The Swedish Migration Agency increases security in its examination of citizenship applications

– Citizenship decisions cannot be revoked, and it is of the utmost importance that they are correct, not least given the current security situation. The Swedish Migration Agency already conducts very thorough investigations before we make decisions about citizenship. All cases are also checked by the Swedish Security Service. We’ve tightened our controls before, and now we’re further improving that work, says Swedish Migration Agency official Oskar Ekblad, who is leading the effort.

In January of this year, the Swedish Migration Agency was tasked by the Government with strengthening the security perspective of its citizenship-related activities. This mission involves preventing, as far as possible, people who pose a security risk or who are living in Sweden under a false identity from being granted citizenship.

After urgently analysing and investigating the assignment in consultation with other relevant authorities, the Swedish Migration Agency has now decided on a number of measures. Among other things, the general rule will be that applicants for citizenship must appear in person at the Swedish Migration Agency. Exceptions will be possible for people of certain nationalities with biometric passports.

– The purpose of requiring applicants to appear in person is to further ensure that no one living in Sweden under a false identity is granted citizenship. An in-person visit provides a better opportunity to tie a natural person to the identity data contained in their application and in the person’s identity documents. It also allows the Swedish Migration Agency to get more information, so that we can assess whether the person in question really lives in Sweden, elaborates Oskar Ekblad.

Stricter verification of identity documents

Another of the measures introduced by the Swedish Migration Agency is stricter verification of identity documents. This means that non-biometric passports and identity cards must be further checked by certified document examiners or document experts.

– Examining identity documents is an important part of establishing a person’s identity. In recent years, the prevalence of manipulated documents has increased, which entails an increased risk of various types of security threats, says Oskar Ekblad.

More information when applying and providing supplementary information

All applicants for citizenship will also have to provide more information when they apply and when supplementing the information in their case. This means additional questions in the application forms about identity documents, travel, family, work and studies, among other things.

As part of its processing procedure, the Swedish Migration Agency will also carry out more checks and register searches, as well as more oral investigations (i.e. interviews) in cases that require special investigation.

– This will allow us to identify more cases in which a person should not be granted citizenship, for example for security reasons, as well as cases where a residence permit may need to be revoked. Verbal communication also provides greater opportunities to investigate the information a person has previously provided, says Oskar Ekblad.

Priority given to security cases and revocations

The measures the Swedish Migration Agency has decided to take also mean that the agency will generally prioritise its work with security cases and revocations of residence permits. The content of the processing support used by case officers will also be clarified, not least with regard to decisions in cases in which the applicant’s identity has not been proven.

The Swedish Migration Agency will contact all people who have an open application for citizenship but have not yet received a decision, if they need to provide additional information. The Swedish Migration will tell them what they need to do. You do not need to contact the agency yourself.