Sweden to temporarily ban migration without valid identity documents

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

The Swedish authorities have proposed that the country introduces a temporary ban on the transportation of people who do not hold valid identity documents in certain cases when such a measure seems necessary.

According to the Department of Rural Affairs and Infrastructure of Sweden, such a proposal has been made in light of the current migration situation and in an attempt to avoid any threats to the public order, Schengen Visa website reports.

A proposal is made for a new law that gives the government the authority to, in certain cases, issue regulations prohibiting the transport of persons who do not have valid identity documents to Sweden with certain means of transport, the statement of the Department reads.

The department further explained that if such a proposal gets approved, the authorities will be able to introduce stricter restrictions for people who do not hold the needed documents if a serious danger to public order or the internal security of the country has risen.

The Government may issue regulations on prohibition to transport people by bus, train or passenger ship who lack valid identity documents for Sweden, a part of the proposal reads.

In line with the regulation, the authorities said that penalty fees should be introduced to make sure that everyone follows the rules.

The Department stressed that a minimum fee of SEK 30,000 (€2,609) and a maximum fee of SEK 250,000 (€21,744) should apply to all those who do not follow the rules if such a proposal gets approved.

The Government may issue regulations on penalty fees for those who violate such a prohibition.

The penalty fees must amount to a minimum of SEK 30,000 and a maximum of SEK 250,000, another part of the proposal says.

As for the validity of such rules, the authorities have said that once introduced, they should remain valid only for certain periods of time when the authorities see stricter rules as necessary.

Nonetheless, this only remains a proposal, and the Ministry of Rural Affairs and Infrastructure is required to give an official response on the matter by October 15, 2023, at the latest.

In case the proposal gets approved by the ministry, the rules are expected to become fully effective on March 1, 2024.

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