Freedom of movement

Sweden

Country Report: Freedom of movement Last updated: 19/04/23

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Swedish Refugee Law Center Visit Website

There are no restrictions in law or practice to the freedom of movement of asylum seekers within Sweden. However, if accommodation is requested from the Migration Agency, asylum seekers are not free to choose their place of residence. The assignment to a place of residence is not made on the basis of a formal administrative decision. Asylum seekers are in many cases forced to relocate to reception centres in other cities.

On 14 October 2022 the newly elected Swedish Government announced that it intends to introduce transit centres where asylum seekers are to spend the entire asylum process. The details of this proposal are not yet decided but the use of such transit centres would likely have an impact on the freedom of movement if they are to be used.[1]

 

 

 

[1] Tidöavtalet (The Tidö Agreement), available online at: https://bit.ly/3wuCh0t, 37.

Table of contents

  • Statistics
  • Overview of the legal framework
  • Overview of the main changes since the previous report update
  • Asylum Procedure
  • Reception Conditions
  • Detention of Asylum Seekers
  • Content of International Protection
  • ANNEX – I Transposition of the CEAS in national legislation