Sweden changed how it weighs your conduct in residence-permit cases. The new rules started on 13 July 2026. They matter whether you are applying for a permit or already hold one.
The change is about vandel (a person's conduct, or way of living). Conduct can now count both when a permit is granted and when Migrationsverket (the Swedish Migration Agency) considers taking one away.
What counts as conduct now
Before, conduct mostly meant whether you had been convicted of a crime. The rules now name more than that. Migrationsverket can weigh several kinds of conduct together:
- being a threat to allmän ordning (public order) or public security
- having been convicted of a crime
- not following important rules
- supporting yourself dishonestly, or having unpaid debts
When a permit can be withdrawn
The rules also add reasons to återkalla (withdraw) a permit. A permit can be withdrawn if the conditions for it no longer exist. It can also be withdrawn if someone other than you knowingly gave false information, or if your conduct is judged to fall short.
What is not enough on its own
The rules also set limits. On their own, begging, sex work, or a dependence on alcohol or drugs do not count as poor conduct. A single minor slip is not enough either, and an opinion you are legally allowed to hold is not conduct.
The Riksdag (the Swedish parliament) voted the changes through, so they are law, not a proposal. Six reservationer (formal objections) were filed by opposition parties. One part of the law starts later, on a date the government sets.
For how Sweden's residence and citizenship rules fit together, see our overview of the laws.
This is a real change to the law, but how it applies is decided case by case. What your own conduct means for your permit is for Migrationsverket to judge, and a serious case is worth taking to a qualified lawyer.
Sources
Official details can change. Always confirm what applies to your own case directly with the responsible authority.
