Enforcement halt
The Swedish Migration Agency can take a decision to temporarily stop deportations and rejections to a country for a limited period of time. This is known as “enforcement halt”.
The Swedish Migration Agency can take an enforcement halt decision when the security situation in a country changes rapidly and when there is not enough information about the situation in the country. This means that the Swedish Migration Agency will not enforce (carry out) rejection or deportation orders for as long as the halt applies. If you have a rejection or deportation order, you are allowed to remain in Sweden as long as there is an enforcement halt.
An enforcement halt is imposed for a limited period of time while the authority is striving to obtain up-to-date information on the political and security situation in the country in question. The duration of an enforcement halt varies and as long as it is ongoing, the Swedish Migration Agency cannot give information on how long it will last.
The enforcement halt applies to all citizens of the country in question, or a specific group from that country, who have a rejection or deportation order. This applies regardless of whether a person has applied for asylum, a work permit, or some other type of permit.
You can always return to your country of origin voluntarily. An enforcement halt does not change that. Contact your nearest Unit for Reception for more information.
Decisions in cases will not be reviewed
The enforcement halt does not mean that your case will be automatically reviewed by the Swedish Migration Agency. If you have received a rejection or deportation order, it still applies, but the halt means that the order cannot be carried out at the moment due to the uncertain situation in the country.
You do not need to apply to be covered
If you come from a country, or are part of a specific group, for which the Swedish Migration Agency has made a decision to halt enforcement, you do not need to apply for your deportation or rejection to be paused. You are then automatically covered by the enforcement halt.
You can apply for re-examination of your grounds for protection
If your situation has changed and you have new individual reasons that prevent you from returning to your country of origin, you can submit an application for re-examination of your case (known as individual impediments to enforcement). This applies even if your case is being handled by the police. An application for re-examination may affect your right to financial support under the Act on Reception of Asylum Seekers.
Read more about how to apply for re-examination of your grounds for protection here
Financial support and right to accommodation
If your rejection or deportation order has taken effect
If you have received a rejection or deportation order that has taken effect, certain conditions must be met in order for you to be entitled to financial support again. First, you must either submit an application to receive a formal decision that the deportation or rejection is to be paused (that the case is to be suspended), or submit an application for re-examination of your grounds for protection.
If you receive an individual decision on suspension or re-examination, you can notify the authority that you need aid (accommodation and money) under the Act on Reception of Asylum Seekers. Please note that you are not entitled to aid as long as the application for re-examination is being processed.
If you have been outside of Sweden or recently received a residence permit, a decision on suspension is not sufficient. In that case, you will not be entitled to aid under the Act on Reception of Asylum Seekers.
Contact your nearest Unit for Reception for more information if you are uncertain what applies to you.
If your rejection or deportation order has not taken effect
If you have received a decision from the Swedish Migration Agency or a court that says you are to be rejected or deported to your country of origin and the deadline for voluntary outward journey is about to expire, you have the possibility of receiving continued financial support and the right to accommodation. In that case, you will receive a decision that you are still entitled to money and accommodation from your Unit for Reception. You do not have to make an application yourself.
Right to work (AT-UND) in the event of an enforcement halt
An asylum seeker may have the right to work during the period of time that the person is awaiting a decision in their asylum case. This is called an exemption from the obligation to have a work permit (AT-UND).
If you have an ongoing asylum process, or have been granted re-examination of your right to protection, and are thereby awaiting a decision in your case, you may have the right to AT-UND.
Even if you do not have an ongoing asylum process but have received a deportation or rejection order, you may be entitled to AT-UND if you are still enrolled in the Swedish Migration Agency's reception system.
The existence of an enforcement halt does not in itself mean that you are entitled to AT-UND. You always need to meet the general requirements in order to have the right to work (AT-UND).
Read more about what is required to get AT-UND
If you have been discharged from the Swedish Migration Agency's reception system and have a valid deportation or rejection order, you are not entitled to AT-UND, even if you are covered by the enforcement halt.
Contact your nearest Unit for Reception for more information if you are uncertain what applies to you.