Sweden plans to strip citizenship from people seen as a threat to the state
Sweden’s political parties have agreed that dual citizens who commit crimes that threaten national security should lose their citizenship.
A cross-party committee recommended that the changes could be applied to anyone who had used bribery or false information to obtain their citizenship; And also if they have committed crimes that were a threat to the state or fell within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
But it blocked proposals by the minority government to revoke the citizenship of gangsters.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömer said Sweden was dealing with “violent extremism, state actors acting in a hostile manner towards Sweden, as well as systemic organized crime”.
Under Sweden’s constitution, revocation of citizenship is not currently allowed and changing the laws will be voted on in parliament next year.
Centre-left opposition parties say revoking the citizenship of gang criminals would be a step too far because it would be difficult to decide how to interpret the law.
However, Sweden’s centre-right ruling parties, supported by the more radical anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, want changes to tackle a dramatic increase in gang crime and high rates of gun murders.
“The proposals I have received today will not give us the possibility of taking away Swedish citizenship from gang leaders of criminal networks sitting abroad who are carrying out shootings and bombings and murders on the streets of Sweden,” Strömer told Swedish Radio. “
The government points to neighboring Denmark, where citizenship can already be revoked due to an act “seriously prejudicial to the vital interests of the state”. The law was recently expanded to include some forms of serious gang crime.
Sweden’s minority government has also tightened the rules for applying for citizenship.
Migration Minister Johan Forssell said that last year police had registered cases against 600 people who were considered a threat to national security.
From June 2026, anyone seeking a Swedish passport will typically have to live in the country for eight years, instead of the current five. Tests on Swedish language and society will also be included.
Forsell said it was “very easy” to become Swedish and something to be proud of: “We are going to build a Sweden that sticks together, where Swedish citizenship matters more.”
“Girls and boys have the right to swim and play football. If you don’t accept that, Sweden is not the country for you.”
The leader of the Sweden Democrats, Jimmy Åkesson, wants the government to go further, requiring new citizens to swear a declaration of loyalty to Sweden.
However, this was not included in the recommendations of the government inquiry.
Investigation author Kirsti Laakso Utvik said the changes would bring Sweden more closely with other European countries.
