Departures are expected to outnumber arrivals, a change attributed to the government’s strict immigration policies.
The Swedish Migration Agency’s latest forecast indicates that Sweden will see its lowest number of asylum seekers since 1997.
Preliminary data shows that immigration dropped by 15 per cent early in 2024, while emigration surged by 60 per cent from January to May, EU Helpers reports.
Asylum Applications Hit Record Lows in Sweden
During the same period, there were 5,700 more emigrants than immigrants. Sweden has welcomed a significant influx of migrants since the 1990s, mainly from conflict zones in the former Yugoslavia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Swedish Migration Minister emphasised that the shift towards what she describes as “sustainable immigration” is essential for improving integration and minimising exclusion. She argued that this approach is crucial for Sweden to address these issues effectively.
This is not the first time that Sweden has seen a notable drop in asylum applications. In 2016, the number of asylum seekers stood at 28,939, a significant decrease from the 162,877 applications in 2015.
The trend of increased emigration has been particularly notable among individuals from Iraq, Somalia, and Syria. For the first time in decades, net immigration from these regions has turned negative.
New Swedish Migration Rules Tighten Family Reunification
In July of this year, the Swedish government introduced stricter migration policies, including tighter regulations for family reunification.
During the same month, the government stated that a special investigator would review Swedish rules on granting residence permits based on family ties. This new measure is intended to create a more restrictive and efficient framework for family immigration.
During the first half of 2024, Sweden issued 47,711 residence permits, according to the Migration Agency. This represents a five per cent increase from the 45,138 permits granted in the same period of 2023.
In the first six months of 2024, most permits were issued for employment, family reunification, studies, and asylum, with employment being the leading category. In addition, a total of 14,615 work permits were granted to foreigners.