More stringent requirements regarding public counsels and interpreters in migration cases
Published:
The Riksdag voted in favour of the Government’s proposal to introduce more stringent requirements regarding public counsels. A public counsel is appointed to provide legal support and to represent individuals, for example, in connection with refusal-of-entry or expulsion cases, or in compulsory care cases. More stringent skills requirements will also be introduced for interpreters in migration cases.
One of the purposes of the legislative amendments is to strengthen the rule of law in cases relating to people’s privacy and freedom.
The amendments mean that:
- more stringent eligibility requirements will be introduced for public counsels. Today, for example, it is not an absolute requirement that they have a law degree, but this will be introduced as a requirement under the proposal;
- special authorisation will be required for a public counsel to confer their assignment to another authorised person;
- it will be possible to declare a person who is deemed unfit as ineligible to act as a representative at the Swedish Migration Agency, the Swedish Police Authority and the Swedish Security Service;
- skills requirements regarding interpreters and translators of migration cases will also be introduced. This means that the agency must, if possible, appoint an authorised interpreter or translator.
The amendments will come into force on 1 January 2026.