The Swedish Aliens Act (2005:716) was amended on 20 July 2021 to introduce specific requirements for eligibility for permanent residence in Sweden. The changes entail that permanent residence will only be granted if applicants can support themselves, and will negatively affect doctoral students, researchers and postdocs

Changes include a new practice requiring that foreign applicants, at the time of their application being processed, must demonstrate they can provide for themselves for the next 18 months through work or business activities. Employment until further notice that begins with a probationary period will not necessarily be accepted. This practice will have a huge impact on Sweden’s doctoral students, researchers and postdocs, as their employment contracts are generally for a fixed-term.

SUHF (Sveriges universitets- och högskoleförbund – the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions), of which Södertörn university is a member, has sent a statement to the Government on the above.

“It is vital that we use SUHF to make the Government aware of the situation,” says Ulla Manns, deputy vice-chancellor for research. “This change is the law has naturally created worry and uncertainty among people who are already in Sweden, as well as making it more difficult for foreign researchers to come to Sweden. It entails an incredible loss of expertise and of potentially innovative research partnerships.”

In its statement, SUHF also highlights how this change in the law directly counteracts the research policy bill, which highlights increasing focus on internationalisation.

Read SUHF’s statement in its entirety here (in Swedish): Statement to the ministries on the transitional provisions on permanent residence permits, 29 September 2021. External link.