Author
The Migration Agency is the only authority responsible for registering an asylum application. Asylum applications can be made at designated offices of the Migration Agency in Stockholm (Sundbyberg and Märsta), Gävle, Boden, Norrköping, Gothenburg and Malmö. If a person seeks asylum at an airport or port, they are referred to the Migration Agency.
In 2022, 16,738 preliminary applications for international protection were lodged in Sweden. This marks an increase of 48% compared to 2021, where 11,412 applications were lodged.[1] In comparation, in 2022 the number on asylum applications the EU increased by more than 50%.[2]
In 2022, 16,738 applications were lodged in Sweden, with the majority being lodged in Stockholm (8,466), in Malmö (3,345) and in Gothenburg (3,332).[3]
| Applications lodged by location: 2022 | |
| Locations | Number of applicants |
| Arlanda | 949 |
| Boden | 120 |
| Borås | 0 |
| Flen | 16 |
| Gävle | 1 |
| Gothenburg | 3,332 |
| Halmstad | 9 |
| Jönköping | 0 |
| Kramfors | 0 |
| Kristianstad | 22 |
| Malmö | 3,345 |
| Märsta | 1 |
| Norrköping | 66 |
| Skellefteå | 14 |
| Stockholm | 8,466 |
| Sundsvall | 168 |
| Umeå | 14 |
| Uppsala | 74 |
| Vänersborg | 17 |
| Västerås | 19 |
| Växjö | 15 |
| Åstorp | 5 |
| Örebro | 27 |
| Other | 58 |
| Total | 16,738 |
Source: Swedish Migration Agency, Applications for asylum received 2022, available at: http://bitly.ws/AVIW
The Swedish Migration Agency is also in charge of running the detention centres. The authors are not aware of difficulties with regard to persons in detention wishing to apply for asylum.
There are no specific time limits laid down in law within which a claim must be made. In reality, however, if a late claim is made, the applicant must put forward reasons for the delay during the asylum interview, and risks having their credibility called into question for not having sought protection earlier.
There have been no problems reported for asylum seekers regarding the registration of their claim in practice in 2022, i.e. registration remained accessible during COVID-19.
Asylum seekers are issued with a card that shows that they are asylum seekers in Sweden. This card is called a LMA card. It is not an ID document as such, but a certificate that asylum seekers can use to show that they are asylum seekers and that they may be in Sweden when their applications are being processed. The card also shows if the person has the right to work.[4]
[1] SMA, Applications for asylum received 2022, and Applications for asylum received 2021, available in Swedish at: http://bitly.ws/AVIM.
[2] EUAA, ‘Latest Asylum Trends – Annual Overview 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3IqzlYm.
[3] Swedish Migration Agency, Applications for asylum received 2022, available in Swedish at: http://bitly.ws/AVIM.
[4] The Migration Agency, ‘LMA card for asylum seekers’, available at: http://bitly.ws/zb7q.