Author
EU rules foresee that countries in the passport-free Schengen zone can only establish temporary border controls under exceptional circumstances. In December 2015, Sweden introduced internal border controls. The 2018 AIDA report provides a historical background and legal aspects on the border controls.
Despite the fact that the reintroduction of border control at the internal borders must be applied as a last resort measure, in exceptional situations, and must respect the principle of proportionality, Sweden has regularly re-introduced border controls at its internal borders in recent years. The current temporary border control is valid up until 11 May 2026.[1] The decision to uphold border control is based on the Government’s assessment that there is a serious security situation that still prevails, which is partly rooted in the situation of serious cross-border crime linked to state actors and terrorism. According to the Government, given the current situation, the internal border controls is an important measure that enables the identification of people entering Sweden who pose a security threat or a serious threat to public order and internal security.
While Sweden has not introduced any measures directly affecting the right to seek asylum, the Swedish Parliament has passed a new law, effective from 1 March 1 2024, granting the Government the authority to impose temporary bans on transporting individuals without valid identification documents to Sweden via bus, train, or passenger ship. This measure aims to address situations where, due to events in the migration area, there is a serious threat to public order or internal security in the country. Additionally, the Government can establish sanction fees ranging from 30,000 to 250,000 SEK (approximately EUR 2,500 to 21,000) for transport companies that violate such prohibitions.[2]
Border monitoring
There is currently no border monitoring system in place in Sweden, however this will be introduced in June 2026 due to the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
Legal access to the territory
Sweden does not have any provisions for granting a visa for the purpose of applying for international protection upon arrival.
The Swedish Migration Agency resettled 861 refugees in 2025.[3] This should be compared to 959 refugees in 2024, 297 refugees in 2023, 3,744 refugees in 2022, 6,411 refugees in 2021, and 3,599 refugees in 2020. The annual quota was lowered from 5,000 to 900 in 2023.[4] The focus of the selections is determined by the Swedish Government but the Swedish Migration Agency, in collaboration with UNHCR, determines which refugee groups will be considered for resettlement from different countries.[5] In 2023, in addition to lowering the number of quota refugees, the Government introduced new integration criteria that should be taken into account in the assessment. Among other things, entrepreneurial spirit, skills, education and work experience and values important for integration into Swedish society may be taken into account.[6]
Sweden does not have any relocation operations in place.
[1] Government Offices of Sweden, ‘Continued need for temporary internal border controls’, 30 October 2025, available here.
[2] The law is accessible in full here (in Swedish).
[3] The Swedish Migration Agency, monthly report December 2025, page 16.
[4] Government of Sweden, ‘Regeringens första 100 dagar: Migration’, 24 January 2023, available in Swedish here.
[5] More information about the Swedish resettlement programme may be found in Swedish here.