal.

The amendments will include the following:

• A decision regarding removal will cease to apply (be subject to statutory limitation) five years from the date on which the alien has complied with the decision and left Sweden. According to the current rules, the corresponding period is four years. If the decision is accompanied by a re-entry ban that is in application at that time, the decision shall cease to apply only when the period for the re-entry ban expires.
• A maximum of five years is to be imposed for a re-entry ban, instead of one year, which is the case today. A re-entry ban means a ban on returning to Sweden. The re-entry ban may be in force for a longer period, for example, if the person poses a serious security threat.
• The system known as “track change” is to be abolished. Track change means that a person who has been refused his or her asylum application has the opportunity to apply for a residence and work permit instead without leaving Sweden.
  The amendments will come into force on 1 April 2025.

The Riksdag also decided to reject proposals in motions in this area, two of which were submitted during the general private members’ motion in 2024.