Increased Pace of Sweden's Citizenship Approval Procedure Experiencing Unanticipated Delays
Swedish Migration Agency Adjusts Citizenship Application Processing
The Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) has implemented several changes to its citizenship application process, aiming to improve security and efficiency. However, these changes have led to delays and concerns about expediting the processing of citizenship applications.
Increased Security Measures
The new security checks require applicants to verify their identity in person and answer additional background questions. For adults, this includes providing supplementary information related to employment and residency conditions. Passports with extended validity will no longer be accepted after October 2025, tightening document security.
Prioritising Long-Waiting Applicants
In response to growing calls for faster processing times, the Migration Agency has prioritised applications that have been pending for extended periods. This includes a focus on doctoral students and others close to eligibility for permanent residence permits.
Impact of New Measures
The Migration Agency expects to process around 32,000 fewer applications per year than before the new security checks were implemented. The agency has hired additional staff to help ease the workload, but the extent to which this will offset delays caused by the extra security checks and new order of priority is unclear.
Forecast Uncertainty
Eric Ramstedt, the Migration Agency's planning director, has stated that the forecast for resolved citizenship cases is uncertain and may be revised. The forecast does not address the concerns for expediting the processing of citizenship applications raised by various parties, nor does it mention any potential impact of the changes in application processing order on the waiting times for citizenship applicants.
Technological Challenges
Certain nationalities with biometric passports were initially expected to be able to confirm their identity digitally, but this technological solution is not yet in place. The Migration Agency's forecast does not account for changes to citizenship legislation scheduled for June next year.
Ongoing Adjustments
The Migration Agency's forecast for citizenship cases remains subject to revision as they gather more information about the impact of the changed methods of working on the pace of decision-making. The forecasted drop in citizenship cases processed compared to 2024 is almost 28 percent. The agency was unable to approve any naturalisation cases for almost two months due to the new security checks.
For the time being, all applicants have to turn up for a personal meeting, regardless of their nationality. The Migration Agency's forecast for citizenship cases in 2025 and 2026 is a reduction of approximately 10,000 applications compared to its previous estimate, with the agency expecting to process around 55,000 citizenship applications per year in these years.
The Migration Agency's forecast does not address the concerns for expediting the processing of citizenship applications raised by various parties. The agency is currently grappling with high application volumes and the need for detailed background checks, aiming to balance efficient processing with maintaining security and legal integrity.
- The new policy-and-legislation regarding the citizenship application process in Sweden, including the tightened document security and the changes in the order of application processing, has sparked political discussions about the expediting of the processing of citizenship applications.
- The ongoing adjustments in the Swedish Migration Agency's citizenship application process, which involve rigorous background checks and technological challenges, have raised concerns about general-news coverage, such as delays and uncertainties in forecasted citizenship case resolutions.
