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Children in the asylum process
Children's rights in the asylum process differ from those of adult asylum seekers. On this page you can find information about children's rights and available support, both as it avails to the actual asylum investigation, and to practical issues.
Most children coming to Sweden in order to seek asylum have their parents with them, but some children make the long journey to Sweden alone. Here you may read more about what happens when an unaccompanied minor comes to Sweden to apply for asylum. In Sweden all children under the age of 18 are considered minors.
The Aliens Act states that the Migration Board must pay particular attention to the interests of children. All children, that are able and willing, have the right to be heard. Children's grounds for asylum should be tried separately - a child may have different grounds for asylum than his or her parents have. When a child's grounds for asylum are tried the case officer will, to the greatest extent possible, adapt the investigation to fit the child's age, health and other circumstances. The child has the right to have an adult present during the interviews. This adult can be a parent, a legal guardian, a custodian and/or a public counsel.
All children have the right to go to school, and the municipality where they live is obligated to provide schooling for them on the same terms as other children and youngsters who live there. This applies to preschool, elementary school and high school.
Asylum seeking children have the right to health care and dental care free of charge, on the same terms as other children living in Sweden. The county council is reimbursed by the state (through the Migration Board) for the expenses of care for asylum seekers.
On the page För barn you can find information written for children who have come to Sweden and sought asylum. The web page can also be used by other children who wish to know more about the asylum process, or by adults who need help explaining the process to children. You can, for instance, see the asylum process, step by step. Children can also send questions to our experts. The page is only available in Swedish, but there are brochures available in several languages.
Asylum seeking children have the right to be heard
The Aliens Act states that the Migration Board must pay particular attention to the interests of children. All children, that are able and willing, have the right to be heard. Children's grounds for asylum should be tried separately - a child may have different grounds for asylum than his or her parents have. When a child's grounds for asylum are tried the case officer will, to the greatest extent possible, adapt the investigation to fit the child's age, health and other circumstances. The child has the right to have an adult present during the interviews. This adult can be a parent, a legal guardian, a custodian and/or a public counsel.
All children have the right to go to school
All children have the right to go to school, and the municipality where they live is obligated to provide schooling for them on the same terms as other children and youngsters who live there. This applies to preschool, elementary school and high school.
A youngster who has begun his or her high school education before the age of 18 has the right to finish high school.
All children have the right to health care
Asylum seeking children have the right to health care and dental care free of charge, on the same terms as other children living in Sweden. The county council is reimbursed by the state (through the Migration Board) for the expenses of care for asylum seekers.
Information for children.
On the page För barn you can find information written for children who have come to Sweden and sought asylum. The web page can also be used by other children who wish to know more about the asylum process, or by adults who need help explaining the process to children. You can, for instance, see the asylum process, step by step. Children can also send questions to our experts. The page is only available in Swedish, but there are brochures available in several languages.
Sidan senast uppdaterad: 2012-04-13
Migrationsverket
